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. Unlocking its secrets requires three Crisis Fragments, each obtained by conquering a Citadel – an extremely rare and difficult map node.
Accessing the Burning Monolith
The Burning Monolith is the lair of the Arbiter of Ash, the game's toughest pinnacle boss. Your first attempt to activate the Monolith's door initiates "The Pinnacle of Flame" quest, requiring completion of three Citadels: the Iron, Copper, and Stone Citadels. Conquering each Citadel yields a unique Crisis Fragment. Combine these three Fragments at the Monolith's altar to face the Arbiter of Ash. Ensure your character build is optimized; this boss boasts immense health and devastating attacks.
Locating the Citadels
The three Citadels (Iron, Copper, and Stone) each house a powerful map boss guarding a Crisis Fragment. Their rarity is the primary obstacle.
Key things to remember about Citadels:
- One Attempt: Each Citadel can only be attempted once.
- Random Generation: Citadel locations are randomly generated for each player's Atlas.
- Hunting Strategies: While no guaranteed method exists, community observations suggest:
- Directional Search: Progress systematically across the Atlas until you locate a Citadel. Utilizing Towers provides a broader map view.
- Corruption Focus: Look for corrupted nodes at the Atlas's edges, clear them, unlock nearby Towers, and repeat.
- Clustered Appearance: Citadels often appear in groups; finding one increases the chance of discovering others nearby.
Citadel hunting is a late-game activity, best undertaken with a fully optimized build.
Alternative Acquisition:
Crisis Fragments can be purchased via the trading website or Currency Exchange, though their rarity makes them expensive. This may be a preferable option to avoid the arduous Citadel hunt.
