1. Efficient Farming Through Waystone Drop Chance Optimization
The primary way to acquire Ancient Crisis Fragments is by defeating bosses in Citadels—special endgame map encounters found across the Atlas. Each Citadel boss drops fragments, but the quantity you receive depends heavily on your Waystone Drop Chance. Waystones are map items that can have up to six modifiers, with suffixes specifically increasing the chance of Waystone drops. Using Vaal Orbs to corrupt Waystones to have six suffixes is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that can dramatically increase fragment yields. Players aiming for multiple fragments per Citadel run typically target at least 300% Waystone Drop Chance for a good chance at two fragments, and between 750% to 900% to reliably get three or more.2. Atlas Passive Tree and Respec Strategy
To boost your Waystone Drop Chance and modifier effects, investing in Atlas passive nodes is essential. Nodes that increase Waystone Modifier Effect and Waystone Quantity, combined with the Unstable Energy Keystone, amplify the number of fragments you can obtain. Many players respec their Atlas passives specifically for Citadel farming to maximize fragment yield, then switch back to their regular farming setup afterward.3. Strategic Map Exploration for More Citadels
Finding as many Citadels as possible per hour increases fragment acquisition. This involves revealing new areas on the Atlas to spawn more Citadels, exploring in a consistent direction, and following coastlines to uncover new tilesets. Citadels are visually marked by colored beams in the fog of war—blue for Iron Citadels, orange for Copper, and red for Stone—so keeping an eye out for these can help locate them quickly.4. Combining Fragments for Pinnacle Content Access
Ancient Crisis Fragments are one of three types of Crisis Fragments needed to unlock the Burning Monolith and challenge the Arbiter of Ash, a pinnacle boss with unique rewards. Gathering sufficient fragments not only allows entry to this fight but also opens up crafting opportunities and access to powerful gear drops that can elevate your build’s capabilities.5. Economic Utility: Trading and Funding Builds
Due to their high value, fragments can be sold or traded to fund other crafting projects or build upgrades. Efficient farming that yields multiple fragments per run can generate significant currency, enabling players to reinvest in gear, crafting materials, or other resources. This economic aspect turns fragment farming into a sustainable source of income and progression.Maximizing Ancient Crisis Fragments’ utility involves a combination of boosting Waystone Drop Chance through crafting and Atlas passives, strategic map exploration to find more Citadels, and using the fragments to unlock pinnacle bosses and crafting opportunities. This approach not only accelerates character progression but also provides economic benefits, making fragment farming a cornerstone of high-level Path of Exile 2 gameplay.