PEAK Citadel biome walkthrough: how to avoid the traps and reach the summit

The Citadel biome was added to PEAK with the latest update, The Final Ascent. It shares some similarities with The Kiln but also has several unique features. This guide explains how to overcome the traps scattered throughout The Citadel and reach the summit without losing anyone.

The Citadel is one of two new biomes added to PEAK with The Final Ascent update. Its structure closely resembles The Kiln, where players must climb through the inside of a massive volcano while staying ahead of the rising lava.

This region presents a different set of challenges, including numerous traps scattered throughout the biome and a rising shroud of Gloom that prevents you from taking your time and forces you to reach the summit as quickly as possible.

Below, we will explain in detail how to overcome every obstacle in The Citadel.

The new region is quite similar to The Kiln, as you once again have to move almost entirely upward. Pay close attention to ladders, ropes, and other climbing aids that allow you to gain height without using too much stamina.

There are two main dangers in The Citadel:

You will need to overcome both hazards to reach the top. Below, we explain how to deal with them.

The PEAK developers did not want to create another region built entirely around a vertical climb, so they filled The Citadel with a wide variety of traps.

You need to remain extremely alert throughout the ascent to avoid getting caught by one of them. The Citadel contains the following types of traps:

Do your best to avoid these traps. Otherwise, there is a good chance that you will take heavy damage or fall all the way to the bottom of The Citadel, where the rising Gloom may make it impossible to recover.

We covered the Gloom mechanic in detail in our Gloom biome guide. The Gloom found here works in exactly the same way, inflicting Drowsy and gradually reducing the usable portion of your stamina bar.

The main difference is that the Gloom gradually rises behind you, filling the lower levels of The Citadel as you climb. A similar mechanic appeared in The Kiln, except there the players were pursued by deadly lava.

To stay out of the Gloom, simply keep moving upward and avoid remaining in one place for too long. It will not wait for you and will continue rising until it fills the entire interior of The Citadel.

Reaching the top of The Citadel requires a great deal of stamina. Stock up on items that can quickly restore stamina or provide bonus stamina for overcoming difficult obstacles. You should also bring equipment that can speed up your ascent:

All of these items can be found inside luggage scattered across the island. If you come across any of them, try to save them until you reach The Citadel.

Traps are the main threat in The Citadel, so the most important advice remains unchanged: stay alert and carefully watch your surroundings to avoid falling into one. More useful tips are listed below:

Follow these tips to make your ascent through The Citadel easier. It is the final obstacle standing between your group and PEAK's last region.