COA IX Registration Deadlines: S1 vs S4 Critical Differences
S1 servers face registration cutoff January 14, 2026 09:00 UTC+8. S4 servers get 24 extra hours until January 15, 2026 09:00 UTC+8. S4 typically hosts Southeast Asian and European divisions with different competitive calendars.
Registration opens December 31, 2025 post-maintenance (starts 08:00 UTC+8, runs 240 minutes). The portal has 15-minute inactivity timeout—prepare documentation externally first, then transfer in one focused session.
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Season 1 Timeline: Key Dates
Sacred Sanctum qualification: December 31, 2025 - January 8, 2026 on Leviathan Shore. Match limits: 60 total per role, 6 daily per role. Quick Matches run 12:00-22:00 server time; Ranked Matches restricted to 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-21:00.
Effective club join deadline: January 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8—36 hours before registration closes. Tournament points only count when players join clubs 12+ hours before matches. Join on January 13? Your points don't count that day.
Daily limits reset 00:00 UTC+8 regardless of location. Japan Division: top 5-6 teams advance to Online Qualifiers vs top 8 from other divisions.
Season 4 Timeline: Updated Requirements
Registration closes January 15, 2026 09:00 UTC+8, but verification cutoff stays January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8. Don't be fooled—assuming you have until January 15 for verification means disqualification.
S4 club join deadline: January 13, 2026 09:00 UTC+8 (12-hour buffer vs S1). Divine Procession qualification runs January 8-22, 2026 on Ancient Passage. Tighter restrictions: 20 total matches per role, 5 daily per role. Match windows: 19:00-21:00 server time only.
S4 hosts Southeast Asia and portions of NA-EU Division. Top 8 teams advance to Online Qualifiers (February-March 2026). Radiant Altar final qualification: January 22-29, 2026—only teams verified by January 13 can participate.
Time Zone Considerations
UTC+8 standardization creates challenges for Western teams. January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 = January 13, 2026 05:00 PST or 08:00 EST—early morning when support staffing is reduced. European teams face 14:00 CET, better for real-time assistance.
Designate a captain in UTC+8 compatible regions (GMT+6 to GMT+10) for time-sensitive verification confirmations. The 12-hour confirmation window requires active monitoring—automated notifications may arrive outside business hours.
Teams frequently miscalculate club join requirements. Joining at 13:00 local time expecting to play at 01:00 next day fails if 00:00 UTC+8 reset occurs between join and match time.
The Verification Cutoff That Disqualifies Teams
January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 is absolute with zero tolerance. Unlike registration deadlines that occasionally get grace periods, verification cutoffs enforce strict compliance. Teams with pending verification at 21:01 UTC+8 face automatic disqualification.
This deadline precedes registration closure by 36 hours (S1) or 60 hours (S4) intentionally. Organizers need this buffer to process confirmations, resolve disputes, and finalize participant lists. Verified teams get guaranteed bracket placement; unverified teams lose eligibility entirely.
Processing operates first-submitted, first-processed during peak periods. Submissions within 72 hours of deadline experience 3-5 hour delays vs 30-60 minutes for early submissions.
Why Verification Deadlines Are Stricter
Registration creates preliminary entry with no competitive value until verification confirms player eligibility, account standing, and roster compliance. Verification validates: 1500 Quick/Ranked points or 3000 Duo Hunters points per player, max one non-permanent resident per team.
Bracket seeding calculations require confirmed participant counts. Top 100 teams per region advance from Sacred Sanctum to Divine Procession. If 20 teams remain unverified at cutoff, those slots don't transfer—they simply eliminate.
Team points use specific formula: highest Hunter score × 2 + four highest Survivor scores. Verification confirms submitted scores match official records and no players participated on multiple teams. Cross-referencing requires database access that closes when verification deadline passes.
Real Disqualification Cases
Most common violation: roster changes after verification submission. Replacing underperforming players between verification and competition triggers automatic disqualification—new players lack verified status.
