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 significantly greater challenge. Accessing it requires three Crisis Fragments, each obtained by conquering a Citadel – an incredibly rare and difficult map node.
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). Successfully completing these Citadels yields the three necessary Crisis Fragments. Combine these fragments at the Monolith's altar to unlock the Arbiter of Ash encounter. Prepare a powerful build; the Arbiter of Ash is the game's most formidable pinnacle boss, boasting immense health and devastating attacks.
Locating the Elusive Citadels
Path of Exile 2 features three Citadels: Iron, Copper, and Stone, each guarded by a unique boss that drops a corresponding Crisis Fragment. The primary difficulty lies in their unpredictable location.
Citadels are one-time attempts. The Atlas is procedurally generated, making Citadel locations unique to each player. While no guaranteed method exists, community observations suggest:
- Directional Search: Choose a direction on the Atlas and explore systematically until you locate a Citadel. Utilizing Towers provides a broader map view.
- Corruption Tracking: Focus on corrupted nodes at the Atlas's edges. Clear these nodes, unlock nearby Towers, and repeat. This strategy can be combined with the directional approach.
- Clustered Appearance: Citadels often appear in close proximity. Finding one increases the likelihood of finding others nearby.
Citadel hunting is a late-game activity, best undertaken with a fully optimized build.
Alternatively, Crisis Fragments can be purchased from online trading sites or currency exchanges. While expensive due to their rarity, this bypasses the arduous hunt.
