Main Tank (DoA)

Main tank, abbreviated as MT, is a role in all common DoASC tactics. It is typically done by an assassin, although any profession can do the job effectively as /A.

Role

The MT is responsible for most of the large balls in DoA, and nearly all of these are done with bonds from the Emo. Although tanking in general requires more DoASC experience than other roles, the fact that the MT always has the backline nearby to provide support makes this role much more accessible for learning tanks than Trench Tank.

Build

/ Main Tank
Shadow:12+1+3, Tactics:9, Dagger:9, CS:3 OwFkUld5HPOENpODAACEuDAwBUnD

Dark Escape provides a speedboost as well as damage reduction and in various situations can save a run. However, it is not strictly required, and some players choose to replace it with one of the following:

• Mantra of Resolve - Prevents rupts during Ranger Hill, Clover Pull. Can be used by beginners, but is very uncommon as most interrupts in DoA can be avoided. It also prevents you from meeting the requirement on your shield.
• Dash - Short burst of movement speed that can make you overall faster throughout the run. It requires more experience to be used correctly and is riskier in certain situations without bonds.

Attributes

The only attribute you really need is Shadow Arts, and you want 12+1+3 on it. Invest enough points to meet the requirement of your shield, usually Tactics, and finally put the rest into Dagger Mastery and Critical Strikes for some autoattack damage.

Equipment

Assassin Equipment

Important Main Tanks also need a Jadoth Set, which is a set with all Blessed, +1+3 shadow arts, and superior runes (-75hp) on all pieces.

• Sword or Axe of Enchanting and +10 vs demons shield
• Staff of Enchanting
• Flatbow of Enchanting
• (Optional) Vampiric Daggers of Enchanting

Pcons

As Main Tank, you are not required to use any pcons since you are able to have full bonds. Regarding each pcon:

• Cupcakes - do not pop this as nearly every mob you deal with breaks with a 33% speedboost and you'll be forced to sidewalk for pulls

• Corn/Eggs - these increase Shadow Form, Dark Escape and Shroud of Distress duration, strengthen the heal on shadowsteps, and your daggers a tad bit stronger.

• War Supplies - Free armor and health regen, no downside

• Apples - free health and energy, no downside with correct jadoth armor.

• Lunars - Pop these only if you are popping corn/eggs, and if you care about a +10 Shroud regen, and the benefits of the attribute increase.

Guide

Foundry

1st Room

• 1st ball: Have shroud, but not SF up for 1st ball. Wait for the Margonites to collapse (the Tuk or Rund might be casting a skill during this moment and might not collapse so be aware, then DC to the closest Margonite from casting range. YMLAD the Vu after jumping the ball, as he will most likely run towards the team during the spike. If you and the TT have staffs out, and other enchants (Not SF) the Dabi will not use Meekness as his first few skills. This is useful to help auto attack in 2nd room.

• 2nd ball: Locate the spawn and just stand near enough to them for pi dmg and try not drag them around. Be careful of getting blinded or weakness, as this lessens your auto attack in 2nd room. The titans will only run around if the team has aggro and runs away from the mobs causing them to move around.

2nd Room

On the first spawn, jump in and dagger the Ki; during the second spawn just get ready for 3rd room: don't go melee and push Dream Riders out.

3rd Room

Have Recall on Emo, try to use SF before the door opens, then run in (with Dark Escape if you have it) and aggro all Titans. Use a staff to make them settle faster, then pull them inside EoE.

4th Room

If pushing into the far corner, get ready to wall wave 2 and 3 if needed; otherwise just AFK for the whole room.

5th Room

Have Recall on the Emo. Your job in 5th room is to pull all aggro away from the team to allow them to walk around, grabbing snakes. While the team is spiking Black Beast, clear the Fury spawn, then during the Fury spike, clear the chest.

City

In City, try to use IaU under QZ. When possible, use SF and Shroud while waiting for enemies to catch up. Don't catch bad aggro. In City, surviving is not the problem: the goal is to avoid bad aggro and make spikable balls as fast as possible.

Outside, you will typically do the 2nd ball. Make sure to have Recall on the Emo, and after the spike, refresh your SF, use Dark Escape and Recall out, then run to the right side. If possible, Recall your monk before aggroing again; then ball right side.

After the spike, Recall out and get ready for Jadoth. You want about 300 health, so swap in pieces of your Jadoth armor until you hit your target hp. The amount of pieces to swap depends on your morale, pcons, and shield. Try to use Shroud on recharge in the few minutes before Jadoth to stack damage reduction. When quest is taken, use SF and jump in - pull to the left side. Keep in mind you are in Veil, so try to dodge as little as possible. Also remember that Jadoth can interrupt your Shadow Form, so try to cast away from him or while he's using Anthem of Guidance.

Veil

Main Tank usually pulls right side of 360 as shown in the video below:

Check the video above for the Ranger lord pull. In short, you need to have Recall on the Emo, use Dark Escape and Shadow Form at the same time, then run in. Use IaU before you get hit and hos to avoid getting stuck. In this first half of the pull try to move not in straight lines or you'll get stuck more easily. DC to one of the casters, fiends or ranger lord itself, but don't wait too much before casting DC or fiends will have time to use choking gas and interrupt you. Your Dark Escape should run out just after you DC, and then just run straight to the back of the hill. Recall out once you reach the wall or if you're about to die.

After ranger lord, use Recall on Emo again and take quest, then go turtle with the team. Stay slightly in front of the team, and as soon as mobs settle, HoS past and start the clover pull.

Once clover is done, you split off the team to pull Necro lord out. Just bow it and run back; if you have casters' aggro try to break them with a speedboost, otherwise DC to one of the claws that spawn by Mesmer lord. Tank the Necro lord and then head to 6-0.

At 6-0 check that you have prot bond from the Emo, then go to the NPC. Make sure mesmers are ready, then take quest and walk to the TK. Don't use IaU or Dark Escape while tanking slashes, but do use Shadow Form. When the tendrils die, target a claw ahead, make sure to aggro the back group, then DC to the claw. Save your HoS to get past the other spawn, and pull to the Emo. Unlike other veil pulls, don't run through the Emo, but rather just stand with him and wall.

Gloom

You will likely have to tank one or two groups in the trench on the way to Gloom. Pull them together, and tank with Dark Escape and IaU.

Your next job is to HoS up the cliff to let the Emo EE up and go to Rift, but what you do next depends on tactics: in FBGM Tactics you will pull Spirits towards Veil (as shown in the video); otherwise you will pull the group to the left hill.

Depending on tactics and your time, you may want to tank the 2nd Earth spawn at cave, but your next real job is pulling Rift.

Next, head to Deathbringers, let them settle, and DC to them. Similar to Foundry 1st group, it is very important to DC from outside aggro range.

Last, pull Darknesses towards the team, as close to the wall as possible, such that you can easily wall Earths on the 3rd spawn.