Call of the Abyss IX registration opens December 31, 2026, with server-specific deadlines: S1 servers close January 14, 2026 at 09:00 UTC+8, S4 servers close January 15, 2026 at 09:00 UTC+8. Effective deadline for both: January 13, 2026 at 21:00 UTC+8 for team verification. Teams need 5-7 players (max one non-permanent resident) and must join clubs 12+ hours before matches count. Top teams earn up to 2000 Fragments per member.
COA IX Registration Overview: Critical January 2026 Deadlines
Call of the Abyss IX runs January 8-28, 2026 across three phases: Sacred Sanctum (Dec 31, 2026-Jan 8, 2026), Divine Procession (Jan 8-22), and Radiant Altar (Jan 22-29).
Registration opens December 31, 2026 post-maintenance. Server-specific deadlines require timezone awareness to avoid disqualification.
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Why Registration Deadlines Differ Between Servers
S1 servers (Japan, select Asian regions) close January 14, 2026 at 09:00 UTC+8. S4 servers (North America-Europe, Southeast Asia) close January 15, 2026 at 09:00 UTC+8. This 24-hour gap accommodates maintenance schedules and regional player patterns.
Effective deadline: January 13, 2026 at 21:00 UTC+8 (all servers). This 12-hour buffer ensures verification completes. Late registrations risk disqualification despite submitting before official cutoff.
Registration Timeline
Dec 31, 2025: Registration opens post-maintenance
Jan 8, 2026: Sacred Sanctum ends, Divine Procession begins (maintenance 08:00 UTC+8, 240 min)
Jan 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8: Effective deadline for verification
Jan 14, 2026 09:00 UTC+8: S1 registration closes
Jan 15, 2026 09:00 UTC+8: S4 registration closes
Jan 22, 2026: Divine Procession ends, Radiant Altar begins
Jan 29, 2026: Tournament concludes
S1 Server Registration: January 14, 2026
Exact Closing Time
S1 servers close January 14, 2026, 09:00 UTC+8. Timezone conversions:
January 14, 01:00 UTC
January 13, 20:00 EST
January 13, 17:00 PST
Register by January 13, 21:00 UTC+8 for 12-hour safety margin.
S1 Eligibility Requirements
Teams: 5-7 players (max one non-permanent resident)
Individual: 1500 Quick/Ranked Match points OR 3000 Duo Hunters points
Club membership: 12+ hours before registration
S1 Registration Steps
Verify account meets point requirements
Join tournament club (by Jan 12, 21:00 UTC+8 latest)
Assemble 5-7 player roster
Submit registration before Jan 13, 21:00 UTC+8
Confirm verification within 12 hours
Common S1 Issues
Club membership errors: Join clubs 12+ hours before registration. System rejects insufficient duration.
Non-permanent resident violations: Max one per team. System flags via server history and IP geolocation. Verify all members' status before finalizing.
S4 Server Registration: January 15, 2026
S4 Deadline Time
S4 servers close January 15, 2026, 09:00 UTC+8. Despite 24-hour extension vs S1, effective deadline remains January 13, 21:00 UTC+8. Extra 36 hours serves as emergency buffer, not standard extension.
S4 Eligibility Criteria
Identical to S1:
1500 Quick/Ranked Match points OR 3000 Duo Hunters points
5-7 players, max one non-permanent resident
12-hour club membership
Regional advancement differs: North America-Europe and Southeast Asia both advance top 8 teams vs Japan's top 5-6 from S1.
S4 Registration Procedure
Verify 1500+ Quick/Ranked or 3000+ Duo Hunters points
Join club before Jan 13, 09:00 UTC+8
Form 5-7 player roster with residency verification
Submit by Jan 13, 21:00 UTC+8
Verify acceptance within 12 hours
S4 Technical Requirements
System processes registrations chronologically—earlier submissions get priority. Use stable broadband over mobile networks. Interface times out after 15 minutes inactivity, requiring complete resubmission.
Key Differences: S1 vs S4
Deadline Variations
24-hour gap (S1: Jan 14, S4: Jan 15) stems from regional maintenance scheduling. Both share Jan 13, 21:00 UTC+8 effective deadline for verification.
Competition Level
S1 Japan: Top 5-6 teams advance (higher barrier) S4 NA-EU & SEA: Top 8 teams advance each (broader opportunity)
Reward Structure (Identical Across Servers)
Rank 1: 2000 Fragments/member
Rank 2: 1500 Fragments/member
Rank 3: 1200 Fragments/member
Ranks 4-8: 800 Fragments/member
Ranks 9-16: 600 Fragments/member
Ranks 17-50: 500 Fragments/member
Server Choice Strategy
S4 offers higher qualification rates (top 8) but larger pools. S1 Japan demands superior performance (top 5-6) with smaller fields. Permanent residency restrictions prevent strategic switching—max one non-permanent resident limits cross-server teams.
Registration Process (Both Servers)
Pre-Registration Checklist
Verify 1500+ Quick/Ranked or 3000+ Duo Hunters points
Confirm no active bans/restrictions
Join tournament club 12+ hours before submission
Coordinate with 4-6 eligible players
Verify permanent resident status (max one exception)
Tournament Interface Navigation
Access via events menu post-Dec 31 maintenance. Interface requires sequential entry: account verification, roster submission, role designation, confirmation. Save frequently—sessions timeout after 15 minutes.