Multiple team registration: Players on multiple rosters face account-level disqualification when cross-checks detect duplicate participation. Extends beyond COA IX to future tournaments.
Documentation authenticity issues cause ~15% of failures. Edited screenshots, manipulated displays, or falsified residency docs trigger immediate disqualification plus account penalties. Server-side validation detects discrepancies.
Club join timing violations: Team joining at 07:30 UTC+8 can't earn points from 19:00 UTC+8 matches same day—12-hour minimum hasn't elapsed.
Complete Registration Process: Step-by-Step
Five critical steps, each with specific timing. Begin preparation 7+ days before verification cutoff.
Step 1: Assemble 5-7 Player Roster Before January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8
Each player needs 1500 Quick/Ranked points or 3000 Duo Hunters points during current season. Points must appear on official server records.
5-7 player range provides flexibility. Exactly 5 players risks disqualification if anyone becomes unavailable—minimum 5 must participate in qualifier matches. Recruit 6-7 for substitute availability.
Max one non-permanent resident per team. Status depends on server registration location and account creation region, not physical location.
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Step 2: Designate Team Captain
Captains get exclusive portal access: registration submission, verification monitoring, official communication. Only captains submit registration, upload documentation, confirm roster locks.
Prioritize availability during UTC+8 business hours (09:00-18:00). Captains in incompatible time zones may miss critical confirmation windows.
Captains must maintain continuous access to registered email and mobile number. Tournament organizers send confirmations exclusively to captain contacts—members don't receive duplicates.
Step 3: Submit Roster Through Portal Before January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8
Portal opens December 31, 2025 post-maintenance, active until server deadlines (January 14 S1, January 15 S4). 15-minute inactivity timeout erases unsaved progress.
Required info: team name (unique, 3-20 characters, no special symbols), captain account ID, all player account IDs with server verification, primary contact email, backup contact, division selection, server designation.
Portal validates basic eligibility during submission but doesn't constitute verification approval. Submission successful ≠ verification approval.
Step 4: Coordinate Club Joining by January 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8
S1 teams: January 12, 2026 21:00 UTC+8. S4 teams: January 13, 2026 09:00 UTC+8. Deadlines precede verification cutoff to ensure joined players accumulate qualifying points.
Tournament clubs appear post-registration. Captains receive invitation codes via portal, distribute to members. Each player manually joins—captains can't bulk-add. Allocate 30-minute coordination windows.
12-hour minimum membership before points count. Teams joining at deadline can't earn points until 12 hours later. Since Divine Procession runs 19:00-21:00 exclusively, deadline-joining teams lose entire day of matches—potentially 5 matches per role.
Step 5: Confirm Verification Within 12 Hours
Confirmation notifications arrive via email within 12 hours of review completion. Captains must access links and explicitly approve roster locks. Unconfirmed verifications remain pending and convert to automatic rejection if no response within 12 hours.
Confirmation displays final roster, division, server, club status. Verify all info matches intent—errors require immediate support contact, not portal resubmission. Portal locks editing once processing begins.
Rejection notifications allow resubmission if time remains before January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8. Resubmissions enter queue behind new submissions: 6-12 hour delays during peak. Rejections after 15:00 UTC+8 on January 13 provide insufficient correction time.
Player and Team Verification Requirements
Individual Player Checklist
- Min 1500 Quick/Ranked points or 3000 Duo Hunters points current season
- Points must match official leaderboards and server records
- No active penalties, suspensions, or fair play violations
- No teaming, win-trading, or match manipulation flags within 90 days
- Server binding matches team division selection (one non-permanent resident exception)
Team Captain Responsibilities
Captains bear exclusive responsibility for registration accuracy, documentation authenticity, communication responsiveness. Held accountable for team violations even when individual members commit infractions.
Authority includes roster modification until verification confirmation, emergency substitution requests (strict approval), official protest submission. Can't unilaterally remove verified players after confirmation.
