I completed my first run of AK successfully as a Whm with an iLvl 50 weapon, full af (not af +1 or af2, just regular old dusty af) accessories that ranged from 45 to 50, and 1 darklight neck piece. We wiped once on the first boss, but I learned the mechanics and we nailed it the second time with plenty of breathing room to spare. Demon wall? Same story. Wiped once, learned the mechanic, nailed it with room to spare. Final boss? Beat that one on the first attempt. 30-40 minute affair tops.

I don't remember everything my friends had, but it wasn't anywhere near full DL, they didn't have relic weapons, and I was far from a burden if the first two bosses only required a learning curve. I could see myself being a burden if we wiped and only won by barely scraping by, but once I'd learned their mechanics, we had hp and mp to spare at the end of each fight, and no raises necessary.

I'll concede to speed runs, but anyone saying a regular AK run can't be done without 2-3 or full darklight and relic weapons is either confusing regular runs with speed runs, or they rely on overgearing to make up for their ability (or lack there of) to play their role.