Call of the Abyss IX launches January 8, 2026, featuring Matador S-Tier for Hernando Romero. Guaranteeing this skin requires 250 essence pulls at 79,500 Echoes total. F2P players farm 1,125-2,500 Echoes during the event through dailies, ranked matches, and codes. This guide covers exact costs, optimal farming routes, and competitive prep strategies.
COA IX Matador Essence: Complete Cost Breakdown
Matador S-Tier releases February 5, 2026, in Season 41 Essence 1. Understanding exact costs separates prepared players from those caught off-guard.
Single pulls cost 318 Echoes. 10-pull bundles cost 3,180 Echoes—no bulk discount. Guaranteed S-Tier pity activates at exactly 250 pulls, creating a 79,500 Echo ceiling. Season 41 Essence 2 adds S-Tier Coordinator plus A-Tier Lanternist and Game Keeper.
For efficient pulls, Identity V Echoes top up through BitTopup provides instant delivery with competitive pricing.
Guaranteed Pull System (250 Pull Pity Mechanics)
Pity counter persists across individual essence pools within the same season. Every pull without S-Tier increments counter by one. At 250 pulls, system automatically awards featured S-Tier.
No soft pity exists—each pull maintains identical probability until 250. Counter resets immediately after obtaining any S-Tier, whether random or guaranteed.
Critical: Pity counters DON'T carry between different essence series. Progress toward Matador in Season 41 Essence 1 won't transfer to Essence 2 or future releases.
Real Echo Cost: Single vs 10-Pull
Identity V maintains consistent per-pull pricing. Single pulls: 318 Echoes. 10-pulls: 3,180 Echoes—zero bulk discount.
You can pull incrementally without penalty. Stop immediately after obtaining target costume without wasting resources.
250-pull guarantee cost tiers:
50 pulls: 15,900 Echoes
100 pulls: 31,800 Echoes
150 pulls: 47,700 Echoes
200 pulls: 63,600 Echoes
250 pulls: 79,500 Echoes (guaranteed)
F2P vs Light Spender vs Whale
F2P players farming COA IX (January 8-28, 2026) accumulate 1,125-2,500 Echoes. This yields 3-7 essence pulls—statistically insufficient for S-Tier without extraordinary luck.
Light spenders with monthly card earn additional 1,500-2,500 Echoes monthly, totaling 2,625-5,000 Echoes during COA IX. Combined with F2P farming: 8-15 pulls, still far below guarantee.
Whale players targeting guaranteed Matador need 79,500 Echoes minus farmed resources. Player with 2,000 farmed Echoes purchases 77,500 Echoes. Full COA IX collection (Joseph S-Tier + four A-Tiers) requires 15,000-25,000 additional Echoes.
Understanding COA IX Essence Probability
S-Tier costumes show ~1-2% drop rates per pull (community data, not official). Cumulative probability:
50 pulls: ~40% S-Tier chance
100 pulls: ~63% chance
150 pulls: ~78% chance
200 pulls: ~87% chance
250 pulls: 100% guaranteed
Pity Counter Mechanics and Carryover
No in-game interface displays pity progress. Track manually using spreadsheets or community calculators.
Counter persistence rules:
Within-season carryover: Pity carries between Essence 1 and Essence 2 of same season
Cross-season reset: All progress resets when new seasons begin (Season 41 starts February 5, 2026)
Shared pool mechanics: Limited and permanent essences maintain separate counters
Season resets occur Thursdays 08:00 UTC+8 with 240-minute maintenance. Complete pulls before season transitions to avoid counter resets.
Common Misconceptions
Misconception 1: Guarantee activates at 200 pulls. FALSE—current system requires 250 pulls.
Misconception 2: Pulling during specific times improves rates. FALSE—pseudorandom number generation uses server-side seeds. Pull timing has zero statistical impact.
Misconception 3: A-Tier drops reset S-Tier pity. FALSE—only S-Tier acquisitions reset guarantee progress.
Fastest COA Token Farming Routes
COA IX runs January 8-28, 2026 (20-day window). Maximize Echo acquisition by prioritizing high-yield activities.
Daily quests: 15-30 Echoes in 10-15 minutes (1.5-2 Echoes/minute). Three daily ranked matches: 20-50 Echoes depending on win rate and tier (5-7 Echoes/match for mid-tier).
