COA IX Event Structure and Free Journalist A-Tier Reward
COA IX features two phases: Sacred Sanctum (Leviathan Shore, Dec 31-Jan 8) and Divine Procession (Ancient Passage, Jan 8-22). Registration opens December 31, 08:00 UTC+8, with optimal deadline January 13, 21:00 UTC+8.
The Journalist A-Tier costume includes unique animations, custom effects, and exclusive voice lines. Players need Identity V Echoes top up instant only for optional acceleration—the free path is fully viable. BitTopup offers competitive pricing for supplementary purchases.
Daily limits:
- Sacred Sanctum: 6 matches/role daily, 60 total/role
- Divine Procession: 5 matches/role daily, 20 total/role
- Reset: 00:00 UTC+8
Key COA IX Differences
Regional advancement quotas:
- Japan: Top 5-6 teams
- NA-EU/Southeast Asia: Top 8 teams
- Top 100 teams/region advance to Divine Procession
Team requirements:
- 1-7 players (minimum 5 for Online Qualifiers)
- Max one non-permanent resident
- Club membership 12+ hours before matches
Points formula: Highest Hunter score ×2 + four highest Survivor scores
Event Timeline Critical Dates
- Registration close: S1 Jan 14, 09:00 UTC+8 / S4 Jan 15, 09:00 UTC+8
- S1 club join deadline: Jan 12, 21:00 UTC+8
- Maintenance: Jan 8, 08:00 UTC+8 (240 minutes)
Match windows:
- Quick Matches: 12:00-22:00 UTC+8
- Ranked Matches: 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-21:00 UTC+8
- Divine Procession: 19:00-21:00 UTC+8 only
F2P vs Paid Tracks
Free track provides complete Journalist A-Tier access through tasks alone. Paid track offers accelerated Essence acquisition and bonus cosmetics—entirely optional for costume unlock.
Complete Task System Breakdown
Tasks divide into daily missions, weekly challenges, and special event milestones. Daily tasks reset 00:00 UTC+8.
Daily Task Categories
Point values:
- Quick Match: 800-1000 (Survivor), 1200-1500 (Hunter)
- Ranked Match: 1040-1300 (Survivor), 1560-1950 (Hunter)
10 Individual Abyss Battles requirement:
- 1500 Quick/Ranked points OR 3000 Duo Hunters points
- Equals 2-3 Ranked Matches (Hunter) or 3-4 Ranked Matches (Survivor) daily
Peak efficiency (19:00-21:00 UTC+8):
- Hunter: 4800-6000 points/hour
- Survivor: 4000-5000 points/hour
Weekly Challenges
Require cumulative match counts, total point thresholds, or specific achievements across seven days. Leaderboard updates every 15-30 minutes for real-time tracking.
Special Event Missions
Time-limited tasks during specific phases offer disproportionate rewards—high-priority targets when available.
Abyss Match Requirements
Match duration: 8-10 minutes average Queue times (peak): Hunter 2-5 min, Survivor 1-2 min Total time/match: 10-15 minutes including queue and loading
Completion Criteria
Must stay until results screen displays final scores. Early disconnections void task credit regardless of prior performance.
Participation Thresholds
Completion counts equally regardless of win/loss. Point-based tasks calculate from individual metrics:
- Survivor: Decoding progress, rescues, kiting duration
- Hunter: Elimination speed, presence management, cipher control
Point vs Match Count Requirements
1500 Quick/Ranked points = 1.5-2 Ranked Matches (Hunter) or 2-3 (Survivor). Duo Hunters requires 3000 points (doubled threshold)—less time-efficient for solo players.
Week-1 Task Order for Journalist A-Tier
Day 1-2: Foundation Tasks
Day 1 (Dec 31):
- Register at 08:00 UTC+8
- Join/create club before 21:00 UTC+8 (12+ hour requirement)
- Complete 3 Ranked Matches (12:00-14:00 window)
- Complete 3 Ranked Matches (19:00-21:00 window)
- Claim daily rewards before 00:00 UTC+8
Day 2 (Jan 1):
- Repeat 6 Ranked Matches across both windows
- Track weekly challenge progress
- Prioritize special event missions if available
Day 3-4: Abyss Match Focus
- Concentrate 6 daily matches during 19:00-21:00 for max efficiency
- Switch roles if queue times exceed 5 minutes
- Target 9000-12000 points daily
- Monitor leaderboard every 2-3 hours
Day 5-6: Weekly Challenge Completion
By Day 5, aim for 30 total matches/role. Weekly challenges unlock here with substantial currency. Prioritize remaining objectives before January 6 weekly reset.
