The Ancient Crisis Fragment is one of the rarest and most valuable end-game currencies in Path of Exile 2 due to several gameplay and design factors. Its rarity stems from the difficulty and complexity involved in obtaining it, as well as its critical role in unlocking some of the most challenging and rewarding content in the game.
The Ancient Crisis Fragment is exclusively dropped by the boss found inside Iron Citadels, which are high-tier, randomly spawning zones on the outskirts of the Atlas. These Citadels require Tier 15 Waystones to enter, placing this content firmly in the late endgame where gameplay is inherently more demanding. Players have to not only find these rare Citadels through extensive Atlas exploration but also successfully defeat the tough bosses within, often preceded by two formidable lieutenants. This gating mechanism drastically limits the fragment’s availability.
The drop mechanics contribute significantly to its rarity. While defeating the Iron Citadel boss guarantees at least one Ancient Crisis Fragment, increasing the Waystone Drop Chance a modifier influenced by crafting, Atlas passive points, and Waystone suffixes is necessary to obtain multiple fragments per kill. This modifier can be pushed above 300-400% to consistently yield two fragments, and above 900% for three or more; however, achieving these breakpoints requires substantial investment and balance with survivability since enhancing drop chance often increases map difficulty.
The Ancient Crisis Fragment’s rarity is also amplified by its indispensable utility: it is one of three fragments required to activate the Burning Monolith and challenge the Arbiter of Ash, arguably the pinnacle boss in Path of Exile 2. Because of this critical use, demand remains persistently high, maintaining its status as a premium currency in both farming and trading economies.
Furthermore, the fragment is non-consumable until used for the unlock, meaning players often hoard these fragments, further limiting market supply. Their scarcity drives up the trading value significantly, making them a lucrative and highly contested commodity.
The Ancient Crisis Fragment is rare because:
The Ancient Crisis Fragment is exclusively dropped by the boss found inside Iron Citadels, which are high-tier, randomly spawning zones on the outskirts of the Atlas. These Citadels require Tier 15 Waystones to enter, placing this content firmly in the late endgame where gameplay is inherently more demanding. Players have to not only find these rare Citadels through extensive Atlas exploration but also successfully defeat the tough bosses within, often preceded by two formidable lieutenants. This gating mechanism drastically limits the fragment’s availability.
The drop mechanics contribute significantly to its rarity. While defeating the Iron Citadel boss guarantees at least one Ancient Crisis Fragment, increasing the Waystone Drop Chance a modifier influenced by crafting, Atlas passive points, and Waystone suffixes is necessary to obtain multiple fragments per kill. This modifier can be pushed above 300-400% to consistently yield two fragments, and above 900% for three or more; however, achieving these breakpoints requires substantial investment and balance with survivability since enhancing drop chance often increases map difficulty.
The Ancient Crisis Fragment’s rarity is also amplified by its indispensable utility: it is one of three fragments required to activate the Burning Monolith and challenge the Arbiter of Ash, arguably the pinnacle boss in Path of Exile 2. Because of this critical use, demand remains persistently high, maintaining its status as a premium currency in both farming and trading economies.
Furthermore, the fragment is non-consumable until used for the unlock, meaning players often hoard these fragments, further limiting market supply. Their scarcity drives up the trading value significantly, making them a lucrative and highly contested commodity.
The Ancient Crisis Fragment is rare because:
- It drops only from high-tier, tough Citadels that require significant effort to access and clear.
- Obtaining multiple fragments per boss kill depends on high Waystone Drop Chance, which is itself challenging to maximize.
- It is essential for accessing top-tier boss content, driving constant high demand.
- Players hold onto fragments for endgame goals, reducing market circulation.