Active redemption codes:
queenbee1127: 75-150 Echoes
27026: 75-150 Echoes
2A543: 75-100 Echoes
Redeem: Lobby > Gift > Settings > ID input. Codes expire without warning—redeem immediately.
Daily Task Priority Matrix
Tier 1 (Highest Priority)
Redemption codes: 75-150 Echoes in <1 minute
Daily login: 10-20 Echoes in 5 seconds
First three ranked matches post-reset: Double rewards (40-100 Echoes total)
Tier 2 (High Priority)
Standard dailies: 15-30 Echoes in 10-15 minutes
Ranked matches 4-10: 20-50 Echoes in 8-12 minutes each
Tier 3 (Moderate Priority)
Weekly milestones: Variable rewards
Event challenges: 50-200 Echoes
Tier 4 (Low Priority)
Quick match grinding: Minimal Echoes
Custom matches: Zero direct rewards
First three post-reset ranked matches yield double rewards. Thursday 08:00 UTC+8 optimal for concentrated farming.
Ranked Match Farming: Win Rate Impact
60% win rate player in Tier IV-V earns 35-45 Echoes/match. 40% win rate player earns 15-25 Echoes/match.
Tier advancement provides better rewards but increases difficulty. Find equilibrium tier where win rate and reward multipliers balance optimally.
Match duration impacts efficiency. Quick 5-minute losses provide better Echo-per-hour rates than 15-minute defeats.
Token-to-Essence Conversion Optimization
Echoes serve as primary premium currency for essence pulls. Direct Echo purchases provide most straightforward path.
Inspiration points (from duplicate costumes) convert at unfavorable rates (1,000 Inspiration = 100-200 Echoes). Avoid relying on Inspiration conversion for major purchases.
For efficient currency management, buy Identity V Echoes recharge online through BitTopup's secure platform.
Maximum Token Acquisition Timeline
20-day COA IX window (January 8-28, 2026) allows:
Daily quests: 20 days × 15-30 Echoes = 300-600 Echoes
Ranked matches (3/day): 20 days × 20-50 Echoes = 400-1,000 Echoes
Weekly milestones: 2-3 cycles = 200-500 Echoes
Redemption codes: One-time 225-400 Echoes
Event bonuses: 200-400 Echoes
Total F2P maximum: 1,325-2,900 Echoes with optimal conditions, high win rates, perfect daily participation.
Missing 3-4 days reduces total by 15-20%.
Conversion Timing Strategy
Pull immediately if:
Event deadline within 48 hours
Within 10 pulls of guarantee with sufficient Echoes
Limited essence pool expires soon
Delay pulling if:
Far from guarantee (<100 pulls accumulated)
Future essence announcements might shift priorities
Accumulating resources for multiple targets
Matador essence remains available throughout Season 41 (February 5, 2026 onward). Limited COA IX costumes disappear after January 28, 2026.
Budget Planning Strategies
F2P Player Route
Pure F2P farming 1,125-2,500 Echoes during COA IX affords 3-7 essence pulls. This provides ~3-14% S-Tier acquisition chance.
F2P strategy:
Selective targeting: ONE S-Tier per season maximum
Pity accumulation: Build toward guarantee over multiple seasons
A-Tier focus: Target discounted A-Tiers during first-week sales (1,178 vs 1,388 Echoes)
Code vigilance: Monitor community for redemption codes
First-week A-Tier discount saves 210 Echoes per costume. COA IX features four A-Tiers (Knight, Painter, Fire Investigator, Faro Lady) releasing January 8, 2026. Purchasing all four during discount: 4,712 Echoes vs 5,552 standard—840 Echo savings.
Light Spender Optimization
Light spenders ($10-50 monthly) maximize value through:
Monthly cards: Best Echo-per-dollar ratio with daily bonuses
First-time bonuses: Double Echoes on initial top-ups
Event bundles: Occasionally 20-30% better rates
$30 monthly budget yields 4,000-6,000 Echoes. Combined with F2P farming (1,125-2,500), total: 5,125-8,500 Echoes—16-26 pulls monthly.
Adopt 3-season guarantee strategy: Accumulate resources across three seasons to reach 250-pull guarantee on single high-priority S-Tier.
Whale Efficiency
High spenders targeting immediate Matador need 79,500 Echoes minus farmed resources. Whale with 2,000 F2P Echoes requires 77,500 purchased.
