Call of the Abyss IX features a critical registration trap disqualifying competitive teams: the effective deadline hits 24 hours before official closure at January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8, while the 12-hour club rule requires joining by January 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 for S1 eligibility. This guide breaks down both requirements with precise timelines and checklists to avoid disqualification.
Understanding the COA IX Registration Crisis
COA IX registration contains two interconnected requirements that catch teams unprepared. Effective registration deadline: January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8. S1 club join deadline: January 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 (24 hours earlier). Teams assuming they can complete everything on the final day face automatic disqualification.
Tournament Phase Limits:
Sacred Sanctum (Dec 31, 2025 - Jan 8, 2026) - Leviathan Shore map
60 total matches per role, 6 daily matches per role
Quick Matches: 12:00-22:00 server time
Ranked Matches: 12:00-14:00, 19:00-21:00 server time
Divine Procession (Jan 8-22, 2026) - Ancient Passage map
20 total matches per role, 5 daily matches per role
Available only 19:00-21:00 server time
Registration opens December 31, 2025 08:00 UTC+8. Portal times out after 15 minutes of inactivity. Teams need 5-7 players, each with 1500 Quick/Ranked points or 3000 Duo Hunters points. Team points = highest Hunter score ×2 + four highest Survivor scores.
Regional Advancement:
Japan Division: Top 5-6 teams to Online Qualifiers
NA-EU Division: Top 8 teams
Southeast Asia Division: Top 8 teams
Sacred Sanctum: Top 100 teams per region advance to Divine Procession
For resource preparation, Identity V echoes top up for COA IX through BitTopup offers competitive pricing and instant delivery.
Two Critical Rules That Catch Teams Off Guard
The 12-hour club membership operates on server time (UTC+8), resetting daily at 00:00. Players must join tournament clubs 12+ hours before first scheduled match. For S1 (matches start Jan 13, 2026 09:00 UTC+8), club join deadline is January 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8.
S4 registration closes January 15, 2026 09:00 UTC+8 with club join deadline January 13, 2026 09:00 UTC+8.
Maximum one non-permanent resident per roster. Minimum five players required for Online Qualifiers (Feb-March 2026). Daily match limits reset at 00:00 UTC+8.
The 'Effective Deadline' Trap Explained
Effective registration deadline differs from submission deadline due to verification processing. S1 registration officially closes January 14, 2026 09:00 UTC+8, but effective deadline is January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8—12 hours earlier.
Submission vs. Effective Deadline
Tournament systems require verification confirmation within 12 hours of roster submission. Teams submitting at official deadline lack time for organizers to process applications, verify eligibility, and resolve issues.
Maintenance January 8, 2026 08:00 UTC+8 (240-minute duration) creates a registration blackout. Complete registration 48+ hours before effective deadline to accommodate technical issues.
Timeline Breakdown
Registration Preparation (starts Dec 31, 2025 08:00 UTC+8):
Designate team captain
Assemble 5-7 player roster
Coordinate club joining by Jan 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 for S1
Submit roster before Jan 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 effective deadline
Confirm verification within 12 hours
Radiant Altar phase (Jan 22-29, 2026) excludes teams eliminated during Sacred Sanctum or Divine Procession.
The 12-Hour Club Rule: Complete Breakdown
The 12-hour club membership prevents teams from recruiting ringers before matches. Players must join tournament clubs 12+ hours before first scheduled match. System calculates membership in real-time hours (UTC+8), not in-game activity.
What Is the 12-Hour Requirement?
For S1 (first matches after Jan 13, 2026 09:00 UTC+8), club join deadline: January 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8. Joining one minute late = automatic S1 disqualification.
Rule applies individually. A team with four eligible members and one player at 11 hours cannot compete.
How the Game Calculates Duration
Club membership tracks continuously from join moment using UTC+8 server time. System doesn't pause during offline periods. The 12-hour requirement accumulates whether you're playing or not.
Daily match limits reset at 00:00 UTC+8—distinct from the 12-hour membership rule. Track both independently.
Club Transfer Penalties
Transferring between clubs resets membership duration to zero. A player joining tournament club Jan 13, 2026 08:00 UTC+8 has only 13 hours before S1 effective deadline—technically meets 12-hour minimum but leaves no buffer.
Recommendation: Join tournament clubs 48+ hours before deadlines. Maximum roster of seven players allows two substitutes beyond minimum five. Have all seven join by January 11, 2026 for full 48-hour buffer.
Verify Your Team's Eligibility Before Registration
Check three criteria: individual qualification points, club membership duration, roster composition compliance. Each player needs 1500 Quick/Ranked points or 3000 Duo Hunters points. Screenshot point totals as documentation.
Checking Club Membership Duration
Access club roster, locate each player, note exact join timestamp. Calculate hours between timestamp and first match time (Jan 13, 2026 09:00 UTC+8 for S1) to confirm 12+ hour requirement with buffer.
Contact club leader for verification if uncertain. Leaders maintain administrative access to join timestamps, transfer history, activity logs.
