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 a Realmgate but presents a significant challenge. Accessing it requires three Crisis Fragments, each obtained by conquering a Citadel – exceptionally rare and difficult map nodes.

Unlocking the Arbiter of Ash

The Burning Monolith is the gateway to the endgame pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. Attempting 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 the three necessary Crisis Fragments. Combine them at the Monolith's altar to unlock the Arbiter of Ash encounter. Prepare a powerful build; the Arbiter of Ash is the game's toughest pinnacle boss, boasting immense health and devastating attacks.

The Citadel Hunt

Path of Exile 2 features three Citadels: Iron, Copper, and Stone, each guarded by a unique boss. The Crisis Fragment for each Citadel is the boss's reward. The primary difficulty lies in locating the Citadels themselves.

Citadels are one-time attempts. Their placement on the randomly generated Atlas is unpredictable. Community observations suggest some strategies:

1. Directional Progression: Choose a direction on the Atlas and explore systematically. Unlocking Towers provides a broader map view.
2. Corruption Tracking: Focus on corrupted nodes at the Atlas's edges. Clear these nodes, unlock nearby Towers, and repeat.
3. Clustered Appearance: Citadels may cluster together. Finding one increases the likelihood of discovering others nearby.

Citadel hunting is a late-game activity, best undertaken with a fully optimized build.

Alternative Acquisition

Crisis Fragments, the ultimate goal of Citadel hunting, can be purchased via the in-game trading website or Currency Exchange. Their rarity makes them expensive, but this cost may outweigh the time investment of hunting them.