Whale optimization:
Bulk purchase timing: Wait for bonus events offering 20-50% extra Echoes
Account value preservation: Prioritize limited-availability costumes
Complete collection: Calculate total cost for full essence pool
Complete Season 41 Essence 1 collection:
Matador S-Tier: 79,500 Echoes (worst-case)
Additional A-Tiers: 1,388 Echoes each × quantity
Estimated total: 85,000-95,000 Echoes
COA IX Meta Analysis
Top-Tier Hunter Picks
Joseph's S-Tier COA IX costume coincides with elevated tournament presence. Costume provides zero gameplay advantages—purely cosmetic.
High-priority hunter bans target:
Oppressive early-game presence
Guaranteed first-down scenarios
Picks countering specific survivor compositions
Prepare 3-4 hunter specialists per player for ban phase adjustments.
Survivor Composition Meta
Optimal compositions balance decoding, rescue, and kiting:
1 Decoder specialist: Maximizes cipher speed
1 Rescuer: Ensures safe chair saves
2 Flex roles: Adapt between kiting, support, secondary decoding
Team minimum: 5 players with maximum 1 non-permanent resident. Registration closes 09:00 UTC+8 on designated dates.
Map-Specific Strategy
Tournament map pools rotate seasonally. Prepare for:
Leviathan Shore: 6 daily matches/role, 60 total/role
Ancient Passage: 5 daily matches/role, 20 total/role
Map-specific practice:
Optimal kiting routes and transitions
Cipher positioning and sequences
Rescue timing based on hunter spawns
Endgame gate strategies
Team Preparation Checklist
Role Assignment
Establish clear hierarchies before registration:
Primary roster (5 players): Starting lineup
Backup players (2-3): Substitutes for illness, conflicts, strategic adjustments
Role specialists: Designated experts for specific hunters/survivors
Captain: Final decision authority
Document role assignments formally to prevent mid-tournament confusion.
Scrim Practice Schedule (4-Week Plan)
Week 1-2: Fundamentals
Individual drills: 2 hours daily
Role-specific practice: 1.5 hours daily
Team coordination: 1 hour daily
Week 3: Integration
Full team scrimmages: 3 hours daily
VOD review: 1 hour daily
Strategy development: 1 hour daily
Week 4: Tournament Simulation
Mock tournament matches: 2-3 hours daily
Mental preparation: 30 minutes daily
Final strategy refinement: 1 hour daily
Leviathan Shore: 6 daily matches/role (60 total/role). Ancient Passage: 5 daily matches/role (20 total/role). Manage match limits strategically.
Communication Protocol
Standardized callouts prevent miscommunication:
Hunter location: Hunter [location] moving [direction]
Cipher progress: Cipher [number] at [percentage]
Rescue timing: Rescuing in [seconds]
Kiting status: Kiting [location], [health state]
Item usage: Using [item] at [location]
Conduct communication drills separate from gameplay practice.
Matador S-Tier: Investment Value
Gameplay Impact vs Cosmetic Value
S-Tier costumes provide zero gameplay advantages. Hitboxes, movement speed, abilities remain identical to default models. 79,500 Echo investment purchases exclusively cosmetic value.
For competitive players, costume signals dedication, potentially affecting team recruitment and community perception. No measurable performance improvements.
Collection-focused players derive value from rarity and visual appeal. Matador features unique animations unavailable in lower-tier costumes.
Collection Priority for Competitive Players
Prioritize:
Character mastery: Skill development over cosmetics
Multiple character proficiency: Roster depth for bans
Strategic knowledge: Map awareness and meta understanding
Team coordination: Communication and synergy
Cosmetic collection: Only after competitive fundamentals solid
Investing 79,500 Echoes while lacking fundamentals misallocates resources. Costume won't improve performance—practice will.
Long-Term Availability
Season essence costumes remain available throughout respective seasons but may become unavailable afterward. Matador in Season 41 Essence 1 (starting February 5, 2026) should remain pullable until Season 42.
Post-season availability varies:
Some S-Tiers return in future essence pools
Others become permanently unavailable
NetEase occasionally offers limited returns during anniversaries
79,500 Echo cost remains identical whether purchased during Season 41 or potential future returns.
