Path of Exile 2: Burning Monolith Explained

The Burning Monolith: Conquering Path of Exile 2's Endgame Pinnacle Boss

The Burning Monolith, a unique map location in Path of Exile 2's Atlas of Worlds, presents a challenging endgame encounter. Similar to a Realmgate, its location is somewhat random near the starting area of the Atlas. Accessing it, however, requires three rare Crisis Fragments.

Accessing the Burning Monolith

The Burning Monolith is the arena for the formidable Arbiter of Ash, the game's strongest pinnacle boss. Your first attempt to activate the Monolith's door initiates the "Pinnacle of Flame" quest, comprised of three sub-quests: Ezomyte Infiltration (Iron Citadel), Faridun Foray (Copper Citadel), and Vaal Incursion (Stone Citadel). Completing these Citadels yields the three essential Crisis Fragments. Once obtained, use them on the Monolith's altar to unlock the Arbiter of Ash fight. Ensure your character build is optimized before engaging this incredibly powerful boss with its devastating attacks and massive health pool.

Locating the Elusive Citadels

Three Citadels—Iron, Copper, and Stone—each guarded by a unique boss, hold the coveted Crisis Fragments. The primary challenge lies in their unpredictable location on the randomly generated Atlas. While no guaranteed method exists, several strategies have emerged:

1. Directional Exploration: Choose a direction on the Atlas and systematically explore until you discover a Citadel. Utilizing Towers for a broader map view is highly recommended.

2. Corruption Tracking: Focus on corrupted nodes at the Atlas's edges. Clear these nodes, unlock nearby Towers, and repeat. This method can be effectively combined with directional exploration.

3. Clustered Appearance: Anecdotal evidence suggests Citadels often appear in clusters. Finding one increases the likelihood of discovering the others nearby.

Citadel hunting is a time-intensive endgame activity, best undertaken with a fully optimized build.

Alternative Acquisition of Crisis Fragments

While hunting Citadels is the traditional method, Crisis Fragments can be purchased from online trading sites or through in-game currency exchanges. However, their rarity often results in a high price tag. Weigh the time investment against the cost before deciding on your approach.