PoE 2 Citadels Guide: Locations, Boss, Drops, Best & Fastest Way to Get Crisis Fragments

Farming Citadels in Path of Exile 2 can be profitable if approached with the right strategies. To find Citadels and farm more Crisis Fragments, here we'll break down the PoE 2 Citadels locations, bosses, drops, and optimal farming methods to maximize your efficiency and earnings. 

Best and Fastest Way to Find PoE 2 Citadels and Crisis Fragments

In Path of Exile 2, Citadels are unique map nodes that players can discover and conquer as part of the endgame content. They serve as challenging encounters that provide valuable rewards, including Crisis Fragments, which are essential for accessing the Burning Monolith and defeating its pinnacle boss, the Arbiter of Ash. There are three varieties of Citadels, each associated with a specific boss and biome, including Iron Citadel, Copper Citadel, and Stone Citadel.

PoE 2 Citadel Bosses, Biome & Drops

Each Citadel has a unique boss that drops a guaranteed Crisis Fragment along with other potential loot.

Iron Citadel

• Boss: Count Geonor (a modified version of the Act 1 boss)

• Appearance: A large city with black walls

• Common Biome: Grass or Forest

• Drops: Ancient Crisis Fragment

Copper Citadel

• Boss: Jamanra, The Abomination (a modified version of the Act 2 boss)

• Appearance: A large encampment surrounding the map node

• Common Biome: Desert

• Drops: Faded Crisis Fragment

Stone Citadel

• Boss: Doryani (a modified version of the Act 3 boss)

• Appearance: A stone pyramid resembling ziggurats

• Common Biome: Coastal areas or Vaal Cities

• Drops: Weathered Crisis Fragment

PoE 2 Citadels Locations - Where to Find Each Citadel

1. Iron Citadel: Found in forest and grass biomes. It’s identifiable by surrounding wooden houses and contains the Act 1 boss, Count Geonor.

2. Copper Citadel: Located in desert biomes, surrounded by tents. This citadel features the Act 2 boss, Jamanra, the Abomination.

3. Stone Citadel: Typically found in mountainous and grassy areas, surrounded by small pyramids. It houses the Act 3 boss, Doryani.

You can often spot buildings surrounding these citadels before seeing the citadels themselves. Keep an eye on the terrain and structures as you explore to identify potential citadel locations.

How to Find More Citadels and Crisis Fragments in Path of Exile 2 (Best Strategies, Tips and Tricks)

1. Preparation

Before entering a citadel, remove any unnecessary boss skill tree points that might increase the difficulty of the boss encounters.

2. Travel Strategy

One of the most effective methods is to move in a straight line away from your starting point. So, you can choose one direction (north, south, east, or west) and stick with it. This method allows you to cover more ground effectively. To locate citadels effectively, aim to travel far from your starting point. The game mechanics are designed so that the further you venture from the initial area, the higher your chances of discovering citadels.

3. Clearing Areas Methodically

As you explore, clear the areas you traverse. It seems that citadels can spawn randomly, but consistent clearing increases your chances of encountering them. Focus on regions with higher monster density, but don’t get bogged down by clearing every enemy.

4. Ignore Popular Myths

There are various theories about citadels being located near specific terrain features (like water, mountains, or corruption). However, the testings indicate that these factors do not significantly influence citadel spawn rates.

5. Maps

Venture into higher-tier maps. The farther you go, the more likely you are to encounter Citadels. Focus on maps with suffix modifiers that increase Waystone drop chances. This includes selecting harder maps that specifically mention increased drop rates.

6. Waystones

Waystones are crucial for accessing and maximizing your Citadel farming efficiency. The chance of finding Waystones directly affects the number of fragments you can obtain from Citadels. Use Tier 12 to 14 Waystones for traversing maps, which help in completing them quickly while still providing decent loot. For citadels, ensure you have a good Tier 15 Waystone with several modifiers.

7. Optimizing Precursors for Citadels

Using precursors effectively can significantly enhance your farming efficiency. Integrate precursors that boost your Waystone drop chances. Look for precursors that help with both Waystone drops and item quantity, maximizing the loot from each run.

8. Atlas Keystones

Choose Atlas keystones that provide bonuses to Waystone drops or increase the effectiveness of your maps. Combine keystones that work well together for optimal results.

9. Boss Kill Strategy

Each Citadel boss has unique abilities and phases. Familiarize yourself with these mechanics to anticipate attacks and avoid damage. Stay mobile and position yourself strategically to avoid area-of-effect attacks. For instance, when Jamanra summons beacons, run past him to avoid chain lightning damage. Be aware that bosses often have multiple phases with different abilities. For Jamanra:

Phase 1: Watch for lightning bolts and beacons. Use the shield provided by Sekhema Asala during the sandstorm to protect yourself from damage.

Phase 2: Expect new attacks like tornadoes and obsidian shards. Keep moving to avoid overlapping mechanics that can limit safe zones.

Understand the damage types the boss deals with (e.g., physical, lightning, fire) and prepare your character’s defenses accordingly. Equip gear that mitigates these damage types if possible. While dealing high damage can be beneficial, it may also lead to overlapping mechanics that make the fight more challenging. Balance your damage output with the need to avoid mechanics. Make sure to use any buffs or potions that can enhance your survivability and damage output during the fight.

What to Do with Crisis Fragments?

Once you defeat a Citadel boss, you’ll receive Crisis Fragments. These are crucial for facing the Pinnacle boss. The drop rate for these fragments is influenced by the modifiers on your Waystone, so prioritize stones with higher drop chances. If you're looking for PoE 2 currency, consider selling the fragments you find, especially the rarer ones from the Copper Citadel, which often fetch a higher price in the market.

• Faded Crisis Fragment: Most valuable, averaging around 2.5 divines each. Collecting Fated fragments allows access to high-tier fights that drop valuable loot. They can also be traded for a substantial profit.

• Ancient Crisis Fragment: Worth less but still valuable.

• Weathered Crisis Fragment: Similar in value to the Ancient Fragment.