Event Timeline Management
COA IX Duration: January 8-28, 2026
20-day event divides into phases:
Phase 1 (January 8-14): Initial release
Joseph S-Tier available
Four A-Tiers at first-week discount (1,178 Echoes)
Maximum daily farming begins
Phase 2 (January 15-21): Mid-event
A-Tier discount expires (prices increase to 1,388 Echoes)
Weekly milestone resets
Tournament registration deadlines approach
Phase 3 (January 22-28): Final week
Last opportunity for COA IX exclusives
Final daily completions
Resource conversion deadline
Registration closes 09:00 UTC+8 on specified dates.
Critical Milestone Dates
January 8, 2026: COA IX launches, A-Tier discount begins
January 14, 2026: First-week discount expires (save 210 Echoes/costume before this)
January 28, 2026: COA IX concludes, exclusives unavailable
February 5, 2026: Season 41 begins, Matador releases in Essence 1
Total investment for complete collection: 15,000-25,000 Echoes (COA IX) + 79,500 Echoes (Matador) = 94,500-104,500 Echoes maximum.
Last-Minute Emergency Plan
48 hours remaining:
Complete pending dailies (15-30 Echoes each)
Maximize ranked participation (20-50 Echoes/match)
Check unredeemed codes (225-400 Echoes potential)
Review incomplete weekly milestones
24 hours remaining:
Prioritize highest Echo-per-minute activities exclusively
Consider emergency purchases if close to thresholds
Calculate exact pulls needed for next guarantee milestone
Final 6 hours:
Complete remaining quick tasks
Make final purchase decisions
Execute essence pulls before expiration
Within 10-20 pulls of guarantee? Strongly consider emergency purchases to avoid wasting pity progress.
Maximizing COA IX Investment with BitTopup
Secure Echo Top-Up
BitTopup provides secure transactions with verified payment processing, eliminating risks from unofficial sellers. Account security paramount—poor security practices expose players to theft and permanent bans.
Competitive pricing provides better Echo-per-dollar ratios vs standard in-game purchases, particularly for bulk acquisitions. Players targeting 79,500 Echo guarantee benefit from maximized purchasing power.
Instant Delivery
Event deadlines create urgency. BitTopup's instant delivery ensures Echoes arrive within minutes, preventing last-minute failures.
Players approaching January 28, 2026 COA IX deadline or February 5, 2026 Matador release benefit from reliable timing. Delayed transfers can result in missed discounts or exclusives.
Competitive Pricing
BitTopup maintains competitive rates across package sizes, accommodating light spenders and whales. Transparent pricing eliminates hidden fees.
Customer service provides support for transaction issues, payment questions, delivery concerns. High user ratings reflect consistent quality across thousands of transactions.
FAQ
How much does the Matador S-tier skin cost in Identity V COA IX?
Maximum 250 essence pulls at 318 Echoes each = 79,500 Echoes for guaranteed acquisition. Lucky players may obtain in fewer pulls, but guarantee ensures 250 always succeeds.
What is the pity system for COA IX essence in Identity V?
Guarantees S-Tier after exactly 250 pulls without S-Tier. Counter increments with each pull, resets upon obtaining any S-Tier. Pity carries between Essence 1 and 2 within same season but resets when new seasons begin.
Can F2P players get Matador skin without paying?
F2P accumulate 1,125-2,500 Echoes during COA IX through dailies, ranked, codes. This provides 3-7 pulls with ~3-14% S-Tier chance. Reaching 250-pull guarantee requires 3-5 seasons of accumulation for pure F2P.
What are the fastest ways to earn COA IX tokens?
Prioritize redemption codes (225-400 Echoes instantly), first three post-reset ranked matches (40-100 Echoes with double rewards), daily quests (15-30 Echoes in 10-15 minutes). Maintain consistent daily participation across 20-day window.
How long does COA IX championship event last?
January 8-28, 2026 (20-day window). First-week A-Tier discount expires January 14, 2026. Tournament registration closes 09:00 UTC+8 on designated dates. Season 41 begins February 5, 2026.
What team composition is best for COA IX meta?
1 decoder specialist, 1 rescuer, 2 flex roles balancing kiting and support. Teams require minimum 5 players with maximum 1 non-permanent resident. Leviathan Shore: 6 daily matches/role (60 total). Ancient Passage: 5 daily matches/role (20 total).