In Path of Exile, the endgame content revolves significantly around challenging bosses known as Guardians and Conquerors, both of which play vital roles in the game’s Atlas system. Understanding their mechanics, locations, and the rewards they offer is crucial for players aiming to conquer the game’s toughest challenges.

Guardians of the Atlas

The Elder Guardians are four formidable bosses exclusive to Tier 16 maps that are influenced by the Elder. Each Guardian inhabits its own unique arena, accessible only through Elder-influenced maps where the regular map boss is replaced by the Guardian. The primary purpose of defeating these Guardians is to acquire Key to Decay map fragments, which are essential for summoning the ultimate boss encounter, the Uber Elder. The four Elder Guardians include:

1. The Eradicator – A powerful elemental boss focusing on lightning and energy attacks.
2. The Constrictor – Notable for its crowd control mechanics and summoning skill that can complicate battles.
3. The Purifier – Engages players with a combination of ranged and area-of-effect attacks.
4. The Enslaver – Utilizes summoning abilities, making it crucial to manage both the boss and its minions effectively.

To engage with the Guardians, players must prioritize running Elder-influenced Tier 16 maps and then proceed to enter the designated arena by moving to the boss location. Mastering the unique mechanics and attack patterns of each Guardian is critical for victory and ultimately obtaining the required fragments to face Uber Elder.

Conquerors of the Atlas

The Conquerors, also referred to as Elderslayers, represent a different tier of threat introduced in the Conquerors of the Atlas expansion. Composed of five distinct bosses, the Conquerors are former exiles twisted by the Atlas’s influence. Unlike the Guardians, Conquerors are fought in specially designated Conqueror maps that can drop from defeating bosses in Tier 14+ maps, albeit with a relatively low probability (about 2% drop chance). The five Conquerors are pivotal to the overarching storyline that leads to the Sirus boss encounter, marking a significant progression point in the game. The process of combating these foes involves:

1. Acquiring Conqueror Maps – These rare drops from high-tier map bosses lead to the unique battle locations.
2. Engaging in Citadels – Players must enter the corresponding Conqueror map to face and defeat the Conqueror within its citadel.

Killing all Conquerors is imperative for progressing the storyline and ultimately preparing players for the climactic battle against Sirus.

Enhancing the Experience

To maximize the efficiency of farming both Guardians and Conquerors, players can utilize Atlas passive skill trees and map modifiers that increase the drop rates of Guardian and Conqueror maps. Zana, the map vendor, provides valuable options for obtaining Elder-influenced maps, although most players will find these maps primarily through boss drops during high-tier map runs.

Conclusion

In summary, both Guardians and Conquerors represent critical components of the Path of Exile’s endgame experience. The Guardians are tied to Tier 16 Elder-influenced maps and are necessary for crafting a path to encounter Uber Elder, while the Conquerors provide a distinct challenge within special maps connected to the narrative progression towards Sirus. Both require strategic preparation and understanding of their mechanics, making them essential milestones for players aiming to conquer the Atlas.