COA 2026 Event Overview
Call of the Abyss VIII is Identity V's premier competitive event starting December 26, 2025. The tournament combines high-stakes competition with exclusive limited essence releases—the game's most anticipated skin collection period.
COA VIII Tournament Timeline:
- Zephyr Hollow: December 26, 2025 - January 2, 2026
- Leviathan Shore: January 2-16, 2026 (6 daily matches/role, 60 total matches/role)
- Ancient Passage: January 16-23, 2026 (5 daily matches/role, 20 total matches)
- Registration Closes: January 14, 2026, 09:00 UTC+8
- Grand Finals: April 2026
- Team Requirements: 5-player minimum, max 1 non-permanent resident
For echo management before COA essence releases, buy Identity V echoes at BitTopup for competitive pricing and fast delivery.
COA Essence Releases vs Tournament Phases
COA events separate competitive tournaments from cosmetic essence releases, though both share COA branding. Tournament qualifiers determine championship participants, while limited essences typically launch during or after major tournament milestones. Previous COA events released exclusive S-Tier hunter/survivor skins through time-limited essence pools never available in standard Memory Sphere rotations.
December 2025-April 2026 features extensive Illusion Hall releases instead of traditional COA essence announcements. Season 40 Essence launched December 18, 2025:
- Mayfly (S-Tier First Officer)
- No Heart (A-Tier Mad Eyes)
- No Passage (A-Tier Goatman)
This standard essence operates separately from potential COA-branded limited releases.
Why COA Skins Are Most Coveted
COA skins achieve premium status through:
- Limited Availability: Never return after initial release window
- Championship Prestige: Associated with competitive tournament legacy
- Superior Design Quality: Elaborate animations, unique skill effects, detailed models exceeding standard essence quality
This permanent exclusivity drives collector urgency and significantly impacts secondary account valuations.
Joseph S-Tier Skin History & COA 2026 Predictions
Current Joseph S-Tier Skins:
- Moonlit Gentleman (Essence 1, October 2018)
- Exorcist (Essence 2, February 2019)
- Narcissus (Logic Path Season 5, April 2019)
- Viper (Illusion Hall, November 2020)
- Nidhogg (Crossover, July 2021)
- Ashes of Memory (Crossover, November 2022)
- Moonlight Gentleman (Lunar) (Lunar New Year, January 2025)
Joseph hasn't received a COA-exclusive S-Tier skin in previous tournaments. COA limited essences historically favor hunters with competitive meta relevance or strong player base demand.
COA 2026 Joseph Skin Likelihood: Moderate. No official announcements exist. NetEase typically reveals COA essence contents 1-2 weeks before release. Monitor official Identity V channels for confirmation.
Echo Cost Breakdown: Complete COA Collection
COA essence costs follow standard Identity V gacha mechanics with guaranteed S-Tier at 250 pulls if not obtained earlier.
Single Essence Pull Costs:
- 1 Pull: 318 echoes
- 10 Pulls: 3,180 echoes
Worst-Case Scenario (250 pulls for guaranteed S-Tier):
- 250 × 318 = 79,500 echoes
Average Scenario (120-150 pulls):
- 120 pulls = 38,160 echoes
- 150 pulls = 47,700 echoes
Lucky Scenario (60-80 pulls):
- 60 pulls = 19,080 echoes
- 80 pulls = 25,440 echoes
Complete December 2025-April 2026 Collection Estimate: If COA releases 1-2 limited essences with multiple S-Tier skins: 35,000-45,000 echoes for average luck across all desired items.
Pro tip: Budget for worst-case 80,000 echoes per S-Tier if targeting specific skin.
