What are good ways to keep an ally alive in double battles?

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.

Pleaselog inorregisterto add a comment.

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 OrbAbility: GutsEVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SDefBrave Nature- Close Combat- Wide Guard- Earthquake- Fake Out

Swampert @ Sitrus BerryAbility: TorrentEVs: 252 HP / 36 SDef / 220 AtkSassy NatureIVs: 0 Spd- Wide Guard- Roar- Waterfall- Earthquake

+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 BerryAbility: IntimidateEVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDefBrave Nature- Crunch- Drain Punch- Fake Out- Protect

Ambipom (M) @ Life OrbAbility: TechnicianEVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 SpdJolly NatureIVs: 0 SAtk- Fake Out- Double Hit- Low Sweep- Shadow Claw

Kangaskhan (F) @ KangaskhaniteAbility: ScrappyEVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpdJolly Nature- Fake Out- Return- Power-Up Punch- Sucker Punch

Lowers the enemies attack one stage

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

See Scrafty above

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Expert BeltAbility: IntimidateEVs: 176 HP / 224 Atk / 56 SAtk / 52 SpdNaive Nature- Protect- Earthquake- Hidden Power [Ice]- U-turn

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 SashAbility: TechnicianEVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpdJolly Nature- Mach Punch- Bullet Seed- Spore- Protect

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

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

Examples:

See Amoonguss above

Volcarona @ Fire GemAbility: Flame BodyEVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HPTimid Nature- Overheat/Heat Wave- Rage Powder- Bug Buzz- Protect

Jirachi @ Sitrus BerryAbility: Serene GraceEVs: 252 HP / 148 SDef / 108 SpdCareful Nature- Follow Me- Helping Hand- Iron Head- Icy Wind

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 SashAbility: Serene GraceEVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 SpdTimid Nature- Seed Flare- Air Slash- Earth Power- Protect

Togekiss @ Lum BerryAbility: Serene GraceEVs: 252 HP / 80 SDef / 176 SpdTimid Nature- Air Slash- Safeguard- Roost- Follow Me

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.

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 @ EvioliteAbility: PranksterEVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 DefCalm Nature- Quash- Feather Dance- Thunder Wave- Taunt

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 GemAbility: PranksterEVs: 252 Spd / 60 SAtk / 196 HPTimid Nature- Thunder Wave- Thunderbolt- Taunt- Hidden Power [Ice]

Whimsicott @ Occa BerryAbility: PranksterEVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SDefTimid Nature- Stun Spore- Protect- Leech Seed- Taunt

Reflect boosts defense, and Light Screen boosts special defense

Examples

Klefki @ Light ClayTrait: PranksterEV’s: 252Def/252 Sp. Def/4 HPNature: Bold/Calm/Impish/Careful - basically raise one of the defences and lower one of the attacksMoves:- Thunder Wave/Foul Play- Spikes- Reflect- Light Screen

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

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

The holder is guaranteed to survive one offensive hit

Pretty self-explanatory.

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 BerryAbility: Rough SkinEVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HPJolly Nature- Dragon Claw- Earthquake- Rock Slide- Protect

Bisharp @ Air BalloonAbility: DefiantEVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SDefAdamant 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 seenhere

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 @ LeftoversAbility: Serene GraceEVs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 124 SDef- Air Slash- Thunder Wave- Follow Me- Roost

And

Amoonguss @ Sitrus BerryAbility: Effect SporeEVs: 252 HP / 52 Def / 200 SDefBold Nature- Spore- Rage Powder- Giga Drain- Protect/Sludge Bomb