Understanding Mike's Deduction Star Costume and COA IX Urgency
Deduction Star costumes represent Identity V's community-driven recognition system. Players vote for one week, awarding six A-Tier costumes annually (four Survivors, two Hunters). Previous winners can't compete again, making each unique.
Mike Morton's Forgotten George (Composer) won the 2026 Deduction Star title, launching January 2, 2026. This A-Tier costume features elegant composer attire with musical motifs and refined animations. Available permanently in Illusion Hall via Fragment/Echo purchase.
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Abyss Treasure IX runs January 8, 2026 post-maintenance through May 5, 2026, 23:59 UTC+8—117 days to accumulate Fragments through COA IX club activities. Fragment farming requires consistent participation in ranked club matches during Sacred Sanctum (December 31, 2025 - January 8, 2026) and Divine Procession (January 8-22, 2026).
What Makes This Costume Essential
A-Tier costumes deliver premium visual quality with custom effects, voice lines, and animations. Deduction Star designation adds community validation—this won through player votes. For Mike mains, Forgotten George offers prestige beyond standard purchases.
Pricing: 1388 Echoes standard or 4888 Fragments. First-week 25% discount reduced Echo cost to 1038 (saved 210 Echoes, ended January 9, 2025). Fragment pricing stays constant, making COA IX participation the primary free unlock path.
Complete Fragment and Echo Requirements
Unlock requires 4888 Fragments or 1388 Echoes through Illusion Hall.
COA IX Club Ranking Fragment Rewards:
- Rank 1: 2000 Fragments per member
- Rank 2: 1500 Fragments
- Rank 3: 1200 Fragments
- Ranks 4-8: 800 Fragments
- Ranks 9-16: 600 Fragments
- Ranks 17-50: 500 Fragments
Spectator rewards add 50-200 Fragments. Rank 1 finish provides 2000 Fragments—41% of total cost.
Echo Acquisition Channels:
- Daily quests: 450-900 Echoes monthly
- Ranked matches (3 daily): 20-50 Echoes, double post-Thursday reset (08:00 UTC+8)
- Weekly missions: 200-400 Echoes monthly
Active Redemption Codes:
- queenbee1127: 75-150 Echoes
- 27026: 75-150 Echoes
- 2A543: 75-100 Echoes
Redeem via Lobby > Gift > Settings > ID. Combined: 225-400 Echoes (16-29% of discounted price).
COA IX Event Structure
Registration: December 31, 2025 - January 15, 2026, 09:00 UTC+8. January 8, 2026 maintenance (08:00 UTC+8, 240 minutes) transitions Sacred Sanctum to Divine Procession.
Sacred Sanctum (December 31, 2025 - January 8, 2026):
- 6 daily matches per role
- 60 total matches per role
- Quick Match: 12:00-22:00 server time
- Ranked Match: 12:00-14:00, 19:00-21:00
Divine Procession (January 8-22, 2026):
- 5 daily matches per role
- 20 total matches per role
- Same time windows
Hunter matches: 1200-1500 points. Survivor matches: 800-1000 points. Team score = highest Hunter × 2 + top 4 Survivor scores. Join clubs 12+ hours before matches for score counting.
Spyglass Package (288 Echoes, January 8-21, 2026): 100 Spyglasses, 188 Clues, 188 Fragments. One purchase limit. 1.53 Echoes per Fragment—less efficient than direct purchase but useful near threshold.
Fastest Echo Farming Methods
Daily Echo Optimization:
- Complete daily quests (15-30 Echoes daily, 450-900 monthly)
- Play 3 ranked matches (20-50 Echoes, 40-100 post-Thursday reset)
- Redeem codes immediately (225-400 Echoes one-time)
- Complete weekly missions (50-100 weekly, 200-400 monthly)
Monthly Echo Projection:
- Daily quests: 450-900
- Ranked matches (90): 600-1500
- Weekly missions: 200-400
- Total: 1250-2800 Echoes
Dedicated players reach 1388 Echoes in 15-45 days through free methods. Starting mid-January 2026, reach threshold by late February.
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Sacred Sanctum and Divine Procession Efficiency
80 total matches per role (60 Sacred Sanctum + 20 Divine Procession).
Hunter Role:
- Higher points (1200-1500 vs 800-1000)
- Faster match completion
- Greater club ranking impact
- Consistent Echo rewards
Survivor Role:
- Easier learning curve
- Team coordination reduces pressure
- Broader character pool for quests
- Equivalent Echo rewards
Match timing: Quick Matches (12:00-22:00, 10-hour window, faster queues). Ranked Matches (12:00-14:00, 19:00-21:00, 4 hours, higher rewards + double post-Thursday). Limited playtime? Prioritize ranked windows.
Step-by-Step Fragment Accumulation
Step 1: Join Competitive Club Before Deadline
Join by January 14, 2026, 21:00 UTC+8 (12-hour minimum before registration closes).
Club Selection:
- Previous COA ranking history (Rank 1-3 = 1200-2000 Fragments)
- Active participation rates
- Communication channels
- Role balance
Step 2: Maximize Sacred Sanctum Participation
60-match quota (6 daily × 10 days).
Daily Schedule:
- 12:00-14:00: 2-3 ranked matches
- 19:00-21:00: Remaining ranked
- 14:00-19:00 or 21:00-22:00: Quick Match quota
Hunter: 1400+ points. Survivor: 900+ points.
Step 3: Optimize Divine Procession Performance
20-match quota (5 daily × 4 days). Every match critical for close rankings.
Tactics:
- Review Sacred Sanctum recordings
- Coordinate role coverage
- Prioritize high-scoring strategies
- Maintain team communication
Step 4: Claim Spectator Rewards (Radiant Altar)
January 22-29, 2026: 50-200 Fragments via spectating. Minimal effort.
