Preparing for 3-3 DoA teach runs

Join the DoA teaching Discord if you haven't already. You'll need to prepare a mesmer with all the equipment, get checked by a teacher, and then you can start doing some runs!
Make sure to read all the skills on your bar when starting a new role, so you understand how to use them properly.

Empathy

/ Empathy
FC: 12+3, Dom:12+1+3, Scythe:3 OQpjAwCc6QLBnAmO2gaATP2k4UA

Empathy is the most basic role, so get ready for that one first. No DoA experience is required, but you should understand the concept of getting into cast range of your target before activating your skills.

Get the build and all of this equipment:

Armor

Standard armor set	High health armor set
Required This armor set is required, and will be your standard armor in DoA: • 5x Radiant Insignia • +1 Domination Magic headpiece • Rune of Superior Vigor • Rune of Superior Domination Magic • Rune of Superior Fast Casting • 2x Rune of Attunement	Recommended A high health armor set is not required, but is very useful to have, and can save your life in an emergency: • 5x Survivor Insignia • +1 Domination Magic headpiece • Rune of Superior Vigor • 4x Rune of Vitae

Weapons

These weapons are required:

40/40 Domination Magic wand and focus	+30e/-2 Domination Magic high energy set	Any max shield with +10 armor vs demons
Required Can be crafted in Vasburg Armory/Leviathan Pits This will be your standard weapon set.	Required Can be crafted in Maatu Keep Switch to this when you need more energy; switch back to the 40/40 when you're not using skills.	Required You can ask us for a free one - we have plenty Together with a main-hand weapon (can be your standard wand), this will be your defensive set.

Recommended
An energy-hiding weapon is optional, but recommended. It can be any main-hand weapon, but must have -5 energy ("Brawn over Brains" inscription). Combine it with your shield, and use this set to hide energy while spiking the Darknesses.

Pcons

Required
At the start of every run, you need at least 20 each of:

• Birthday Cupcakes
• Candy Apples
• Candy Corn
• Scrolls of Resurrection
• Personal Death Penalty removal items (Pumpkin Cookies are ideal - do not use items that affect the whole party)
• Throwaway summoning stones (you don't need as many as 20, and any type of summon will do)

When you can afford it, buy a full stack of each item.

Recommended
These pcons are not strictly required, but will improve your performance significantly, and the cost is negligible compared to the profit from DoA:

• Golden Eggs
• Lunar Fortunes
• Slices of Pumpkin Pie
• War Supplies
• Powerstones of Courage or Seals of the Dragon Empire

Titles

Required

• Rank 5 Norn (Slayer of Wurms) or higher - for "You Move Like a Dwarf!"
• There is no minimum Lightbringer requirement, but make sure you picked up the Lightbringer effect in Chantry of Secrets.

Video

You don't have to watch a tutorial before you start, but you can if you want. This can be particularly useful if you've already learned the basics and want to make sure you're doing everything perfectly. Remember to turn on subtitles for extra instructions.

Backfire

/ Backfire
FC: 12+3, Dom:12+1+3 OQhnAwBhAPEgRYIG0SwJgpzGAHw0jN5NF

Backfire is also a beginner role, but you'll need all the same equipment as Empathy. Required: You also need to be able to quickly and consistently get into the veil glitch spot - practice this in your own time.

TK

/ TK
FC: 12+3, Dom:12+1+3 OQdCAsw0SwJgpTQgc50TMZnD

Once you've got some experience on Empathy and Backfire (at least enough to max your Lightbringer title and get familiar with the 3-3 DoA tactics), it's time to learn TK. The role is a little bit more challenging, but not much extra preparation is needed:
Required

• Longbow/flatbow - any one will do; the mods are not important.
• Ghastly Summoning Stones - as TK, it's your job to use one in the second room of Foundry.
• Rank 5 Asura (Not Too Annoying) or higher - needed to maximise your Pain Inverter.

Video

Remember to turn on subtitles for extra instructions.

VoR

/ VoR
FC: 12+3, Dom:12+1+3 OQljAwCs5QuNbAmOCOwlTP2k0l

After learning the other mesmer roles and developing a good understanding of 3-3 tactics, you can start doing VoR. The build is not difficult to use, but you will be responsible for the highest share of the damage, and it's your job to call spikes, so you should be able to speak clearly on voicechat. The only additional requirements are:
Required

• Tengu Support Flares - for the last spawn at Gloom cave
• Rank 5 Vanguard (Shadow Agent) or higher - for Ebon Escape

UA

/ UA
DF: 12+1+3, BM:11, Prot:6+2 OwIT8MIbX6uKHUuE6gukhAg4BEA

You can also start learning as a monk, but it's definitely better to do some runs as mesmer first. As a support player, you have to focus on multiple tasks at once and react appropriately if something goes wrong - this can be tricky if you don't already know the tactics.