Roster Audit
Minimum five players required for Online Qualifiers—can't register with fewer. Maximum seven players all must meet eligibility criteria. Can't register seven where only five qualify.
Residency verification for maximum one non-permanent resident varies by region. Prepare residency proof during preparation phase, not during submission. The 15-minute portal timeout means fumbling for documents = session expiration.
For optimal character access, buy Identity V echoes recharge online through BitTopup's secure platform with 24/7 support.
Complete COA IX Registration Checklist
Begin preparation when registration opens Dec 31, 2025 08:00 UTC+8.
Pre-Registration Phase
Week 1 (Dec 31, 2025 - Jan 6, 2026):
Confirm all roster members have 1500 Quick/Ranked or 3000 Duo Hunters points
Verify current club membership status and join timestamps
Designate team captain with portal access
Assemble residency documentation for non-permanent resident
Create backup roster candidates
Test tournament portal login
Week 2 (Jan 7-13, 2026):
Finalize 5-7 player roster with Feb-March 2026 availability
Coordinate club joining by Jan 11, 2026 (48-hour buffer)
Prepare registration documentation digitally
Calculate team points (highest Hunter ×2 + four highest Survivor)
Schedule team meeting for submission process
Registration Week: Daily Actions
Jan 11, 2026: All S1 members join tournament club by 21:00 UTC+8. Captain verifies and screenshots each join timestamp.
Jan 12, 2026: Final club membership verification. S1 club join deadline passes at 21:00 UTC+8—no new members after. Captain confirms roster stability.
Jan 13, 2026: Submit roster before 21:00 UTC+8 effective deadline. Monitor for verification confirmation. Respond immediately to organizer requests.
Final 48 Hours: Critical Verification
Final eligibility audit:
All players have 12+ hours club membership
Qualification points meet thresholds
Residency documentation complete
Team captain has portal access
All materials prepared in advance
Portal timeout after 15 minutes = complete submission in single session. Assign one member to portal navigation, others provide documentation on demand.
Post-Submission Confirmation
Organizers confirm within 12 hours. Teams submitting at Jan 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 should receive confirmation by Jan 14, 2026 09:00 UTC+8. No confirmation = contact organizers immediately.
Verification includes roster approval, club membership validation, qualification point acceptance. Partial confirmation requires resolving issues before registration closes.
Common Registration Mistakes
Incomplete Roster Information
Portal requires: in-game name, player ID, qualification points breakdown, club join timestamp, residency status. Blank fields = automatic rejection. The 15-minute timeout prevents pausing to gather missing info.
Player ID must exactly match in-game profile. Transposed digits or outdated names = verification failure. Confirm current in-game name and ID within 24 hours of submission.
Club Leader vs. Team Captain Confusion
Club leader manages in-game club infrastructure. Team captain handles tournament registration and organizer communication. Often different people = coordination challenges.
Establish clear protocols: club leader provides membership data, team captain submits registration. Miscommunication causes incorrect club information submissions.
Documentation Errors
Residency documentation requires government-issued ID or official certificates. Utility bills or lease agreements = rejection. Provide exactly what guidelines request.
Screenshot quality matters. Blurry or cropped images force resubmission, consuming verification window time. Use high-resolution screenshots with all data clearly visible.
Timezone Misunderstandings
All deadlines operate on UTC+8 regardless of location. Teams must convert to local timezone.
Examples:
PST (UTC-8): Jan 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 = Jan 13, 2026 05:00 PST (16-hour difference)
EST (UTC-5): Daily reset 00:00 UTC+8 = 11:00 EST previous day
GMT (UTC+0): Daily reset 00:00 UTC+8 = 16:00 GMT previous day
Coordinate match scheduling around reset times to maximize 60 Sacred Sanctum and 20 Divine Procession attempts.
Emergency Fixes: Late Issue Discovery
Teams discovering problems within 72 hours of effective deadline have limited options but can salvage registration with rapid action.
Club Membership Problems
Player joining Jan 11, 2026 09:00 UTC+8 has 60 hours by Jan 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 deadline—exceeds 12-hour requirement. Player joining Jan 13, 2026 10:00 UTC+8 has only 11 hours—ineligible.
Can't accelerate club membership duration. Only solution: roster replacement. Seven-player rosters with two substitutes can swap ineligible player for eligible substitute.
Rapid Roster Adjustments
Roster changes before submission don't require organizer approval. Changes after verification require formal amendment requests that may not complete before window closes.
Minimum five players for Online Qualifiers = can't drop below temporarily. Six-player roster losing one continues with five. Five-player roster losing one must recruit replacement before submission.
Contacting Tournament Organizers
Use official Identity V competitive platform channels. Contact only for genuine eligibility questions or technical issues, not general guidance. Response times vary—contacting within 24 hours of deadline may not get responses in time.
Provide specific information: team name, captain in-game ID, exact issue, steps taken, requested guidance. Vague inquiries can't be answered efficiently.
Club Leaders' Guide: Managing Team Eligibility
Setting Club Policies
Implement minimum membership duration before tournament eligibility. 30-day club membership policy provides substantial buffer beyond 12-hour minimum. Prevents new recruits creating eligibility risks.
