COA IX Final Question Overview: January 29 Critical Date
Final Question on January 29, 2026 culminates Call of the Abyss IX, determining which teams advance to championship's ultimate stages. This single-day competition follows three qualifying phases: Sacred Sanctum (Dec 31, 2026-Jan 8, 2026), Divine Procession (Jan 8-22, 2026), and Radiant Altar (Jan 22-29, 2026).
For competitive players, Final Question determines regional representation at Online Qualifiers. Japan's top 5-6 teams advance, while NA-EU and Southeast Asia each send top 8 teams. Team scores = highest Hunter score × 2 + top 4 Survivor scores from team's top 5 players. This rewards balanced roster composition.
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Championship Structure
Championship operates across three competitive maps. Sacred Sanctum matches occur on Leviathan Shore with 6 daily matches per role (60 total per role). Quick Matches: 12:00-22:00 server time. Ranked Matches: 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-21:00 server time. Divine Procession transitions to Ancient Passage, reducing daily limits to 5 matches per role (20 total) exclusively during 19:00-21:00.
Point yields by match type:
- Quick Match: Hunters 1200-1500, Survivors 800-1000
- Ranked Match: Hunters 1560-1950, Survivors 1040-1300
Abyss tier entry requires 1500 Quick/Ranked points or 3000 Duo Hunters points. Top 100 teams per region advance from Sacred Sanctum to Divine Procession. Leaderboards update every 15-30 minutes. Matches last 8-10 minutes with Hunter queue times 3-5 minutes, Survivor queues 1-2 minutes.
Fragment Availability
Fragment rewards scale dramatically with placement:
- Rank 1: 2000 Fragments
- 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 yield 50-200 Fragments for viewing matches. Combined earning potential makes Final Question the highest-value event day for fragment accumulation.
Fragment claiming operates independently from match participation. All rewards must be claimed through Abyss Treasure IX interface, available January 8 to May 5, 2026 23:59. This 117-day window provides ample opportunity, but unclaimed fragments expire permanently after deadline with no carryover.
Event Timeline
Registration opened Dec 31, 2025 after maintenance. Critical registration cutoff: January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 for most regions. S1 servers extend to Jan 14, 2026 09:00 UTC+8. S4 servers close Jan 15, 2026 09:00 UTC+8.
Club membership required by Jan 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 for S1 servers, with membership required 12+ hours before matches count toward team scores.
Maintenance windows: 240-minute maintenance begins Jan 8, 2026 at 08:00 UTC+8, transitioning from Sacred Sanctum to Divine Procession. Another maintenance precedes Final Question on Jan 29, 2026.
Complete Fragment Reward Breakdown
Fragment acquisition operates through two systems: competitive placement rewards and spectator engagement bonuses.
Competitive Placement Rewards
Six-tier reward structure creates clear performance incentives. First place secures 2000 Fragments per member—33% premium over second place's 1500 Fragments. Third place earns 1200 Fragments, establishing 600-fragment gap between podium positions and fourth-through-eighth tier at 800 Fragments.
Mid-tier placements (Ranks 9-16) receive 600 Fragments, while Ranks 17-50 earn 500 Fragments. Difference between 9th and 50th place equals just 100 Fragments—significantly less impactful than 800-fragment spread across top-three positions.
For teams assembling rosters before Jan 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 deadline, these reward tiers should inform recruitment. A roster capable of reaching top-8 generates 800 Fragments per member, while improvements to secure top-3 placement yield 400-1200 additional Fragments per player.
Spectator Rewards
Spectator Rewards provide 50-200 Fragments through viewing engagement, operating independently from competitive participation. This allows non-competing players to accumulate fragments by watching tournament matches through official client.
Daily limits reset at 00:00 UTC+8. Portal sessions timeout after 15 minutes of inactivity, requiring active engagement. Plan viewing sessions around match schedules to maximize uptime.
Combined potential from competitive rewards (up to 2000 Fragments) and spectator bonuses (50-200 Fragments) creates total earning potential exceeding 2200 Fragments for top-performing players who also engage viewing content.
Fragment Claiming Process
All fragments require manual claiming through Abyss Treasure IX interface. Rewards don't auto-deposit—a common misconception leading to expired unclaimed fragments. Claiming interface becomes accessible Jan 8, 2026.
Verification occurs within 12 hours of roster submission during registration. Teams must confirm verification status before participating in qualifying matches.
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Strategic Fragment Optimization
Maximizing fragment rewards requires coordinated planning across competitive participation, viewing engagement, and claiming timing.
Pre-Registration Roster Assembly
Assembling competitive roster before Jan 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 deadline requires evaluating player skill across both Hunter and Survivor roles. Team scoring formula (highest Hunter score × 2 + top 4 Survivor scores from top 5 players) creates specific roster composition requirements.
Teams should recruit at least two high-performing Hunters to ensure consistent high scores in doubled Hunter component. Top-four Survivor requirement means rosters benefit from 5-6 strong Survivor players, providing redundancy if one player underperforms.
Club joining deadlines (Jan 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 for S1 servers) necessitate coordination 24+ hours before registration closes. The 12-hour membership requirement means players joining clubs on Jan 12 can't contribute to team scores until Jan 13 at earliest.
