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Because these are VGC sets, and in this format, Protect is probably the most useful move to have on any Pokémon. It's useful in many scenarios: if your Pokémon is heavily threatened by the opponent, it can stay safe for a turn while the partner either attacks the threat, or switches out into a Pokémon that will threaten it, and this can turn games around. If you predict your opponent to double-attack one of your Pokémon, it also gives you a free turn with the partner Pokémon. Or, if you are using speed control options such as Tailwind, Trick Room or Icy Wind, you can Protect your main attacker while the partner sets you up to move first on the following turn. This gen, it also helps to try and waste the opponent's Z-move. It's not a necessity on every Pokémon all the time, but not having it seriously limits your options and can allow your opponents to get into a good position and then just steamroll through. Because of this, in competitive VGC play, most of the Pokémon have Protect/Detect as an option.