R.O.B. is the best doubles camp character in the game. I think, when used correctly, he teams very well with most of the cast. He does not team very well with other camp characters (not exactly poorly, but not great) but he can enhance and contribute to most tank characters. He can even make characters not really known for their doubles metagame far more viable. After all this time using R.O.B. I finally feel confident enough to explain how I use R.O.B. with certain characters and how I use him against certain match ups.
My main doubles partner plays Lucas. Lucas can be helped tremendously by R.O.B. The main way we play is camp/tank (R.O.B. camp Lucas tank). He will go all in, trying to take on both opponents, while I attempt to control space and offer him opportunities using basic camping techniques. Depending on stage, I try to place my gyro on the ground to take up space, I use spot dodge d-smash and n-air to camp my fortress. I use lasers very, VERY often. Lucas has some of the best kill moves in the game. His problem is lag on thee attacks. Be it start up or end time lag. Well, I use R.O.B.’s lasers to speed Lucas up. To eliminate this lag time, after the move has been performed, I will shoot him with a laser. This way, there is no room for anyone to punish him. If he hits the smash, then he may get a kill and if he misses, nobody could do anything to harm him because my laser will disrupt the flow of play. When timed correctly, you can laser Lucas out of his u-smash so fast, he can actually start fighting another character while the first character is stuck in the delay of thee attack (you know, when Lucas hits an u-smash there is a moment of delay before the character goes flying into the sky. He can actually be moving around before they start flying). I use lasers to support his recovery, give him an extra attempt at recovery, increase his n-air combos, and give him health back.
While I use lasers to cover the slower characters, (Ike, Lucas, D3), I use lasers differently when partnering with faster characters. I use lasers to set up kills in favorable circumstances and to cover any time I think my partner may be punished. Sometimes, I just laser for the heck of using the laser. I try to never let my laser get to stage three.
I partnered with a Link partner for a good while. We were really good together. He was the tank character but his versatility made him an extremely good tank. With so many bomb set-ups, and other options, Link is actually a really good doubles partner for a camp R.O.B. Link has some speedy moves that can take big advantage of an aggressive laser user. I would shoot him, and our opponents to set him up for quick attacks that can kill, do damage, or take over space. Link has one of the worst recoveries in the game, but when a R.O.B. can read and laser properly, his recovery can actually become viable. I know it sounds simple, but the basics seem to be ignored by most doubles R.O.B. players. Hitting your partner with lasers can be extremely beneficial; with that being said, your partner must know how to handle being shot with the lasers. I have noticed that some players are simply not equipped, even with a little training. To handle aggressive laser camping. For example, I once shot my partner and a D3 to save my partner from certain death, but he got so upset that he ended up running right into a kill move anyway. I tried to explain how the laser actually helped him, but he did not see that as constructive for doubles.
When partnering with a Snake player, I tend to use my gyro a lot less. I do this because Snake players roll to control space while most other characters jump to control space. The result can be a Snake player rolling into the gyro unintentionally. I may also pick up the gyro but normally, I just use it less than normal. With Snake, I use lasers in a more situational circumstance. Because Snake controls ground space using grenades, I will shoot lasers around him and only laser into him when the situation is favorable. If thee opponent is between us, I will use laser to turn them towards me and give Snake a free attempt at f-tilt or if close enough, go for kills with u-tilt. I think Snake/R.O.B. is a very good team.
R.O.B.’s best partner is, by far, Metaknight. Since Metaknight is an amazing tank that controls air space very well, it is not really a surprise that he and R.O.B. make for a top five team in the game (in my opinion). R.O.B./Metaknight can handle any team. Once again, I use lasers to set up kills. Obviously, an experienced Metaknight player can handle the lasers speed, efficiency, and variety. Because of Metaknight’s air game, I can leave my gyro on the stage for board control and I thee ability to laser far more often for free.
To use lasers the way I do is something any partner will have to adjust to. It can really open up a character’s options when used well and it will really seal your threat as a legit camper. In my opinion, t0mmy is way too aggressive at times. I see how he plays singles and I love his R.O.B. in singles, but I noticed he had a Metaknight partner and he still seems to prefer tanking as opposed to camping and saving stocks. R.O.B. is best used as a camper and playing too aggressive in doubles, especially with a tank partner, can be counter-productive. I have seen it cost t0mmy and his partner matches. I just think to myself, “If he let that Metaknight take over… and support him, they would have won.”
Here is a list of characters I have teamed with where my style of camp works well:
Metaknight.
D3.
Lucas.
Ike.
Lucario.
Snake.
Link.
R.O.B.
Donkey Kong.
Here is a list of characters I seem to have trouble working with:
Fox/Falco.
Mario.
Toon Link.
Zelda.
Game and Watch.
Diddy Kong.
Everyone else I have not had enough time to come to a legit opinion on.
Video of my playstyle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyM103UYp18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsarZyBpqh8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh4rZ8prkrg