Get the build and all of this equipment:

Armor

Standard armor set	High health armor set
Required This armor set is required, and will be your standard armor in DoA: • 5x Radiant Insignia • +1 Divine Favor headpiece • Rune of Superior Vigor • Rune of Superior Divine Favor • Rune of Major Protection Prayers • 2x Rune of Attunement	Recommended A high health armor set is not required, but is very useful to have, and can save your life in an emergency: • 5x Survivor Insignia • +1 Divine Favor headpiece • Rune of Superior Vigor • 4x Rune of Vitae

Weapons

Martial enchanting weapon set	Insightful Staff of Enchanting with +5 Energy while enchanted ("Have Faith" inscription)	Insightful Staff of Enchanting with +15 Energy ("Seize the Day" inscription)
Required Martial enchanting weapon with +5 Energy ("I have the power!" inscription) and any max shield with +10 armor vs demons (you can ask us for a free shield - we have plenty) This will be your defensive set.	Recommended This is useful when you're not in immediate danger. It gives +20 Energy compared to the shield set and 20% half skill recharge.	Optional This gives you an extra reserve of energy for emergencies. Use it only when necessary, and immediately switch back to your other set.

Pcons

At the start of every run, you need at least 20 each of:
Required

• Birthday Cupcakes
• Candy Apples
• Candy Corn
• Golden Eggs
• Scrolls of Resurrection
• Personal Death Penalty removal items (Pumpkin Cookies are ideal - do not use items that affect the whole party)
• Throwaway summoning stones (you don't need as many as 20, and any type of summon will do)

When you can afford it, buy a full stack of each item.

These pcons are not strictly required, but will improve your performance significantly, and the cost is negligible compared to the profit from DoA:
Recommended

• Slices of Pumpkin Pie
• War Supplies
• Powerstones of Courage or Seals of the Dragon Empire

Titles

Required

• Rank 5 Asura (Not Too Annoying) or higher - for Pain Inverter
• Rank 5 Vanguard (Shadow Agent) or higher - for Ebon Escape
• There is no minimum Lightbringer requirement, but make sure you picked up the Lightbringer effect in Chantry of Secrets.

EMo

/ EMo
Energy Storage: 12+1+3, Protection: 12, Healing: 3 OgNDwcPPTaR3MkE1C0lyDxDHEA

After getting some experience on both TK and UA, you can start learning EMo. Begin by doing some more runs as UA, watching the EMo and asking questions. When you think you understand the role, get your equipment checked:

Armor

Standard armor set	Low armor set
Required • 5x Radiant Insignia • +1 Energy Storage headpiece • Rune of Superior Vigor • Rune of Superior Energy Storage • 3x Rune of Attunement	Recommended A low armor set (with identical runes) is not required, but is useful in some place e.g. for fuse pulls. If you still have your starter armor, that's ideal - if not, you can craft a 15AL set in a beginner town: • 5x Radiant Insignia • +1 Energy Storage headpiece • Rune of Superior Vigor • Rune of Superior Energy Storage • 3x Rune of Attunement

Weapons

Any enchanting weapon set	Adept Protective Staff of Enchanting with HCT Protection Prayers ("Aptitude not Attitude" inscription)	Martial enchanting weapon with +5 Energy ("I have the power!" inscription) and	Martial enchanting weapon with 10% HCT ("Don't Think Twice" inscription and
Required A staff with half cast time mods is ideal. This will be your standard weapon set.	Recommended This is not needed, but you can use it to cast bonds faster at the start of the run.	Recommended Focus with +15 Energy ("Live for Today" inscription) Only use this for desperate energy emergencies.	Recommended Any max shield with +10 armor vs demons (you can ask us for a free shield - we have plenty) This is not needed, but can be useful when you are tanking enemies.

Pcons

At the start of every run, you need at least 20 each of:
Required

• Birthday Cupcakes
• Candy Apples
• Candy Corn
• Scrolls of Resurrection
• Personal Death Penalty removal items (Pumpkin Cookies are ideal - do not use items that affect the whole party)
• Throwaway summoning stones (you don't need as many as 20, and any type of summon will do)

When you can afford it, buy a full stack of each item.

These pcons are not strictly required, but will improve your performance significantly, and the cost is negligible compared to the profit from DoA:
Recommended

• Slices of Pumpkin Pie
• War Supplies
• Golden Eggs
• Powerstones of Courage or Seals of the Dragon Empire

Titles

Required

• Rank 5 Vanguard (Shadow Agent) or higher - for Ebon Escape
• There is no minimum Lightbringer requirement, but make sure you picked up the Lightbringer effect in Chantry of Secrets.

Video

To progress to EMo, having a teacher walk you through the role first is mandatory. You can either request a narrated run or watch the following video, which explains the general EMo role, as well as showing a tutorial run. Remember to turn on subtitles for extra instructions.

