Season 41 Essence 1: Release & Duration
Launch: February 5, 2026 (08:00 UTC+8)
Duration: 4-6 weeks (until mid-March 2026)
Theme: Theatrical bullfighting aesthetics
Essence 1 stays active until Essence 2 launches. Pity carries between Essence 1 and 2 within Season 41 but resets completely at Season 42. Limited skins never return to standard pools—miss them now, they're gone permanently.
For Echo top-ups, Identity V echoes recharge through BitTopup offers competitive pricing and secure transactions.
Complete Item List & Drop Rates
S-Tier:
- Matador (Prospector) - 1-2% per pull
A-Tier:
- Cueist costume
- Priestess costume
B-Tier: Accessories, graffiti, portraits
Cumulative Probability Breakdown
- 50 pulls: 40% chance (15,900 Echoes)
- 100 pulls: 63% chance (31,800 Echoes)
- 150 pulls: 78% chance (47,700 Echoes)
- 200 pulls: 87% chance (63,600 Echoes)
- 250 pulls: 100% guaranteed (79,500 Echoes)
Single pull: 318 Echoes | 10-pull: 3,180 Echoes (no discount)
Matador S-Tier Deep Dive
Visual Design:
- Rich reds, golds, blacks with ornate embroidery
- Dynamic cape physics during movement
- Custom magnet deployment animations
- Bullfighting-inspired victory/defeat poses
Competitive Impact: Zero gameplay advantage. Purely cosmetic. Bright colors may slightly increase visibility in dark maps, but the effect is negligible in practice.
Collection Value: Prospector maintains moderate ranked usage. Matador offers unique bullfighting theme unavailable in previous limited skins. Permanent exclusivity after season ends.
Cost Analysis: Worst to Best Case
Probability Distribution:
- Lucky (1-50 pulls): 15,900 Echoes max - 40% of players
- Average (51-100 pulls): 31,800 Echoes max - 23% of players
- Unlucky (101-200 pulls): 63,600 Echoes max - 24% of players
- Worst case (201-250 pulls): 79,500 Echoes max - 13% of players
F2P Accumulation:
- Daily quests: 15-30 Echoes
- 3 ranked matches: 40-100 Echoes (post-reset)
- Call of the Abyss IX event (Jan 8-28): 1,125-2,500 Echoes
- Active codes: 225-400 Echoes total
F2P players can gather 15,000-25,000 Echoes by launch (47-78 pulls, 40-50% S-Tier odds).
Pity Mechanics
250-pull guarantee is absolute. Counter increments per non-S-Tier pull, resets upon obtaining any S-Tier. Progress carries to Essence 2, creating strategic flexibility—100 pulls in Essence 1 means only 150 more needed in Essence 2 for guaranteed S-Tier.
Essence 2 Preview: Coordinator S-Tier
Expected Release: Mid-to-late March 2026
Featured Characters:
- Coordinator (S-Tier)
- Lanternist (A-Tier)
- Game Keeper (A-Tier)
Meta Comparison: Coordinator sees higher ranked pick rates than Prospector, especially in coordinated teams. Better competitive utility if you play both characters.
Time Gap Advantage: 4-6 weeks between essences lets F2P players accumulate 2,000-4,000 additional Echoes through dailies and ranked rewards.
Essence 1 vs Essence 2: Direct Comparison
Character Roster:
- Essence 1: Prospector (S), Cueist (A), Priestess (A)
- Essence 2: Coordinator (S), Lanternist (A), Game Keeper (A)
Who Benefits Most:
Essence 1:
- Prospector mains (only Season 41 option for your character)
- Players preferring bullfighting aesthetic
- Collectors with resources for both essences
Essence 2:
- Coordinator mains
- Competitive players (higher meta relevance)
- F2P with limited resources (more accumulation time)
Decision Framework: Should You Pull?
Step 1: Resource Check
- 79,500+ Echoes: Guaranteed Matador
- 30,000-40,000 Echoes: 60% success odds
- <20,000 Echoes: High risk, consider skipping
Step 2: Character Usage
- Play Prospector regularly (8+/10): Pull justified
- Rarely use Prospector (<5/10): Skip unless collecting
Step 3: Essence 2 Preference Prefer Coordinator S-Tier? Save resources for guaranteed Essence 2 acquisition.
Step 4: F2P Strategy Focus on ONE essence per season. Splitting resources typically prevents reaching pity on either, resulting in zero S-Tier skins.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Myth: Early pulling increases odds
False. 1-2% rate stays constant throughout availability period.
Myth: Limited skins return in Memory Spheres
False. Seasonal essence skins never enter permanent pools. Season 41 ends = Matador gone forever.
Myth: Stopping at 249 pulls improves rates
False. Pull 250 has same 1-2% base rate plus guarantee trigger. Waiting provides zero benefit.
Sunk Cost Fallacy: Don't continue pulling just because you've invested so much. Spent 30,000 Echoes without Matador? Evaluate if another 49,500 for pity aligns with current priorities. Pity carries to Essence 2—redirect resources there for guaranteed S-Tier.
Resource Optimization Tips
Active Redemption Codes:
- queenbee1127: 75-150 Echoes
- 27026: 75-150 Echoes
- 2A543: 75-100 Echoes
Redeem: Lobby > Gift > Settings > ID input
Event Priority: Focus Call of the Abyss IX milestones offering Echo rewards over cosmetic-only achievements.
Smart Recharge Timing: Calculate total budget before pulling. Buy Identity V echoes through BitTopup for competitive rates. Avoid impulse mid-session purchases driven by sunk cost emotions.
Expert Verdict
PULL ESSENCE 1 IF:
- You main Prospector
- Completionist with resources for both essences
- Matador aesthetic strongly appeals to you
- You have 79,500+ Echoes for guarantee
- You prefer Matador over Coordinator S-Tier
SKIP ESSENCE 1 IF:
- You rarely/never play Prospector
- You prefer Coordinator S-Tier
- Echo count <30,000 with no purchase plans
- Saving for future confirmed content
- F2P limited to one essence per season
Middle Ground (40,000-60,000 Echoes): Attempt Essence 1 (60-75% odds), redirect to Essence 2 if unsuccessful. Risks obtaining neither S-Tier. Conservative players should commit to single essence.
Matador delivers excellent quality and execution. Value depends entirely on your Prospector attachment and aesthetic preference. No objectively correct answer—only what aligns with your priorities and resources.
FAQ
What's Matador's drop rate?
1-2% per pull, guaranteed at 250 pulls. 63% cumulative by 100 pulls, 87% by 200 pulls.
How many Echoes guarantee Matador?
79,500 Echoes (250 pulls × 318 Echoes).
When does Essence 2 release?
Expected mid-to-late March 2026 (4-6 weeks after Essence 1). No official date confirmed.
Does Matador affect gameplay?
No. Purely cosmetic, zero competitive advantages.
Can I get Matador after Season 41?
No. Becomes permanently unobtainable except in extremely rare re-release events.
Should F2P pull Essence 1?
Only if you main Prospector or strongly prefer Matador over Essence 2's Coordinator. Otherwise save for Essence 2 or future seasons to maximize S-Tier acquisition chances.