Step 5: Evaluate Spyglass Package
288 Echoes for 188 Fragments. Cost-effective only when 188 short of 4888.
Decision Framework:
- 4700+ Fragments: Buy package
- 3000-4699: Compare 288 Echoes + gap vs 1388 direct
- <3000: Direct purchase more efficient
Advanced Fragment Farming Beyond COA IX
Ongoing Sources:
- Ranked season rewards: 100-500 Fragments
- Seasonal events: 50-300 Fragments
- Memory sphere duplicates: 1000 Fragments (rare)
- Maintenance compensation: Variable
Slower than COA IX's 500-2000 injection. Missing COA IX? Expect multi-month accumulation or direct purchase.
Fragment vs Echo Analysis
Fragment Path:
- Pros: Zero cost, skill development, community building, extra rewards
- Cons: 117-day commitment, 40-60 hours, ranking uncertainty
Echo Path:
- Pros: Immediate access, no pressure, first-week discount, preserves Fragments
- Cons: Monetary investment or 15-45 days grinding, misses COA IX experience
Under 1 hour daily? Echo purchase. 2+ hours and competitive? Fragment farming.
Common Mistakes That Delay Unlocks
Joining Clubs Without Research
Clubs consistently Rank 10-20 rarely jump to Rank 1-3. Request previous COA screenshots. Verify member activity.
Ignoring 12-Hour Membership Requirement
Joining January 15, 2026, 10:00 UTC+8 misses 09:00 cutoff. Join by January 14, 21:00 UTC+8.
Inconsistent Sacred Sanctum Participation
12 matches Day 1, skip Days 2-3 harms rankings. Fixed daily schedule beats sporadic bursts.
Prioritizing Quick Over Ranked During Peak
Quick Matches sacrifice 30-50% Echo income. Complete ranked quotas first during 12:00-14:00 or 19:00-21:00.
Neglecting Spectator Rewards
50-200 Fragments for 30-60 minutes daily. Don't leave free Fragments unclaimed.
Troubleshooting Fragment Issues
Club Ranking Discrepancies
Allow 2-hour processing. Verify 12-hour membership before match. Check match type. Screenshot results. Contact club leadership. Submit support ticket if persists 24+ hours.
Fragments Not Appearing Post-Event
Timeline:
- Radiant Altar ends: January 29, 2026
- Distribution begins: January 30
- All distributed by: January 31, 23:59 UTC+8
If missing by February 1: Verify Rank 1-50 eligibility, check mailbox, review transaction history, submit ticket.
Insufficient Fragments Despite Rank 1
Rank 1 = 2000 Fragments (41% of 4888). Need 2888 more.
Bridge Gap:
- Spectator: 50-200
- Spyglass Package: 188 (288 Echoes)
- Previous reserves: Variable
- Ranked season: 100-500
Calculate deficit. Spyglass worthwhile if ≤188 short. Direct purchase if >1000 deficit.
Echo Purchase Strategy
When Direct Purchase Makes Sense
Scenario 1: Discovery after January 15, 2026 (registration closed) Scenario 2: Inconsistent availability (can't maintain 1-2 hours daily) Scenario 3: Fragment deficit post-event (2000-4000 Fragments, need 888-2888 more)
Secure Echo via BitTopup
- Competitive rates with discounts
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Maximize Echo Value
First-week discounts save 210 Echoes (25% off). Time purchases for discount windows. Reserve saved Echoes for future costumes.
Final Countdown: May 5, 2026 Deadline
117-day window from January 8, 2026.
Timeline Roadmaps
Starting January 8 (Full Window):
- COA IX: 500-2000
- Spectator: 50-200
- Ranked season: 100-500
- Events: 50-300
- Total: 700-3000 Fragments
Starting February 1 (Post-Registration):
- Spectator: 50-200
- Ranked season: 100-500
- Events: 50-300
- Feb-May ongoing: 200-600
- Total: 400-1600 Fragments
Starting April 1 (Final Month):
- Ranked season: 100-500
- Events: 100-300
- Total: 200-800 Fragments
Emergency Echo Farming (May 1-5)
- Redeem codes: 225-400
- 5 days daily quests: 75-150
- 15 ranked matches: 100-250
- Weekly missions: 50-100
- Total: 450-900 Echoes (32-65% of 1388)
Need supplementary 488-938 Echoes to complete.
Post-Unlock Showcase
- Equip all modes
- Update profile showcase
- Join community events
- Share with #IdentityV #DeductionStar
FAQ
How much does the costume cost? 4888 Fragments or 1388 Echoes. First-week discount (ended January 9, 2025): 1038 Echoes. Available until May 5, 2026, 23:59 UTC+8.
Can I get COA IX Fragments after missing registration? No. Registration closed January 15, 2026, 09:00 UTC+8. Can't access 500-2000 Fragment club rewards. Use alternative sources (spectator, ranked, events).
Fastest way to 1388 Echoes free? Daily quests (450-900 monthly) + ranked matches (600-1500) + weekly missions (200-400) + codes (225-400 immediate) = 1475-3200 monthly. Reach threshold in 15-30 days.
Do Fragments expire after event? No. Fragments stay permanently. Only Abyss Treasure IX event ends May 5—costume remains in Illusion Hall indefinitely at same cost.
Is Spyglass Package worth it? Only if ≤188 Fragments short of 4888. At 288 Echoes for 188 Fragments (1.53 per), costs more than direct purchase but completes progress.
Can I unlock after May 5, 2026? Yes. Deadline marks event end, not costume removal. Forgotten George stays permanently at 4888 Fragments/1388 Echoes. Deadline only affects COA IX Fragment farming.
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