What Is the Ancient Crisis Fragment and How to Get It?

The Ancient Crisis Fragment in Path of Exile 2 is a special "Pinnacle Key" required to unlock the endgame boss, the Arbiter of Ash, who resides in The Burning Monolith. It is one of three unique Crisis Fragments needed to access this pinnacle encounter.

To get the Ancient Crisis Fragment, players must locate and complete the Iron Citadel, one of three Citadels that spawn randomly on the Atlas map. Each Citadel corresponds to an Act boss and biome:

• Iron Citadel (Forest/Grass Biome) — drops Ancient Crisis Fragment (Act 1 boss Count Geonor)

• Copper Citadel (Desert Biome) — drops Faded Crisis Fragment (Act 2 boss Jamanara, The Abomination)

• Stone Citadel (Mountainous/Grass Biome) — drops Weathered Crisis Fragment (Act 3 boss Doryani)

These Citadels act like unique high-level maps, requiring Tier 15 or higher Waystones to enter. Defeating the boss inside a Citadel guarantees a Crisis Fragment for that faction, including the Ancient Crisis Fragment from Iron Citadel. Players usually have to venture far from starting points on the Atlas to find these Citadels.

Once all three fragments (Ancient, Faded, and Weathered) are collected, they can be used to open the gate within The Burning Monolith, unlocking the Arbiter of Ash fight, Path of Exile 2's pinnacle boss encounter.

Additional information:

• Players can collect multiple fragments by repeatedly defeating the Citadel bosses.

• Crisis Fragments can be sold on the market for high-value currency if players choose not to fight the Arbiter.

• Preparation and strong builds are recommended before entering Citadels due to the high difficulty and risk of failure.

The Ancient Crisis Fragment is a crucial item earned by conquering the Iron Citadel boss, enabling progression to late endgame content and the ultimate boss fight in Path of Exile 2. Efficient farming and preparation are key to obtaining this fragment and accessing pinnacle challenges.