COA IX Tournament Structure & Timeline
COA IX introduces refined tournament structures separating casual competitors from championship teams through three in-game phases before online qualifiers.
Sacred Sanctum: December 31, 2026 - January 8, 2026
- Map: Leviathan Shore
- 60 total matches per role, 6 daily matches per role
- Quick Matches: 12:00-22:00 server time
- Ranked Matches: 12:00-14:00, 19:00-21:00
- Daily limits reset 00:00 UTC+8
Divine Procession: January 8-22, 2026
- Map: Ancient Passage
- 20 total matches, 5 daily matches per role
- Matches only 19:00-21:00 server time
- Top 100 teams per region compete
- Maintenance: January 8, 08:00 UTC+8 (240 minutes)
Radiant Altar: January 22-29, 2026 Final in-game phase before February-March online qualifiers determine championship contenders.
Registration Deadlines:
- Effective deadline: January 13, 2026, 21:00 UTC+8 (all regions)
- S1 servers close: January 14, 2026, 09:00 UTC+8
- S4 servers close: January 15, 2026, 09:00 UTC+8
- Club join deadline (S1): January 12, 2026, 21:00 UTC+8
- Portal sessions timeout after 15 minutes inactivity
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Scoring System
Team score = (Highest Hunter score × 2) + (Top 4 Survivor scores from 5 best players)
This incentivizes one dominant Hunter plus four consistent Survivors over balanced mediocrity.
Advancement:
- Top 100 teams/region: Sacred Sanctum → Divine Procession
- Top 8 teams/region (5-6 for Japan): In-game → Online qualifiers
Fragment Rewards:
- Rank 1: 2000/member
- Rank 2: 1500/member
- Rank 3: 1200/member
- Ranks 4-8: 800/member
- Ranks 9-16: 600/member
- Ranks 17-50: 500/member
In-Game Tournament vs Online Qualifiers: Key Differences
Environment & Connection
In-Game Tournaments:
- Dedicated tournament servers with standardized connection
- Consistent 20-30ms ping regardless of location
- Leaderboards update every 15-30 minutes (not real-time)
- Controlled digital environment, no physical venue
- Compressed competitive stress into scheduled windows
Online Qualifiers (February-March 2026):
- Variable connection quality based on individual infrastructure
- Hunter queue: 3-5 minutes; Survivor queue: 1-2 minutes
- Potential disconnections, lag spikes, server instability
- Remote coordination across time zones
- Extended pressure across qualification period
- Self-managed technical support
Technical Requirements
Minimum Specs:
- 50 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload
- Sub-50ms ping to tournament servers
- Wired ethernet (mandatory)
- Consistent 60 FPS during max visual chaos
- Backup internet (mobile hotspot/secondary ISP)
- Backup hardware ready for deployment
Roster Rules:
- 5-7 players per team
- Maximum 1 non-permanent resident
- Players must join clubs 12+ hours before matches
- Minimum 5 players available for online qualifiers
Pressure & Recovery
In-game tournaments allow recovery through subsequent matches within extended windows. Online qualifiers distribute pressure across weeks—teams must maintain peak performance consistently rather than peaking for specific events. Technical failures without backup systems eliminate months of preparation instantly.
Online Qualifiers Registration Process
5-Step Verification:
- Assemble roster (5-7 players) before January 13, 2026, 21:00 UTC+8
- Designate captain for official communications
- Submit roster through portal before deadline (sessions timeout after 15 minutes)
- Join club by January 12, 2026, 21:00 UTC+8 (S1 servers) for 12+ hour waiting period
- Confirm verification within 12 hours of submission
Abyss Battles Qualification: Each player needs 1500 Quick/Ranked points OR 3000 Duo Hunters points.
