On this page
- Quick answer
- Quick facts
- The three Crisis Fragments
- How to get Crisis Fragments
- How to use them at the Burning Monolith
- Fragment to Citadel matrix
- Pre-use checklist
- Outcomes by path
- Risk analysis
- Community questions
- Video walkthrough
- Problems and direct answers
- Connected content
- Patch history
- Sources and verification
Quick Facts
- Item Type
- Fragment
- Use Cases
- Pinnacle · Boss Key · Arbiter
QUICK ANSWER
Quick answer
The Burning Monolith always spawns near the centre of your Atlas once the Precursor Fortress is revealed (your first completed Tower reveals it).
Arbiter of Divinity is a SEPARATE 0.5 pinnacle reached through the Origins of Divinity arc and does NOT use these three Crisis Fragments - do not mix the two key sets.
Unlocking the Arbiter of Ash, the gateway pinnacle boss, via the Burning Monolith.
Confirm you hold one of EACH fragment type (Ancient + Faded + Weathered); a partial set will not open the door.
Trying to use old Calamity Fragments - they no longer drop in 0.5 and are not valid Arbiter of Ash keys.
QUICK FACTS
Quick facts
- What they are
- 3 fragment keys
- Ancient, Faded and Weathered Crisis Fragments together open the Burning Monolith.
- Where to use
- Burning Monolith (Fortress)
- The Monolith sits inside the Precursor Fortress near the Atlas centre.
- Source
- 3 Citadel bosses
- Iron (Geonor), Copper (Jamanra), Stone (Doryani) each drop one fragment type.
- Quest vs repeatable
- Enigma Chambers then Citadels
- First kill uses two Enigma Chambers; later kills re-farm the Citadels.
- Tradeable
- No (current 0.5)
- Editorial spec marks Crisis Fragments as non-tradeable for the current access route.
ITEM FAMILY
The three Crisis Fragments
The Arbiter of Ash access family is exactly three fragments, one per original Citadel biome. You need one of each; stacking duplicates of a single type does not open the Monolith.
Iron Citadel key
Ancient Crisis Fragment
Count GeonorDropped by Count Geonor in the Iron Citadel (Ezomyte City biome, blue beam in the fog). One of the three keys for the Burning Monolith.
Copper Citadel key
Faded Crisis Fragment
Jamanra, the AbominationDropped by Jamanra, the Abomination in the Copper Citadel (Faridun City biome, orange beam). One of the three keys for the Burning Monolith.
Stone Citadel key
Weathered Crisis Fragment
Doryani, Royal ThaumaturgeDropped by Doryani, Royal Thaumaturge in the Stone Citadel (Vaal City biome, red beam). One of the three keys for the Burning Monolith.
ACQUISITION
How to get Crisis Fragments
There are two paths: the one-time Quest version (mostly handed to you via the Fortress) and the repeatable Citadel farm for every later Arbiter of Ash kill.
Quest version (first kill)
On your first visit to the Burning Monolith one key is already inserted. The other two sit in the Western and Eastern Enigma Chambers of the Precursor Fortress - clear those to collect your first full set without farming Citadels.
Citadel farming (repeatable)
For every later kill, defeat the three Citadel bosses - Count Geonor (Iron), Jamanra (Copper) and Doryani (Stone) - in the infinite Atlas. Each guarantees one fragment of its type.
Waystone Drop Chance (bonus)
Community guides report that stacking Waystone Drop Chance can yield extra Crisis Fragments from a single Citadel boss. Treat this as qualitative - the exact bonus is current 0.5 (pending in-game verification) and no fixed drop-rate numbers are stated here.
USE FLOW
How to use them at the Burning Monolith
Reveal the Precursor Fortress
Complete your first Tower to raise the Precursor Fortress from the ground; the Burning Monolith sits inside it near the Atlas centre.
Collect one of each fragment
Hold Ancient, Faded and Weathered Crisis Fragment together (from the Enigma Chambers on your first run, or from the three Citadels afterwards).
Travel to the Burning Monolith
Open the Atlas, find the Burning Monolith structure, and click the skull button to travel there. The fragments must be in your inventory.
Insert the three fragments
Place all three Crisis Fragments into the Monolith's door to open the Arbiter of Ash lair and start the fight.
VALID TARGET MATRIX
Fragment to Citadel matrix
Each original Citadel drops exactly one fragment type, and the Monolith requires one of each. There is no overlap or substitution between the three.