Day 6 = buffer for makeup matches. 60-match total limit provides margin.
Day 7: Final Sprint
January 6 = final full day before Jan 8 maintenance. Complete pending tasks, claim rewards, verify Journalist unlock status. If short on currency, focus Ranked Hunter during 19:00-21:00.
Optimized Daily Schedule
Morning Session (30-45 min)
12:00-14:00 UTC+8: Complete 2-3 Quick Matches for baseline progress with lower queue competition.
Evening Session (60-90 min)
19:00-21:00 UTC+8: Ranked Matches only. Target 3-4 completions for 4800-6000 Hunter points or 4000-5000 Survivor points.
Queue: 1-3 min | Match: 8-10 min | Realistic: 4 matches/90-min session
Task Stacking Techniques
Overlap requirements: Complete 5 matches + Earn 5000 points both progress through same matches. Prioritize multi-condition matches to reduce total count.
Character selection impact:
- Decoders (Prisoner, Mechanic): Faster cipher tasks
- Rescuers (Mercenary, Gravekeeper): Reliable rescue objectives
Character and Mode Selection
Focus on your 60%+ win rate role during peak windows for max points.
Best Survivors
- Decoders: Prisoner, Mechanic (enhanced decoding speeds)
- Rescuers: Mercenary, Gravekeeper (survival-focused abilities)
Best Hunters
- High-mobility: Geisha, Ripper (faster chases, reduced match time)
- Camping-focused: Sculptor, Clerk (consistent eliminations)
Mode Priority
Ranked > Quick > Custom
- Ranked: 30-40% higher points than Quick
- Quick: Filler during off-peak hours
- Custom: Doesn't count toward tasks
Common Mistakes
Task Timing Errors
Completing matches before 00:00 UTC+8 reset wastes 12-24 hours potential progress. Claim rewards and start fresh daily tasks immediately after reset.
Currency Spending Before Journalist Unlock
Accumulate currency exclusively for Journalist A-Tier until unlocked. Spending on Essences/minor cosmetics risks falling short.
For players who buy Identity V Echoes online recharge via BitTopup, secure transactions and instant delivery ensure no delays—though free path remains recommended.
Abyss Match Misconceptions
Wins aren't required for task credit. Participation-based system rewards completion regardless of outcome. Strategic surrenders in unwinnable matches save time vs prolonged defeats.
Ignoring Prerequisites
Some weekly challenges require specific daily tasks first. Skipping lower-value dailies may lock higher-value weeklies, forcing inefficient backtracking.
Advanced Tips
Emergency Catch-Up
Missed 2-3 days? Maximize 60-match limit with Ranked Hunter during 19:00-21:00. Target 8-10 matches daily on remaining days.
Divine Procession offers backup but has tighter constraints (20-match limit, 5-match daily cap). Sacred Sanctum completion = optimal path.
Post-Journalist Rewards
After unlocking costume, redirect currency to Essences or save for future phases.
Ranked rewards (Fragments/member):
- Rank 1: 2000
- Rank 2: 1500
- Rank 3: 1200
- Ranks 4-8: 800
- Ranks 9-16: 600
- Ranks 17-50: 500
FAQ
How long to unlock COA IX Journalist A-Tier for free?
Seven days with consistent play (6 matches daily). Limited availability players can extend to 10 days using full 60-match allowance, approaching Jan 8 deadline.
What are Abyss Match minimum requirements?
10 Individual Abyss Battles = 1500 Quick/Ranked points or 3000 Duo Hunters points. Equals 2-3 Ranked Matches (Hunter) or 3-4 (Survivor) daily, achievable in 90-120 minutes during peak.
Can you get Journalist A-Tier in one week?
Yes. Seven-day roadmap provides sufficient matches and currency before Jan 8 maintenance, assuming consistent daily participation.
What tasks give most event currency?
Ranked Matches as Hunter during 19:00-21:00 UTC+8: 1560-1950 points/match (highest single-task generation). Weekly challenges offer larger lump sums but require multi-day progress.
Do you need daily Abyss Matches?
Daily play maximizes efficiency, but 60-match total allows flexibility. Missing 1-2 days requires compensatory matches within daily 6-match cap.
What's the fastest completion route?
Ranked Hunter during 19:00-21:00 UTC+8 exclusively (4800-6000 points/hour). Complete 6 matches daily across both Ranked windows (12:00-14:00 and 19:00-21:00) to max daily currency within limits.