Must maintain updated contacts through Online Qualifiers completion (March 2026). Unreachable captains risk team disqualification regardless of performance.
Roster Composition Rules
5-7 player range: min 5 ensures role coverage, max 7 prevents talent stockpiling. Online Qualifiers require min 5 present—teams below 5 face automatic forfeit.
Max one non-permanent resident prevents international super-teams dominating regional competitions. Circumvention via VPN, account transfers, or falsified data = permanent tournament ban.
Team points formula (highest Hunter × 2 + four highest Survivors) favors strong Hunter players and deep Survivor benches.
Common Verification Mistakes
Incomplete Documentation: #1 Disqualification Reason
~40% of failures from missing secondary elements: backup contacts, server binding confirmations, residency verification docs.
Teams submit partial roster documentation, assuming backup players need less verification. Wrong—all roster members require identical verification.
Screenshot quality issues: blurry images, cropped timestamps, compressed illegible text require resubmission. Staff can't approve ambiguous documentation.
Account Requirements Not Met
Qualification points must exist on leaderboards at verification processing time. Points earned after submission but before processing don't count. Submitting with player at 1480 points expecting 1500 = rejection.
Seasonal point resets: previous season points don't transfer unless specifically stated. Verify displayed points reflect current season.
Qualification thresholds implicitly require min Tier IV rankings. Below Tier IV struggles to accumulate 1500 points single season.
Roster Changes After Deadline
Modification restrictions activate upon verification confirmation. No additions, removals, or substitutions without organizer approval. Approval rates <20%.
Emergency substitutions require documented justification: medical emergencies with physician verification, account compromises with support tickets, family emergencies with evidence. Performance-based substitutions = automatic denial.
Roster lock extends through entire tournament including Online Qualifiers (February-March 2026). Can't add players between phases or modify based on meta shifts.
Multiple Team Registration
Players on multiple teams trigger automatic disqualification for all associated teams. Cross-checks detect duplicates. Even innocent duplications = disqualification pending player declaration.
Organizations can't register multiple teams per division with overlapping players. Limits to single team entry per division.
Players from previous phases can't switch teams for later phases. Sacred Sanctum Team A player can't join Team B for Divine Procession.
Last-Minute Checklist: 72 Hours Before Deadline
Essential Documents
Mandatory:
- Account ID verification screenshots (exact character matches)
- Qualification point screenshots (timestamps within 24 hours)
- Server binding confirmation (matches division)
- Captain contact info (verified email, functional mobile)
- Club join confirmations (all members)
- Residency verification for non-permanent resident (if applicable)
Recommended:
- Player profiles (account creation dates, historical activity)
- Match history exports (point accumulation timeline)
- Team coordination evidence
- Backup contacts for all members
Compile in standardized formats: PNG/JPG min 1920×1080, PDF <10MB total, clear labeling.
Team Roster Final Review
Confirm all 5-7 members commit through Online Qualifiers (March 2026). Document written confirmations with timestamps.
Verify role distribution:
- Min 2 competitive Hunter players
- Min 4 competitive Survivor players
- 1+ proficient in meta Hunter characters
- Survivors covering diverse specializations (rescuer, decoder, kiter, support)
Account Status Double-Check
Check penalty history, active warnings, fair play status within 48 hours of submission. Statuses change dynamically—clean on January 10 might get suspended January 12.
Play 1-2 matches within 24 hours of submission to refresh qualification points. Leaderboard caching displays outdated totals.
Verify server binding prevents disqualification: 2000 points on NA-EU servers can't participate in Japan Division regardless of location.
Emergency Troubleshooting
Pending Verification Close to Deadline
Within 12 hours of January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8:
- Submit urgent inquiry via portal with URGENT - DEADLINE subject prefix
- Contact official tournament social media with ticket number and screenshot
- Prepare complete documentation resubmission for rejection scenario
- Identify alternative members for problematic roster positions
Pending ≠ guaranteed approval. Proactive communication beats passive waiting.