Main Tank

/ Main Tank
Shadow:12+1+3, Tactics:9, Dagger:9, CS:3 OwFkUld5HPOENpOTDECEujN5BUnD

When you have a good grasp of the other roles, it's time to move on to tank. Just like playing UA and observing the EMo, you can learn MT while playing EMo. When you think you understand the role, get your equipment checked:

Armor

This armor set is required, and will be your standard armor in DoA:	Jadoth set:
Required • 5x Blessed Insignia • +1 Shadow Arts headpiece • Rune of Superior Vigor • Rune of Superior Shadow Arts • 3x Rune of Vitae	Required • 5x Blessed Insignia • +1 Shadow Arts headpiece • Rune of Superior Shadow Arts • 2x Rune of Superior Critical Strikes • Rune of Superior Deadly Arts • Rune of Superior Dagger Mastery	Recommended An extra headpiece with +1 Shadow Arts is useful to increase your health pool for some pulls in Veil. • Blessed Insignia • +1 Shadow Arts headpiece • Rune of Minor Shadow Arts

Weapons

Shield set	Enchanting staff	Flatbow
Required Martial enchanting weapon with +5 Energy ("I have the power!" inscription) and any max shield with +10 armor vs demons (you can ask us for a free shield - we have plenty) Adjust your attributes if necessary to meet the requirement on the shield. This will be your standard defensive set.	Required +20% enchanting is required, but the other mods are optional. +energy or HCT are both good.	Required The mods on this are not important; it's just used for pulling.

Vampiric Daggers of Enchanting	Martial enchanting weapon with -5 Energy ("Brawn over Brains" inscription)	High energy staff	Shield with +10 vs Earth
Required These are for dealing damage with auto attacks while you have nothing else to do.	Required This goes together with your shield to make an energy-hiding set - only needed in emergencies as MT. Used more later when you learn TT.	Optional This is only used for extreme energy emergencies.	Optional This is usually not needed, but can save your life if you have to tank titans without bonds. Titans don't count as demons, so a demon shield is less effective.

Pcons

At the start of every run, you need at least 20 each of:

Required

• Scrolls of Resurrection
• Personal Death Penalty removal items (Pumpkin Cookies are ideal - do not use items that affect the whole party)
• Throwaway summoning stones (you don't need as many as 20, and any type of summon will do)
• Powerstones of Courage or Seals of the Dragon Empire

When you can afford it, buy a full stack of each item.

These pcons are not strictly required, but will improve your performance significantly, and the cost is negligible compared to the profit from DoA:

Recommended

• Candy Corn
• Golden Eggs
• Lunar Fortunes
• Slices of Pumpkin Pie
• War Supplies

Do NOT use Birthday Cupcakes as MT. The speed boost will cause enemies to break aggro.

Titles

Required

• Rank 5 Norn (Slayer of Wurms) or higher - for IAU and YMLaD
• There is no minimum Lightbringer requirement, but make sure you picked up the Lightbringer effect in Chantry of Secrets.

Trench Tank

/ Trench Tank
Shadow:12+1+3, Tactics:9, Dagger:9, CS:3 OwFkMOd5HXlENpODuDCUDUozBUnD

After learning MT, the final role is TT. This is the most challenging to learn, so while there is no special equipment needed (except the MT gear plus Birthday Cupcakes), some study and practice is necessary before your first run.

Videos

Cave is the one area you can actually cause the run to fail, so it's crucial that you can do this correctly before you do your first run. Get a friend to catch the earth groups for you (or just use your own heroes, but this can be very awkward while you're trying to learn) and practice cave until you can reliably complete it. Record yourself and post in the vod-review channel, or have a teacher come to observe you to confirm that you're doing it right.

In Veil, you'll be on your own after derv hill, so you need to know how to glitch trenches and pull monk lord. If you have plenty of spare time, you can use heroes to practice this on your own.

Armor

The MT armor is sufficient - these extra sets are just for tryharding. Don't forget to switch back to your Blessed set afterwards.

Infiltrator's armor makes you take less damage at cave.	Vanguard's armor makes you take less damage on derv hill, and the Minor Shadow Arts headpiece increases your health pool.
Optional • 5x Infiltrator's Insignia • +1 Shadow Arts headpiece • Rune of Superior Shadow Arts • Rune of Superior Vigor • 3x Rune of Vitae	Optional • 5x Vanguard's Insignia • +1 Shadow Arts headpiece • Rune of Minor Shadow Arts • Rune of Superior Vigor • 3x Rune of Vitae

Weapons

Martial weapon with +5 armor and inscribable shield with +10 vs Blunt
Optional This is just for reducing damage on derv hill. Don't forget to switch back to an enchanting weapon!

Pcons

Birthday Cupcakes are Required for Veil, and are useful in Gloom. Do not use them elsewhere.

Other pcons are useful and highly Recommended.