The Burning Monolith: A Path of Exile 2 Endgame Challenge
The Burning Monolith, a unique map location in Path of Exile 2's Atlas of Worlds, presents a formidable endgame challenge. Similar to the Realmgate, it's found near the starting area of your mapping journey, but accessing its rewards requires significant effort.
Unlocking the Burning Monolith
To activate the Burning Monolith, you need three Crisis Fragments, obtained by conquering the extremely rare and challenging Citadels. Attempting to open 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 each Citadel yields a unique Crisis Fragment. Once you've collected all three, use them at the Monolith's altar to face the Arbiter of Ash, the game's toughest pinnacle boss. Be prepared; this boss boasts devastating attacks and millions of HP.
Locating the Elusive Citadels
Finding the three Citadels (Iron, Copper, and Stone) is the true challenge. Each Citadel houses a unique boss, and defeating them rewards you with a Crisis Fragment. The difficulty lies in their unpredictable location on the randomly generated Atlas. Strategies for locating them include:
- Directional Exploration: Choose a direction on the Atlas and systematically explore until you find a Citadel. Unlocking Towers provides a broader view of the map.
- Corruption Tracking: Focus on corrupted nodes at the edges of your visible Atlas. Clear these nodes, unlock nearby Towers, and repeat. This can be combined with directional exploration.
- Cluster Hypothesis: Anecdotal evidence suggests Citadels often appear in clusters. Finding one may lead you to the others.
Citadel hunting is a late-game activity requiring a powerful build.
Alternatively, Crisis Fragments can be purchased from online trading sites or currency exchanges, though their rarity makes them expensive. This cost may be worth it to avoid the lengthy search.