Team Formation
Optimal: 5-7 players balancing Hunter/Survivor specialists. Scoring: highest Hunter score × 2 + top 4 Survivor scores. Designate primary/backup players per role. Minimum 5 players required throughout tournament.
Confirming Registration
Confirmation appears within 12 hours via in-game notifications. Successful: displays roster, region, schedule. Failed: specifies rejection reasons. Screenshot confirmation as proof. Contact support if no confirmation within 24 hours.
Eligibility Requirements
Minimum Requirements
1500 Quick/Ranked Match points OR 3000 Duo Hunters points. Quick Matches: 12:00-22:00 server time. Ranked Matches: 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-21:00 server time.
Account Verification
No explicit minimum age, but new accounts lacking match history fail verification. Inactive accounts reactivated for tournament face enhanced scrutiny. Maintain regular gameplay patterns.
Team Composition
1-7 players registered, 5 minimum for participation. Max one non-permanent resident. All members must meet point requirements individually—no team averages.
Disqualifying Factors
Active bans (temporary suspensions, chat restrictions, gameplay bans) auto-disqualify. Previous tournament violations trigger stricter scrutiny.
Registration Rewards
Guaranteed Rewards
All participants receive:
Exclusive COA IX badges
Commemorative profile frames
Abyss Treasure IX access (Jan 8-May 5, 2026)
Fragment Rewards
Scale by ranking (see S1 vs S4 section). Even ranks 17-50 earn 500 Fragments/member.
Exclusive Cosmetics
Tournament-exclusive skins, accessories, emotes unavailable through standard gameplay. Higher ranks unlock additional exclusives.
Claiming Rewards
Auto-distribution via in-game mail. Fragment rewards require manual claiming through tournament interface—expire 30 days after distribution.
Missing Registration Deadline
Late Registration
No late registration after Jan 14-15 closure. System auto-locks interfaces. Emergency exceptions extremely rare—require documented server outages with evidence.
Alternative Opportunities
Community tournaments and ranked ladder continue during COA IX. Ranked season allows point accumulation for future tournaments.
Future COA Prep
COA occurs annually with similar structures. NetEase announces 4-6 weeks before registration. Set calendar reminders.
Spectator Rewards
Non-participants earn viewing rewards through watch-time: limited cosmetics, Fragment bonuses, exclusive emotes.
Troubleshooting Registration Errors
Common Error Messages
Insufficient Points: Below 1500 Quick/Ranked or 3000 Duo Hunters. Verify current totals before registration.
Club Membership Duration Insufficient: Joined <12 hours before registration. Wait until 12-hour minimum elapses.
Team Composition Invalid: Exceeds one non-permanent resident or <5 players. Review roster before resubmission.
Account Verification Problems
Accounts <30 days old require manual review. Submit support tickets with account details, match history screenshots, error messages. Response within 48 hours.
Team Conflicts
Players can join only one team per COA. Coordinate before registration to prevent conflicts. Only team captains submit final registrations.
Connection Issues
Use stable broadband, not mobile networks. Save progress frequently, screenshot sections. Try off-peak hours (02:00-06:00 UTC+8) for optimal stability.
Post-Registration Tournament Prep
Tournament Schedule
Sacred Sanctum (Dec 31, 2025-Jan 8, 2026): 6 daily matches/role, 60 total/role max. Quick Matches: 12:00-22:00. Ranked: 12:00-14:00, 19:00-21:00.
Divine Procession (Jan 8-22, 2026): 5 daily matches/role, 20 total/role max. Ancient Passage: 19:00-21:00 only.
Daily limits reset 00:00 UTC+8.
Practice Strategies
Hunter matches yield 1200-1500 points vs Survivor's 800-1000. Prioritize Hunter development while maintaining Survivor competency. Scrimmage with registered teams via community Discord/forums.
Persona Build Optimization
Competitive builds differ from casual. Hunter: chase efficiency, map control. Survivor: decoding speed, rescue reliability. Monitor patch notes and tier lists for meta shifts.
Resource Management
Ensure adequate Echoes for character unlocks, costumes, persona expansions. Buy Identity V Echoes instant recharge through BitTopup for competitive pricing, secure transactions, and immediate delivery. Prioritize competitively viable characters over cosmetics.
FAQ
When does COA IX registration close for S1 server? Officially January 14, 2026 at 09:00 UTC+8. Effective deadline: January 13, 2026 at 21:00 UTC+8 for verification.
What's the difference between S1 and S4 deadlines? S1 closes Jan 14, 09:00 UTC+8. S4 closes Jan 15, 09:00 UTC+8. Both share effective deadline: Jan 13, 21:00 UTC+8.
What rank do I need for COA IX? 1500 Quick/Ranked Match points OR 3000 Duo Hunters points. Point-based, not rank-based.
How many team members needed? Register 1-7 players, minimum 5 for participation. Max one non-permanent resident. All must join clubs 12+ hours before registration.
What if I miss the deadline? No late registration. System auto-locks. Extremely rare exceptions only for documented server outages.
How do I confirm successful registration? Confirmation within 12 hours via in-game notifications and tournament interface, showing roster, region, and schedule.