With the Path of Exile 2 endgame gaining traction, certain farming strategies have started to dominate, especially for those looking to stockpile high-tier boss loot and expensive uniques. One of the standout methods right now is PoE 2 Citadel Farming. This guide breaks down how to identify and run Citadels efficiently, maximize PoE 2 Currency profits using the Atlas tree, and boost your returns through smart tablet and map setups.
What Is a Citadel in PoE 2?
In Path of Exile 2, Citadels are a key mechanic for endgame progression and currency farming.
These are not your typical maps—they are special zones that appear on your Atlas and serve as gateways to powerful boss encounters and high-value loot.
When you enter a Citadel, your goal is to defeat the boss within. Successfully doing so rewards you with a unique fragment.
These fragments hold intrinsic value: not only can they be sold for a solid profit, but when you collect three of the same type, you can use them to initiate a battle against the Arbiter, one of the most lucrative bosses in the game.
This boss encounter is challenging but offers exceptional rewards, including rare uniques and high-tier crafting components.
Identifying Citadels on your Atlas is relatively straightforward. They are marked by a vivid beam of light shooting up from the map—these beams come in various colors, such as red or blue, and each signifies a different Citadel type.
Even when parts of your Atlas are still shrouded in the fog of war, the light beam can be seen if you’re within close proximity.
This visual cue makes it easier to locate Citadels during your map-clearing runs without relying entirely on uncovered terrain.
In short, Citadels are your ticket to both consistent currency generation and high-stakes boss fights, making them an essential focus for any serious PoE 2 player aiming to dominate the endgame economy and climb the power curve efficiently.
Check out: How to Unlock and Get All Atlas Skill Points in Path of Exile 2 | gamersandgeek
How to Locate Citadels Fast in PoE 2
Citadels tend to spawn more frequently the farther you move from your Atlas’s starting point.
Pick a direction (north, east, south, or west) and keep pushing outward, avoiding backtracking or circling.
This maximizes your chance to discover new Citadels. Aim to find at least one per hour—though with some luck, it’s possible to hit up to three per hour.
Best Citadel Farming Path and Strategy for PoE 2
Once you’ve identified a Citadel, the proximity of surrounding towers is key. Ideally, you want two towers nearby to optimize loot outcomes.
Even one tower is sufficient for profit, but having two allows you to double-dip via the Vision of Paradise precursor tablet setup, effectively letting you run the Citadel twice.
When you only have one tower nearby, it’s better to play it safe.
Use standard tablets, focusing on increased quantity of waystones and general item quantity.
If both values are high (e.g., 20% waystones, 6% item quantity), you’ll see solid returns.
Best Atlas Passive for PoE 2 Citadel Farming
To make the most out of Citadel farming in PoE 2, tailor your Atlas passive tree toward quantity and waystone-specific bonuses:
- Prioritize nodes that increase waystone quantity
- Add boosts to the effect of explicit modifiers on waystones
- Don’t overlook nodes like Unstable Energies for raw quantity gains
- Take Spoils of War, Organized Forces, and other map boss nodes that enhance waystone drops
Every bit of quantity adds up, especially when you plan to sell fragments or engage in Arbiter fights.
Map Setup for Maximum Currency in PoE 2 Citadel Farm
The map itself plays a significant role.
You want:
- At least 100% waystone drop chance
- As many suffixes as possible to further increase that drop rate
- Enchantments like Distilled Envy that provide a 90% bonus to waystone drops
Combining high suffix maps with Distilled Envy and potentially corrupting maps to push the bonus even further can yield maps with over 200% waystone drop chance.
This is where it becomes essential to get your hands on PoE 2 Currency, and the best place is PoE2Currency.com. With Vision of Paradise tablets and high-tier maps in demand, having the currency on hand allows you to take full advantage of the strategy without getting bottlenecked by gear or map shortages.
Also check out: Best Deadeye Lightning Spear & Serpent’s Fury Build in PoE 2 | gamersandgeek
Citadel Tablet Strategy – Visions of Paradise vs. Standard Tablets
- One Tower Nearby: Use standard tablets with high quantity bonuses.
- Two Towers Nearby: Consider using Vision of Paradise, which irradiates your map and allows a second run. Pair with Rage tablets to remove irradiation for the follow-up run.
Caution: Vision of Paradise is expensive. If you’re running on a tight budget or lack a consistent fragment drop rate, you may want to stick with standard tablets.
Grand Project Precursor Tablets for Citadel Currency Farming– Worth It?
These allow you to access all nearby maps from a tower, offering huge movement and efficiency benefits.
However, they’re pricey. Use them if you’re impatient or have extras lying around, but don’t rely on them if you’re profit-focused.
Credit to Ronorray for the amazing info:
Conclusion
Citadel farming in PoE 2 is one of the most lucrative and straightforward ways to build wealth (PoE 2 Currency) right now. Whether you’re selling fragments or farming the Arbiter, this method offers consistent and scalable returns. With a well-optimized Atlas tree and a smart approach to tablets and map mods, you’ll be stacking divines in no time.
Stay efficient, stay focused, and may your maps be always radiant with Citadel light.