Echo Saving Strategies: December 2025-April 2026
Daily/Weekly Free Echo Sources
Daily Missions:
- Login rewards: ~50-100 echoes/week
- Daily quest completion: 20-30 echoes/day
- Weekly Total: 190-310 echoes
Weekly Limits:
- Rank match rewards: 100-200 echoes/week
- 5v5 mode participation: 50-100 echoes/week
- Weekly Total: 150-300 echoes
Monthly Events:
- Seasonal login calendars: 500-1,000 echoes/month
- Special event milestones: 300-800 echoes/month
- Monthly Total: 800-1,800 echoes
December 2025-April 2026 Free Echo Accumulation (5 months):
- Conservative estimate: 5,000-7,000 echoes
- Active player estimate: 8,000-12,000 echoes
Paid Echo Acquisition
Buy Identity V echoes at BitTopup for:
- Competitive regional pricing
- Fast delivery (typically within minutes)
- Secure payment methods
- 24/7 customer support
Echo Purchase Tiers (approximate USD pricing):
- 60 echoes: $0.99
- 300 echoes: $4.99
- 980 echoes: $14.99
- 1,980 echoes: $29.99
- 3,280 echoes: $49.99
- 6,480 echoes: $99.99
Budget Planning:
- Target 40,000 echoes for average COA collection
- Free accumulation: 8,000-12,000 echoes
- Required purchase: 28,000-32,000 echoes (~$450-500 USD)
Maximizing Echo Efficiency
Skip Non-Essential Purchases:
- Avoid standard essences if saving for COA
- Skip A-Tier skins unless favorites
- Resist impulse purchases on accessories/emotes
Prioritize Limited Content:
- COA essences never return
- Standard essences eventually enter Memory Sphere
- Crossover events occasionally return
Use Inspiration Wisely:
- Save Inspiration for A-Tier COA skins
- Don't waste on permanent shop items
- Accumulate through rank seasons and events
Event Participation:
- Complete all COA tournament viewing rewards
- Participate in championship prediction events
- Claim milestone rewards during essence release periods
What to Expect: COA 2026 Essence Release Pattern
Historical COA Essence Release Windows:
- COA V (2023): February-March essence releases
- COA VI (2025): March-April essence releases
- COA VII (2025): March-April essence releases
COA VIII Predicted Release Window: March-April 2026, coinciding with playoff/finals phases.
Typical COA Essence Contents:
- 2 S-Tier skins (1 hunter, 1 survivor)
- 4-6 A-Tier skins
- Multiple B/C-Tier accessories
- Exclusive portraits and graffiti
If Joseph Receives COA 2026 S-Tier: Expect championship-themed design incorporating:
- Competitive trophy motifs
- Faction-specific symbolism (likely hunter faction colors)
- Enhanced camera skill effects
- Unique photo world visual modifications
Alternative Joseph Skins: Illusion Hall & Crossovers
If COA 2026 doesn't feature Joseph S-Tier, consider alternatives:
Illusion Hall Rotation: Previous Joseph S-Tiers occasionally return to Illusion Hall. Viper appeared November 2020. Monitor monthly Illusion Hall announcements for rotation schedules.
Crossover Potential: Joseph received crossover skins (Nidhogg, Ashes of Memory). Future collaborations may feature Photographer.
Season Essence Releases: Standard seasonal essences continue separate from COA. Season 40 (December 2025) didn't include Joseph, but Season 41-43 (January-June 2026) remain unannounced.
FAQ
Q: Is Joseph getting a COA 2026 S-Tier skin? Not confirmed. No official announcements exist. Monitor Identity V official channels for COA essence reveals typically 1-2 weeks before release.
Q: How many echoes do I need for a COA S-Tier skin? Worst-case: 79,500 echoes (250 pulls). Average: 38,000-48,000 echoes (120-150 pulls). Budget 40,000-50,000 for safety.
Q: When will COA 2026 essences release? Predicted March-April 2026 based on historical patterns, coinciding with COA VIII playoffs/finals.
Q: Can I get COA skins later if I miss them? No. COA limited essences never return. They don't enter Memory Sphere or Illusion Hall rotation.
Q: What's the cheapest way to buy echoes?Buy Identity V echoes at BitTopup for competitive pricing, fast delivery, and secure transactions.
Q: Should I save echoes now or wait for confirmation? Start saving now. If Joseph isn't featured, you'll have reserves for other COA skins or future limited releases. Free echo accumulation takes months.
