The Burning Monolith: Path of Exile 2's Endgame Challenge
The Burning Monolith, a unique map location in Path of Exile 2's Atlas of Worlds, resembles the Realmgate and is found near the starting area of your mapping journey. Accessing it, however, is far from straightforward.
Unlocking the Burning Monolith
The Burning Monolith is the arena for the ultimate endgame boss, the Arbiter of Ash. Your first attempt to activate the Monolith's door initiates the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, comprising three sub-quests: Ezomyte Infiltration (Iron Citadel), Faridun Foray (Copper Citadel), and Vaal Incursion (Stone Citadel). Completing these Citadels yields three Crisis Fragments, essential for unlocking the Arbiter of Ash fight. Place all three Fragments on the Monolith's altar to begin the encounter.
Prepare thoroughly before facing the Arbiter of Ash; this pinnacle boss is the game's most formidable, boasting devastating attacks and millions of hit points.
Locating the Citadels
Path of Exile 2 features three Citadels – Iron, Copper, and Stone – each guarded by a unique map boss. The Crisis Fragment for each Citadel is obtained upon defeating its respective boss. The primary challenge lies in discovering their location.
Citadels are one-time attempts. The Atlas is randomly generated for each player, making Citadel locations unpredictable. While no definitive method exists, community observations suggest these strategies:
- Directional Progression: Choose a direction on the Atlas and explore until you locate a Citadel. Utilize Towers for a broader map view.
- Corruption Tracking: Focus on corrupted nodes at the Atlas's edges. Clear these nodes, unlock nearby Towers, and repeat. This complements the first strategy.
- Clustered Appearance: Citadels often appear in groups. Finding one increases the likelihood of finding others nearby.
Citadel hunting is a late-game activity, best undertaken with a fully optimized build and considerable boss-killing experience.
Alternatively, Crisis Fragments can be purchased from online trading sites or the in-game Currency Exchange. However, their rarity makes them expensive. Weigh the cost against the time investment required for hunting them yourself.