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Complete 2-Week Team Prep Plan
Week 1: Foundation Building (Days 1-7)
Days 1-3: Individual Mechanics
- Meta analysis: character tiers, map strategies (Leviathan Shore, Ancient Passage)
- Hunter: 2-3 hours daily chase optimization, ability timing, basic attack accuracy
- Survivor: tight kiting drills, minimal distance maintenance
- Practice during tournament time windows (12:00-22:00 Quick, 19:00-21:00 Ranked)
Days 4-5: Team Coordination
- Communication protocol establishment
- Rotation pattern development
- No competitive pressure—focus on systems
Days 6-7: Initial Scrimmages
- Record all matches for VOD review
- Identify strategic gaps and mechanical deficiencies
- Analyze decision-making processes, not just outcomes
Week 2: Refinement & Peak Performance (Days 8-14)
Days 8-10: Targeted Corrections
- Address specific week 1 weaknesses
- Weak rescue coordination → drill rescue timing/bodyblocking
- Poor cipher management → rotation pattern automation
- Increased scrim frequency vs stronger opponents
Days 11-12: Tournament Simulation
- Schedule matches during exact tournament windows (19:00-21:00 for Divine Procession)
- Enforce competition communication protocols
- Immediate post-match analysis sessions
- No casual conversation—formal callouts only
Days 13-14: Recovery & Mental Prep
- Reduce practice volume 40-50%
- Light mechanical drills only
- Mental visualization: rehearse perfect matches
- Prioritize sleep, nutrition, physical activity
Daily Practice Schedule
- Morning (10:00-12:00): Individual drills, VOD review
- Afternoon (14:00-17:00): Team scrimmages, coordination
- Evening (19:00-21:00): Tournament condition simulation
- Mandatory: 30-minute breaks between blocks
- Weekly: 1 complete rest day (no Identity V)
Flexibility within structure: adjust priorities based on emerging weaknesses.
Meta Analysis & Character Mastery
Phase-Specific Meta
Sacred Sanctum: Experimental compositions, broad character pools (60-match limit permits testing)
Divine Procession: Consolidated proven strategies (20-match limit eliminates experiments)
Online Qualifiers: Refined optimization of perfected strategies
Character Pool Requirements
Hunter: Minimum 3 Hunters across multiple maps
- Leviathan Shore: ranged Hunters, strong chase
- Ancient Passage: area control, tight corridor specialists
Survivor: 4-5 characters per player spanning roles
- 2+ strong rescuers (prevent camping)
- 1 dedicated decoder
- 1 flexible utility
- Kiting specialists
Counter-Strategy Development
Opponent Research:
- Analyze match histories: character preferences, common strategies, exploitable patterns
- Divine Procession's 20 matches make research critical—no trial-and-error learning
Draft Preparation:
- Tiered ban lists: primary (opponent signatures), secondary (meta picks), tertiary (strategy disruption)
- Pick sequences: secure critical characters early, maintain flexibility
- Pre-planned strategies + backup options
In-Match Adaptation: Recognize opponent deviations, adjust mid-match. Requires decision-making frameworks, not just mechanical execution.
Team Communication Protocols
Callout Systems
Location: Specific landmarks, not vague directions
- ❌ Hunter coming from over there
- ✅ Hunter approaching factory, 15 seconds to cipher three
Ability Tracking:
- Rescue available / Rescue on cooldown 30 seconds
- Teleport used / Blink available
Cipher Progress: Percentage-based (25%, 50%, 75%, 90%)
- ✅ Cipher three at 75%
- ❌ Cipher almost done
Draft Phase Communication
Pre-Match: Review opponent tendencies, establish ban priorities
During Draft:
- Captain announces before confirming: Selecting Mercenary for rescue, confirm
- Team verification prevents errors
Post-Draft: Brief strategy summary before match start
- Focus cipher rush, avoid early engagements, coordinate rescues
High-Pressure Management
Physiological Stress Control:
- 4-7-8 breathing: inhale 4 sec, hold 7 sec, exhale 8 sec
- Practice during training for automatic competition use
Post-Mistake Protocol:
- My fault, moving on
- Acknowledge, then focus reset—prevent dwelling
Technical & Mental Preparation
Hardware Optimization
Performance Priority:
- Stable 60 FPS > fluctuating 90+ FPS