Restrict competitive roster members from leaving/rejoining during tournament seasons. Transfers reset membership duration to zero, potentially disqualifying from ongoing tournaments.
Monitoring Join Dates and Transfer History
Club tools display join dates, but tracking transfers requires manual records. Maintain spreadsheets documenting: when each competitive player joined, transfer events, calculated eligibility dates for upcoming tournaments.
Maximum one non-permanent resident per team = clubs with international membership must track player residency status.
Communication Protocols
Competitive rosters need dedicated channels separate from general club chat. Discord, messaging apps, or in-game groups prevent information loss. Activate 2+ weeks before registration opens.
Designate backup captains with portal access and complete roster documentation. The 15-minute timeout and 12-hour verification create tight timeframes where captain unavailability = registration failure.
Post-Registration: Maintaining Eligibility
Registration confirmation doesn't guarantee permanent eligibility. Maintain compliance from verification through final match.
Actions That Still Disqualify
Players leaving tournament club after registration but before matches = lose eligibility. For S1, membership must continue from Jan 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 through Online Qualifiers completion (Feb-March 2026).
Account suspensions/bans for ToS violations immediately disqualify affected players and potentially entire team. Avoid third-party software, account sharing, toxic behavior.
Roster Lock Periods
After registration closes and verification completes, roster changes face strict limitations. Can't add players beyond registered seven-player maximum. Replacing registered player requires formal amendment with organizer approval.
Minimum five for Online Qualifiers: seven-player roster losing two can compete, six-player roster losing three drops below minimum = disqualification. Register maximum seven players for strategic buffer.
Ongoing Verification
Organizers conduct periodic eligibility audits between registration and tournament start. Verify club membership remains active, accounts in good standing, no unauthorized roster changes. Maintain all documentation.
Sacred Sanctum performance (Dec 31, 2025 - Jan 8, 2026) determines Divine Procession advancement. Only top 100 teams per region continue. Registration alone doesn't guarantee participation—must perform during 60-match limit.
Preparing for COA IX Success Beyond Registration
Resource Optimization
Competitive play requires meta-relevant characters and optimal costumes. Audit each player's character roster, identify gaps limiting strategic flexibility.
Reward Structure:
Rank 1: 2000 Fragments per member
Rank 2: 1500 Fragments per member
Rank 3: 1200 Fragments per member
Ranks 4-8: 800 Fragments per member
Ranks 9-16: 600 Fragments per member
Ranks 17-50: 500 Fragments per member
Strategic Echo Preparation Through BitTopup
Character acquisition and costume unlocks require Echoes. Don't wait until tournament phases begin. BitTopup provides secure, instant Echo top-ups with competitive pricing and 24/7 support. Fast delivery ensures immediate access without practice schedule delays.
Technical Readiness
Enable all security features: two-factor authentication, strong unique passwords, email verification. Account compromises during tournament = disqualification even if player wasn't responsible.
Performance optimization: stable internet, updated game client, hardware maintaining consistent frame rates. Conduct technical checks for all members before Sacred Sanctum. Disconnecting during Divine Procession wastes one of 20 limited matches.
Practice Schedule Planning
Sacred Sanctum: 60 total matches per role, 6 daily matches per role (Dec 31, 2025 - Jan 8, 2026). Can't rush all 60 in two days—distribute across window. Daily limits reset 00:00 UTC+8.
Divine Procession: 20 total matches per role, 5 daily matches per role (Jan 8-22, 2026). Matches only available 19:00-21:00 server time—narrow two-hour window. Teams across timezones must coordinate to ensure five minimum players participate during restricted hours.
FAQ
What is the effective deadline for COA IX registration?
January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8—12 hours before official S1 closure (Jan 14, 2026 09:00 UTC+8). Accounts for required 12-hour verification window.
How does the 12-hour club rule work?
Join tournament clubs 12+ hours before first scheduled match. Calculated in real-time hours using UTC+8 server time, not in-game activity. S1 requires joining by Jan 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8. Club transfers reset duration to zero.
Why do teams get disqualified after registering?
Players leaving club before matches complete, account suspensions/bans, unauthorized roster changes, failing to maintain minimum five players, or inaccurate registration information.
How do I check club membership duration?
Access club interface → club roster → each member's profile shows join date/timestamp. Calculate hours between timestamp and first match time to verify 12+ hour requirement.
What are the most common registration mistakes?
Submitting too close to deadline, miscalculating 12-hour club requirement, confusing UTC+8 with local timezone, incomplete roster documentation, incorrect player IDs, failing to verify qualification points before submission.
Can I register on the last day?
S1 registration open until Jan 14, 2026 09:00 UTC+8, but effective deadline Jan 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 is latest safe submission. Last-day registration risks verification delays, portal timeout, insufficient correction time. Recommended: complete 48+ hours before effective deadline.
Don't let resource shortages derail your COA IX dreams! Visit BitTopup now for instant, secure Identity V top-ups with competitive rates and 24/7 support. Get tournament-ready today!