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What are some ways, (specific sets if you can give them) to protect allies. What I mean by that is this: If you have an ally such as a smeargle or something weak defensively, that for some reason you desperately want to keep alive for setup or something like that, what are some good ways to do it? I've thought of some pretty interesting methods. such as forests curse from one, then flower shield from another, and of course everyone's going to throw mat block at me, but does anyone know any more good ways to keep your second Pokemon alive as long as possible.

I thought of this question when I read another question asking about Pokemon that can raise any stat then baton pass, but how can you manage to raise all the stats? Well there's the question. That's why things like mat block wouldn't work, given that it only works on the first turn.

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2 Answers

6 votes
 
Best answer

Wide Guard

Protects both Pokemon on the field from spread moves like Rock Slide, Earthquake and Surf

Since these moves are very common in doubles, a wide guard user may help protect your weaker ally alive as it sets up.

Examples:

Hariyama (M) @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Brave Nature
- Close Combat
- Wide Guard
- Earthquake
- Fake Out

Swampert @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 36 SDef / 220 Atk
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Wide Guard
- Roar
- Waterfall
- Earthquake


Fake Out

+3 Priority, causes the opponent to flinch

This move can completely disable a threatening enemy for a turn while your weaker ally does its thing.

Examples

See Hariyama above

Scrafty @ Roseli Berry
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Brave Nature
- Crunch
- Drain Punch
- Fake Out
- Protect

Ambipom (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
IVs: 0 SAtk
- Fake Out
- Double Hit
- Low Sweep
- Shadow Claw

Kangaskhan (F) @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Return
- Power-Up Punch
- Sucker Punch


Intimidate

Lowers the enemies attack one stage

Have a Pokemon with weak defense? Here's the answer

See Scrafty above

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 176 HP / 224 Atk / 56 SAtk / 52 Spd
Naive Nature
- Protect
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- U-turn


Sleep

Sleep can put a Pokemon out of the match entirely, assuming it does not have cleric support, safegaurd is not active, its ability/typing makes it immun or it lacks a chesto/lum berry.

Examples:

Breloom @ Focus Sash
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Mach Punch
- Bullet Seed
- Spore
- Protect

Amoonguss @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Effect Spore
- Rage Powder
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb


Rage Powder/Follow Me

As explained by Mr. K, it will protect your ally from all non-spread moves for a turn

Examples:

See Amoonguss above

Volcarona @ Fire Gem
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Overheat/Heat Wave
- Rage Powder
- Bug Buzz
- Protect

Jirachi @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 148 SDef / 108 Spd
Careful Nature
- Follow Me
- Helping Hand
- Iron Head
- Icy Wind


Serene Grace Flinching

Certain Pokemon can abuse flinch inducing moves in tandem with serene grace to potentially incapacitate an opponent for a turn

Examples

See Jirachi above

Shaymin-Sky @ Focus Sash
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Seed Flare
- Air Slash
- Earth Power
- Protect

Togekiss @ Lum Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 80 SDef / 176 Spd
Timid Nature
- Air Slash
- Safeguard
- Roost
- Follow Me


Weather

On the subject of type changes, Sun can protect you from water moves, Rain can protect you from fire moves, and Sand can augment a rock type's ability to take special hits.


Quash

Forces the target to move last that turn

This may grant your weak ally the chance to set up while quashing the threat

Examples

Murkrow @ Eviolite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Def
Calm Nature
- Quash
- Feather Dance
- Thunder Wave
- Taunt


Paralysis

Paralyzing the threat to your weak ally may be the answer you desire. This works very well with Serene Grace Flinching

Examples

See Murkrow above

Thundurus (M) @ Electric Gem
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 Spd / 60 SAtk / 196 HP
Timid Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Taunt
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Whimsicott @ Occa Berry
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Stun Spore
- Protect
- Leech Seed
- Taunt


Dual Screens

Reflect boosts defense, and Light Screen boosts special defense

Examples

Klefki @ Light Clay
Trait: Prankster
EV's: 252Def/252 Sp. Def/4 HP
Nature: Bold/Calm/Impish/Careful - basically raise one of the defences and lower one of the attacks
Moves:
- Thunder Wave/Foul Play
- Spikes
- Reflect

- Light Screen


Soak

Again regarding type changes, any Pokemon weak to steel/fire/ice/water can appreciate this


Storm Drain/Lightningrod

All water/electric moves are attracted towards this Pokemon

If you need a Pokemon safe from water/electric moves, run a Pokemon with these abilities. One of the most common pairings I see is Gyarados with a Lightningrod abuser like Marowok


Focus Sash

The holder is guaranteed to survive one offensive hit

Pretty self-explanatory.

Type resistant berries/air balloon

You see many Pokemon above holding type resistant berries to ensure they survive a supereffective hit, but here are a couple more examples

Garchomp @ Roseli Berry
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Protect

Bisharp @ Air Balloon
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- Sucker Punch
- Night Slash
- Iron Head


All the sets are of mine or smogon's creation, except for the Klefki one, made by MM and can be seen here

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edited by
Shiz dat's a sweet answer man
Wow. Above and beyond the call of duty. Is there a "best answer for any question ever" button next to the green checkmark that I don't see?
Aw thanks.
wow
such answer
much thorough
very upvote
My plan now is to have a Smeargle that can max out all of it's stats, and 4 of these Pokémon guarding over it, protecting it with their lives, then Smeargle baton passes it to a mega Tyranitar or Garchomp and we TAKE OVER THE WORLD. I'll make you my head advisor and heir, and MrKijani can be... uh... my secretary. Or unpaid intern.
Ya forgetting Heal Pulse & Follow Me.
Your answer is amazing I voted up!!!
But I had follow me : (
1 vote

One of the greatest moves to use is Rage Powder or Follow Me. Two great users of these moves are Amoonguss, and Togekiss respectively.

Togekiss @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 124 SDef
- Air Slash
- Thunder Wave
- Follow Me
- Roost

And

Amoonguss @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Effect Spore
EVs: 252 HP / 52 Def / 200 SDef
Bold Nature
- Spore
- Rage Powder
- Giga Drain
- Protect/Sludge Bomb

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