- Disable visual effects obscuring gameplay
- Processor: sub-5% usage during max intensity
- RAM: sufficient for game + comms + recording
Peripherals:
- Standardize mouse DPI, keyboard macros
- Audio balance: clear comms without gameplay interference
Software Maintenance:
- Regular client/driver/OS updates
- Disable startup programs
- Antivirus: exclude Identity V from active scanning
Network Optimization
- Enable QoS (Quality of Service) prioritizing gaming traffic
- Disable auto-updates during practice/competition
- Consider dedicated gaming network connection
Mental Resilience
Visualization: 10 minutes daily
- Mentally rehearse perfect matches: successful kites, clean rescues, efficient ciphers
Mindfulness Meditation: 5-10 minutes daily
- Breath-focused attention training
- Notice wandering attention, redirect to present
Cognitive Reframing:
- ❌ I always mess up rescues
- ✅ I'm improving rescue timing through deliberate practice
Recovery & Burnout Prevention
Physical: 7-9 hours sleep, balanced nutrition, regular exercise
Psychological: Non-Identity V hobbies, social connections, relaxation
Team Bonding: Casual activities outside competition (shared meals, group outings)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Quantity Over Quality Practice
60 Sacred Sanctum matches without strategic focus = bad habits + fatigue. Effective practice needs specific objectives, immediate feedback, deliberate correction.
Over-Practicing Specific Scenarios
Creates brittle strategies. Practice adaptive decision-making vs diverse opponents, not narrow optimization.
Neglecting Health
Sacrificing sleep for practice = reduced reaction times, impaired decisions, injury risk. Sustainable prep balances training with recovery.
Misconception: Online Qualifiers Are Easier
Different challenges, not reduced difficulty. Remote environment eliminates travel stress but introduces technical variability, extended pressure, self-managed support. Extended timeline demands sustained peak performance vs peaking for specific events.
Ignoring Opponent Research
Limited matches (20 in Divine Procession) + top 8 advancement make research essential. Analyze histories, note preferences, update continuously throughout phases.
FAQ
What are main differences between COA IX online qualifiers and in-game tournaments?
In-game tournaments use dedicated servers with standardized 20-30ms ping, occur December 31, 2025-January 29, 2026 across three phases with match limits (60 Sacred Sanctum, 20 Divine Procession). Online qualifiers (February-March 2026) have variable connection based on individual infrastructure, extended periods, self-managed tech support.
How long does COA IX last in 2026?
Five months: December 31, 2025-May 2026. Sacred Sanctum (Dec 31-Jan 8), Divine Procession (Jan 8-22), Radiant Altar (Jan 22-29), online qualifiers (Feb-March), finals (April-May). Effective registration deadline: January 13, 2026, 21:00 UTC+8.
What's the best 2-week prep plan?
Week 1: individual drills (days 1-3), team coordination (days 4-5), scrimmages identifying weaknesses (days 6-7). Week 2: targeted corrections (days 8-10), tournament simulation during actual time windows (days 11-12), tapered recovery (days 13-14). 6-8 hours structured practice daily, mandatory rest periods, one complete rest day weekly.
How many teams qualify from online rounds?
Top 100 teams/region: Sacred Sanctum → Divine Procession. Top 8 teams/region (5-6 Japan): in-game → online qualifiers. Score = (highest Hunter × 2) + (top 4 Survivors from 5 best). Individual requirement: 1500 Quick/Ranked points OR 3000 Duo Hunters points.
What technical setup is required?
5-7 player roster (max 1 non-permanent resident), 50 Mbps down/10 Mbps up, sub-50ms ping, wired ethernet, consistent 60 FPS. Join clubs 12+ hours before matches (S1 deadline: Jan 12, 2026, 21:00 UTC+8). Portal timeouts after 15 minutes.
How does meta differ between stages?
Sacred Sanctum (60 matches): experimental compositions, broad testing. Divine Procession (20 matches, 19:00-21:00 only): proven strategies. Online qualifiers: refined optimization. Map-specific: Leviathan Shore favors ranged/chase Hunters; Ancient Passage favors area control.
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