| Target | Ancient Crisis Fragment | Faded Crisis Fragment | Weathered Crisis Fragment | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source Citadel | Iron Citadel (Ezomyte) | Copper Citadel (Faridun) | Stone Citadel (Vaal) | Biome |
| Source boss | Count Geonor | Jamanra, the Abomination | Doryani, Royal Thaumaturge | Endgame act boss |
| Required for Monolith | Yes | Yes | Yes | One of each |
PRE-USE CHECKLIST
Pre-use checklist
| Done | Check | Why it matters | Quick fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| One of each type Confirm you hold Ancient AND Faded AND Weathered. Three Ancients will not open the door. | The Monolith door needs one of each fragment type, not three of one. | Farm or trade for the missing type via the matching Citadel. | |
| Fragments in inventory Make sure the fragments are in your main inventory (not just stash) when you click the Monolith. | The insert prompt only appears when the keys are on your character. | Move them from stash to inventory before travelling. | |
| Fortress revealed Verify the Precursor Fortress is raised (first Tower completed) so the Burning Monolith is reachable. | Without the Fortress the Monolith travel button does not exist. | Clear a Tower to raise the Fortress first. |
OUTCOME ANALYSIS
Outcomes by path
| Scenario | Benefit | Risk | Audience | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Arbiter of Ash (Quest) | Two Enigma Chambers hand you most of the set; one pre-inserted key | Low | New endgame characters | Low Clear the Western and Eastern Enigma Chambers, then insert at the Monolith |
| Repeatable Arbiter farming | Re-clear the three Citadels for a fresh fragment set each kill | Medium | Geared endgame characters | Medium Stack Waystone Drop Chance to potentially pull extra fragments per Citadel |
| Arbiter of Ash kill | Boss-unique loot, Atlas progress toward Arbiter of Divinity | High | Fire-resistant builds | High Cap fire resistance and mobility before the fight; bring an ignite-clearing charm |
RISK ANALYSIS
Risk analysis
| Scenario | Gain | Loss | Risk | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partial fragment set | None - the door will not open | Wasted trip to the Monolith if you arrive with duplicates only | Low | Verify one of each type (Ancient + Faded + Weathered) before travelling. |
| Old Calamity Fragments | None - they are disabled in 0.5 | Confusing your route if you treat Calamity Fragments as valid keys | Medium | Ignore Primary/Secondary/Tertiary Calamity Fragments; they no longer drop and are not Arbiter of Ash keys in 0.5. |
| Arbiter of Ash fight | Unique loot and progression to Arbiter of Divinity | Fire-heavy one-shots and ignite damage-of-time can wipe an under-prepared character | High | Overcap fire resistance, build effective HP, and run an ignite-clearing charm. |
COMMUNITY EVIDENCE
Community questions
I have all three Crisis Fragments - why won't the Burning Monolith open?
Player holds three fragments but the Monolith door does not accept them.
Most reports come from fragments sitting in the stash rather than the inventory, or from arriving before the Precursor Fortress is raised. The insert prompt only appears with one of each type on your character and the Fortress revealed.
Hold one of each fragment type in your inventory and travel to the Burning Monolith inside the revealed Fortress.
Do I still need Calamity Fragments in 0.5?
Player asks whether the old Calamity Fragment set is still the Arbiter key.
As of 0.5.0 the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Calamity Fragments can no longer be obtained; the Arbiter of Ash now uses the three Crisis Fragments. Any Calamity Fragments in your stash are legacy items.
No - Calamity Fragments are disabled in 0.5; use Ancient, Faded and Weathered Crisis Fragments instead.
Does Arbiter of Divinity also use these three fragments?
Player wonders if the same Crisis Fragments open both Arbiters.
Arbiter of Divinity is a separate 0.5 pinnacle reached through the Origins of Divinity arc and its own two new Citadels. It does NOT share the Crisis Fragment keys with the Arbiter of Ash.
No - Arbiter of Divinity has its own key path; keep the three Crisis Fragments for the Arbiter of Ash.
video
Video walkthrough
Scorpius
POE2 0.5 Endgame Explained - Arbiter Bosses (Scorpius)
0.5 endgame overview covering Citadels, Crisis Fragments, the Burning Monolith and the Arbiter of Ash / Arbiter of Divinity chain.
What to watch for: Collect Ancient, Faded and Weathered Crisis Fragments from the three Citadels, then insert them at the Burning Monolith to reach the Arbiter of Ash.
Open source ↗PROBLEMS & DIRECT ANSWERS
Problems and direct answers
Monolith travel button missing
Direct answer: The Precursor Fortress is not raised yet. Complete your first Tower to reveal it; the Burning Monolith then appears near the Atlas centre.
- Clear a Tower and re-open the Atlas to locate the Burning Monolith.
Door will not accept my fragments
Direct answer: You likely hold duplicates of one type, or the fragments are in your stash. The door needs one of each type on your character.
- Confirm Ancient + Faded + Weathered are all in your inventory before travelling.
First kill only needed two fragments
Direct answer: That is expected: on the first visit one key is pre-inserted and the other two come from the Western and Eastern Enigma Chambers. Repeat kills require a full Citadel farm of all three.
- For later kills, clear Iron, Copper and Stone Citadels for a complete set.
PATCH HISTORY
Patch history
Crisis Fragments and the Burning Monolith introduced as the Arbiter of Ash access path.
Burning Monolith and Arbiter of Ash moved into the Precursor Fortress; Quest vs Infinite Farm versions added; Primary/Secondary/Tertiary Calamity Fragments can no longer be obtained; area level reduced to 74.
No change to the Crisis Fragment access flow; the three-fragment Burning Monolith path remains current.
SOURCES & VERIFICATION
Sources and verification
Path of Exile 2 0.5.0 patch notes: Burning Monolith moved into the Fortress and Calamity Fragments disabled.
PoE2Wiki Burning Monolith and Crisis Fragment data: fragment-to-Citadel mapping and Quest vs repeatable structure.
Current 0.5 Citadel and Arbiter of Ash guides confirming the three Citadels and the Burning Monolith flow.
Reddit and forum questions about the Monolith, Calamity Fragments and Arbiter of Divinity, used for community-evidence.
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