Match Scheduling and Point Optimization
Sacred Sanctum's dual match windows create strategic scheduling opportunities. Quick Matches (12:00-22:00 server time) offer 10-hour availability with lower point yields. Ranked Matches compress into two 2-hour windows (12:00-14:00, 19:00-21:00) but deliver 30% higher points.
Players maximizing point accumulation should prioritize Ranked Match windows, using Quick Matches to reach 6 daily matches per role limit. With 60 total matches per role across Sacred Sanctum's 9-day duration, consistent daily participation prevents last-minute grinding.
Divine Procession's restricted 19:00-21:00 window and 5 daily matches per role (20 total) demands concentrated availability. Teams should coordinate schedules to ensure maximum roster availability during this 2-hour window across Jan 8-22 period.
Viewing Schedule for Spectator Rewards
Spectator Rewards accumulate through consistent viewing engagement. The 50-200 Fragment range suggests variable rewards based on viewing duration or match quantity. Maintain active viewing sessions during all available match windows.
The 15-minute inactivity timeout requires periodic interaction. Setting timers for 12-14 minute intervals ensures continuous reward eligibility without constant attention.
Daily resets at 00:00 UTC+8 create natural viewing cycles. Scheduling viewing sessions immediately after reset maximizes daily earning potential.
Critical Deadlines and Claiming Windows
Registration and Participation Deadlines
Effective registration deadline: Jan 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 for most servers. Regional variations:
- S1 servers: Jan 14, 2026 09:00 UTC+8 (12-hour extension)
- S4 servers: Jan 15, 2026 09:00 UTC+8 (36-hour extension)
Club membership deadlines precede registration cutoffs. S1 players must join clubs by Jan 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8—full 36 hours before S1 registration closes.
Teams finalizing rosters should complete steps in sequence: (1) Assemble 5-7 player roster, (2) Designate team captain, (3) Submit roster through portal, (4) Coordinate club joining, (5) Confirm verification within 12 hours. Complete these steps 48+ hours before deadlines for buffer.
Fragment Claiming Deadline: May 5, 2026
Abyss Treasure IX claiming window extends from Jan 8 to May 5, 2026 23:59. This 117-day period provides substantial buffer, but fragments expire permanently after this deadline with no extensions or carryover.
Claim fragments immediately upon availability rather than waiting. Early claiming enables strategic purchasing decisions based on actual fragment totals. Claiming interface updates as rewards become available.
Set calendar reminders for April 28, 2026 (one week before deadline) and May 3, 2026 (48-hour warning). Mobile calendar apps with push notifications ensure visibility.
Timezone Conversion
All official times use UTC+8. Key conversions for Jan 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 registration deadline:
- EST (UTC-5): Jan 13, 2026 08:00 AM
- PST (UTC-8): Jan 13, 2026 05:00 AM
- GMT (UTC+0): Jan 13, 2026 13:00
- JST (UTC+9): Jan 13, 2026 22:00
- AEDT (UTC+11): Jan 14, 2026 00:00
May 5, 2026 23:59 claiming deadline:
- EST: May 5, 2026 11:59 AM
- PST: May 5, 2026 08:59 AM
- GMT: May 5, 2026 15:59
- JST: May 6, 2026 00:59
- AEDT: May 6, 2026 01:59
Abyss Treasure IX Shop: Strategic Fragment Spending
Abyss Treasure IX shop operates from Jan 8 to May 5, 2026 23:59, offering exclusive championship items purchasable only with fragments earned during COA IX.
Exclusive Item Categories
Championship items span four categories:
- Limited skins: 800-1500 Fragments. Exclusive visual designs unavailable through standard shop. Never return in future events—highest priority for collectors.
- Portrait frames: 300-600 Fragments. Permanent account customization applying universally across all survivors and hunters.
- Championship Essences: 200-400 Fragments per essence. Contain randomized cosmetic items.
- Accessories (graffiti, emotes, standby motions): 100-300 Fragments.
Priority Spending Framework
Categorize items by three factors: exclusivity, personal preference, and fragment cost efficiency.
Tier 1 Priority: Never-returning items for favorite characters. If limited skin features your main character and costs 1200 Fragments, prioritize this above all others.
Tier 2 Priority: Universal items with permanent value. Portrait frames and accessories applying across all characters provide ongoing utility.
Tier 3 Priority: Essences and randomized items. Only purchase after securing Tier 1 and Tier 2 items.
Players earning 2000+ Fragments through top competitive placement can afford multiple Tier 1 items plus selective Tier 2 purchases. Mid-tier earners (600-800 Fragments) should focus on one premium skin or multiple lower-cost accessories.
Fragment-to-Value Ratio
Limited skins averaging 1200 Fragments cost approximately 600 Fragments per permanent cosmetic slot. Portrait frames at 400 Fragments provide universal application, effectively costing 400 Fragments for infinite character coverage. This makes frames more fragment-efficient for players without strong character preferences.
Essences introduce variance. A 300-Fragment essence with 8 possible items creates expected value of 37.5 Fragments per unique item if all items have equal probability. Review essence contents and drop rates before purchasing.
