12 New Path of Exile 2 Fragments Detailed

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 typically found near the starting area of your mapping journey. Accessing it, however, is a significant undertaking.

Unlocking the Burning Monolith

The Burning Monolith is the arena for the endgame pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. Your first attempt to activate the Monolith's door initiates "The Pinnacle of Flame" quest, requiring three Crisis Fragments. These fragments are obtained by conquering three challenging Citadels: the Iron Citadel, Copper Citadel, and Stone Citadel, all found within the Atlas. Once you've collected all three fragments, place them on the altar within the Burning Monolith to begin the Arbiter of Ash encounter.

Prepare for a formidable challenge. The Arbiter of Ash is the game's most powerful pinnacle boss, boasting devastating attacks and a massive health pool. Ensure your character build is optimized before engaging.

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 within the randomly generated Atlas. While no guaranteed method exists, several strategies have emerged from player experience:

1. Directional Exploration: Choose a direction on the Atlas and systematically explore until you discover a Citadel. Unlocking Towers provides a broader view of the surrounding maps.
2. Corruption Tracking: Focus on areas of corruption visible at the edge of your Atlas view. Clear these corrupted nodes, unlock nearby Towers, and repeat the process. This can be used in conjunction with the first strategy.
3. Cluster Hypothesis: Anecdotal evidence suggests Citadels tend to cluster together. Finding one may increase your chances of locating the others nearby.

Citadel hunting is a time-consuming endgame activity. It's best approached after significantly strengthening your character and gaining considerable boss-fighting experience.

Alternatively, Crisis Fragments can be purchased from online trading sites or the in-game Currency Exchange, though their rarity often results in a high price. This may be a worthwhile investment to avoid the lengthy hunt.