Fixing Portal Technical Errors
Prevent timeout errors:
- Complete forms externally, copy-paste in single session
- Disable browser auto-refresh and power-saving
- Use wired internet vs WiFi
- Click between sections every 5 minutes during uploads
File upload failures: compress to 80% quality JPG, combine into PDF <10MB, verify extensions (.jpg, .png, .pdf only).
Browser compatibility: optimize for desktop Chrome, Firefox, Edge current versions. Switch browsers, clear cache, or change devices before assuming portal failures.
Contacting Support: Best Practices
Response priority: urgent deadline inquiries get 2-4 hours during UTC+8 business hours (09:00-18:00), standard 12-24 hours, general 24-48 hours.
Effective inquiries include:
- Registration ticket number or team name
- Exact error messages (not paraphrased)
- Screenshots showing error states
- Detailed reproduction steps
- Player account IDs and server info
Support can't expedite processing, override eligibility, or grant individual extensions. Focus on technical resolution and clarification, not exception requests.
Post-Registration: Monitoring and Preparation
Understanding Approval Notifications
Approval emails include:
- Official team registration number
- Confirmed roster with account IDs and roles
- Division and server confirmation
- Club membership verification and name
- Next steps for qualification phases
- Important dates (Sacred Sanctum, Divine Procession, Radiant Altar)
Archive emails and screenshot confirmations. Organizers don't reissue lost confirmations.
Approval doesn't guarantee continued eligibility if circumstances change. Maintain rule compliance throughout tournament.
Preparing After Registration
Practice Schedules:
- Sacred Sanctum: Quick 12:00-22:00, Ranked 12:00-14:00 & 19:00-21:00
- Divine Procession: 19:00-21:00 only
- Daily limits: 6 matches/role Sacred Sanctum, 5 matches/role Divine Procession
Role Optimization:
- Meta Hunter character proficiency
- Survivor compositions countering Hunter strategies
- Map-specific strategies (Leviathan Shore, Ancient Passage)
Point Strategy:
- Optimize formula (highest Hunter × 2 + four highest Survivors)
- Schedule matches maximizing daily limits
- Performance consistency across phases
Advancement: Japan Division top 5-6 (S1) or top 8 (S4); NA-EU and Southeast Asia top 8. Historical cutoffs: 15,000-25,000 team points.
Securing Resources
Ensure all members have:
- Meta Hunter characters unlocked and upgraded
- Diverse Survivor pools covering specializations
- Costume advantages (verify COA IX regulations)
- Adequate Echoes for emergency unlocks
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FAQ
What is the exact verification deadline that disqualifies teams?
January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8 for both S1 and S4. Pending or incomplete verification at this time = automatic disqualification. Precedes registration closure by 36-60 hours.
Can I register after the deadline if my team missed cutoff?
No extensions or late registrations permitted. Portal closes January 14, 2026 09:00 UTC+8 (S1) and January 15, 2026 09:00 UTC+8 (S4) with no grace periods.
How long does verification processing take?
30 minutes to 12 hours depending on timing and documentation. Early submissions (7+ days before): 2-4 hours. Final 72 hours: 6-12 hours. Submit min 48 hours before January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8.
What if a team member becomes unavailable after approval?
Roster modifications require organizer approval via formal substitution requests. Approval rates <20%, require documented emergencies. Performance-based substitutions = automatic denial. Teams below 5 players without approved substitutions face disqualification.
Why do S1 and S4 have different registration deadlines?
S1 closes January 14, 2026 09:00 UTC+8; S4 January 15, 2026 09:00 UTC+8 due to different competitive calendars and regional alignments. Both share identical verification cutoff: January 13, 2026 21:00 UTC+8.
Can teams change division selection after submission?
Division selection permanent upon submission. Can't modify via portal. Support requests require exceptional circumstances (server transfer errors, system malfunctions). Competitive advantage motivations = automatic denial.
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