Common Fragment Claiming Mistakes
Misconception: Fragments Auto-Claim
Most prevalent error assumes fragments automatically deposit into inventories. Abyss Treasure IX system requires manual claiming through dedicated interface. Fragments earned through competitive placement or spectator rewards remain unclaimed until players actively redeem them.
Prevention: Claim fragments immediately upon availability. Abyss Treasure IX interface becomes accessible Jan 8, 2026. Establish claiming routine: check interface weekly during tournament, then monthly through May deadline.
Error: Waiting Until Last Minute
Procrastination concentrates claiming activity near May 5, 2026 23:59 deadline, creating server load and potential technical issues. Last-minute claiming eliminates buffer time for resolving discrepancies.
Prevention: Implement three-phase claiming schedule. Phase 1 (Jan 8-15): Claim all Sacred Sanctum rewards. Phase 2 (Jan 22-29): Claim Divine Procession and Radiant Altar rewards. Phase 3 (Feb-April): Monthly verification checks.
Problem: Not Understanding Fragment Expiration
Fragments expire permanently on May 5, 2026 23:59 with no carryover to future COA events. Shop availability mirrors fragment expiration—Abyss Treasure IX shop closes May 5, 2026 23:59.
Prevention: Treat May 5, 2026 as hard deadline for both claiming and spending. Create spending plan by April 15, 2026, allowing three weeks to finalize purchases.
Pre-Event Preparation Checklist
- Calendar Integration: Add all deadlines to digital calendars with 48-hour and 7-day advance reminders
- Interface Familiarization: Access Abyss Treasure IX interface on Jan 8, 2026
- Fragment Tracking: Maintain spreadsheet logging expected fragments
- Spending Plan: Research shop items and create prioritized purchase lists
- Support Preparation: Bookmark customer support contact methods
Troubleshooting Guide
Rewards Not Appearing in Inventory
Claimed fragments should appear within 15 minutes. If confirmation appeared but fragments remain absent after 30 minutes, force-close Identity V client and restart. Server synchronization issues often resolve through client restart.
Persistent absence after restart requires checking Abyss Treasure IX interface for claim status. If interface shows rewards as unclaimed despite confirmation messages, repeat claiming process. If shows claimed but inventory empty, document issue with screenshots for customer support.
Claiming Button Grayed Out
Grayed claiming buttons indicate eligibility issues or technical restrictions. Common causes:
- Rewards not yet distributed (competitive placement rewards distribute after final standings confirm)
- Claiming window not yet open (Abyss Treasure IX opens Jan 8, 2026)
- Client version incompatibility
Verify current date against reward distribution schedules. Spectator rewards typically distribute within 24 hours, while competitive placement rewards require tournament phase completion and standings verification.
Fragment Count Discrepancies
Calculate expected totals: (Competitive Placement Reward) + (Spectator Rewards × Days Viewed) = Total Expected Fragments. Compare against actual inventory totals. Discrepancies exceeding 10% warrant investigation.
Common causes: (1) miscounting spectator reward days, (2) misunderstanding team vs. individual rewards, (3) unclaimed rewards still pending in interface.
Customer Support Contact
Unresolved claiming issues require customer support intervention. Access through Settings > Customer Service. Prepare documentation:
- Account Information: User ID, server, region
- Issue Description: Specific rewards affected, expected vs. actual fragment counts
- Screenshots: Claiming interface showing issue, inventory displaying fragment totals, competitive placement confirmation
- Timeline: When rewards were earned, when claiming was attempted, when discrepancy was noticed
Support resolution typically requires 24-72 hours—make early issue reporting critical for deadline-sensitive claims.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does the COA IX fragment claiming window close?
Abyss Treasure IX claiming window closes May 5, 2026 at 23:59 UTC+8. All fragments must be claimed before this deadline—unclaimed rewards expire permanently with no carryover. Set calendar reminders for early May.
How many fragments can I earn from competitive participation?
Fragment rewards range from 500 to 2000 per team member based on final placement. Rank 1 earns 2000, Rank 2 receives 1500, Rank 3 gets 1200, Ranks 4-8 earn 800, Ranks 9-16 receive 600, and Ranks 17-50 get 500. Spectator rewards add 50-200 additional Fragments.
Can I claim fragments after the tournament ends but before May 5?
Yes, claiming window extends from Jan 8 to May 5, 2026, providing 117 days to claim rewards. You can claim at any point during this window, though claiming early is recommended.
What happens if I miss the registration deadline?
Missing Jan 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 registration deadline prevents competitive participation in COA IX. You can't earn competitive placement rewards but remain eligible for spectator rewards by viewing tournament matches.
Do fragments carry over to COA X or future tournaments?
No, COA IX fragments expire May 5, 2026 23:59 with no carryover. Each Call of the Abyss tournament operates independent fragment economy. Unclaimed or unspent fragments from COA IX can't be used in COA X.
Where do I access the fragment claiming interface?
Access Abyss Treasure IX claiming interface through Esports tab in Identity V client. Interface becomes available Jan 8, 2026. Navigate to Esports > COA IX > Rewards to view and claim earned fragments.
