How to Find Cidatels in PoE 2
If you're playing Path of Exile 2 and struggling to find the Iron Citadel, Copper Citadel, or Stone Citadel, you're not alone. These locations are essential for unlocking the Burning Monolith pinnacle boss fight, but many players have a hard time spotting them on the massive Atlas map.
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Understanding Citadel Progression
Your journey starts at the Ziggurat Refuge and leads to the Burning Monolith. To unlock this pinnacle boss fight, you must locate and complete the quests at the Iron, Copper, and Stone Citadels, each providing fragments needed to access the boss.
Citadels can be surprisingly difficult to locate due to how subtly they’re placed on the map, but fortunately, there are consistent patterns to follow.
Where to Find Citadels?
The most reliable pattern when searching for citadels is their close proximity to water. Most are found along coastlines, rivers, or lakes, while inland citadels are quite rare. Coastal and water-adjacent areas consistently yield better results.
Additionally, mountain ranges often border these water bodies, creating a recognizable terrain combination that can help guide your search. If you're looking to improve your chances quickly, focusing on coastlines is one of the most effective strategies.
Towers as Visual Clues
Towers are a consistent clue when searching for citadels, with most citadels having at least one nearby tower, sometimes more. While towers are common, their significance increases when found near water and mountains.
Revealing towers helps clear the fog of war and can expose nearby citadels. Keep an eye out for tower clusters in coastal and mountainous regions, as they often indicate a citadel’s presence.
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Corruption Zones and Environmental Transitions
Although less consistent, corruption zones also tend to appear near citadels.
These areas are marked by noticeable biome changes, such as grassy terrain shifting to desert.
Corruption zones often exist near water and towers, which strengthens the clue.
If you notice terrain shifts near water, it's worth investigating for a potential citadel.
Structures in the Fog
Certain buildings can be seen through the fog of war and often indicate nearby citadels.
Ziggurats or pyramids are often tied to the Stone Citadel.
Thatched-roof houses can point to the Iron Citadel.
Tents are frequently found near the Copper Citadel.
These structures can act as confirmation that you're close to a citadel, even if the area hasn’t been fully revealed yet.
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Don’t Stick Near the Start
Citadels rarely spawn near your starting zone. Clearing maps in a spiral pattern can waste time. Instead, pick a direction and push outward along the coast. As you get farther from your starting area, citadels become more common.
Summary of Tips
Focus on coastal regions—citadels typically border water.
Look for nearby mountains—water and mountains often appear together.
Use towers as clues—citadels are usually within sight of at least one.
Watch for corruption zones—these often mark biome transitions near citadels.
Spot buildings through the fog—ziggurats, tents, and huts can reveal nearby quest areas.
Move away from the starting zone—citadels are more frequent on the outskirts.
Pick a direction and commit—coastal routes are more productive than spiraling outward.
Why This Pattern Exists
From a design perspective, placing citadels near water and mountains creates natural points of interest and navigational flow. These terrain combinations serve both gameplay and lore, encouraging exploration and rewarding pattern recognition.
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Final Words
Finding citadels in Path of Exile 2 doesn't have to be guesswork. Stick to the patterns—water, towers, corruption zones, and key structures—and you'll reach the Burning Monolith much faster. Explore smart, and good luck out there, Exile.
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