Current Top Pairing(s)

Blakeh1 has the right of it. With out a dominant protectorate player on the larger scene right now its a difficult question to answer. I do think you'll see a lot of Amon (creator's might) / X.

X is the big unknown and in SR2017 Amon may not even have that much play anymore as the scenarios start to demand an infantry presence.

Keep your eyes peeled though as the second half of 2017 should be very very interesting as the metas settle out on the new scenario rules.

mechanic's can't score zones anymore; they score flags

This statement speaks volumes of the community's herd mentality, and is a sad indictment of WMH culture. Without some con winner name, its hopelessly adrify, and yet people adhere to the dogma of the last successful state, too afraid to experiment.

For me, Feora1 is a strong first choice. Im undecided as a pairing, but Durst has piqued my interet in an unconventional non-theme list relying heavily on paladins. I feel confident any paladin theme helps it, with caveat that I really need the damned hierophant in themes.

It might speak to the heard mentality but that was the premise of the OP's question.  Asking about popular pairings is already objectively looking for the herd.  Currently with this faction that means finding an wide open field of individuals instead ... that's not necessarily a bad thing but ...

Having a JVM type that can help unlock the faction through extensive trial and error with an abundance of time to devote to the game isn't the end of the world though.  Us lesser humans simply don't have that kind of game time available to repeatedly test out lists against such a wide variety of opponents to prove wider viability of our builds.  When you have somebody like that who can provide some direction it helps focus the community and results in even more testing of the list concept.  There's still room for the innovators there but you can't deny that having that person is of significant benefit to the faction as a whole.

All that being said the big down side is when that personality descends into arrogance and their fan club begins attacking any ideas that don't come from or contradict the approach of the pack alpha.  That's when things become degenerate.

Vinny wants to spam hard hitting exemplar units and use his feat to deliver them. Build a battle group capable of providing Vinny as much protection as possible to move him up field in support of the army while still being able to close out the game. Example list:

Protectorate Army - 75 / 75 points
[Theme] Exemplar Interdiction

(Vindictus 1) Vice Scrutator Vindictus [+29]
- Templar [15]
- Templar [15]
High Exemplar Gravus [9]
Knights Exemplar Seneschal [0(5)]
Wrack [1]
Wrack [1]
Wrack [1]
Choir of Menoth (min) [4]
Exemplar Vengers (max) [20]
Exemplar Vengers (max) [20]
Knights Exemplar [9]
- Knights Exemplar Officer [0(5)]
Knights Exemplar [9]
- Knights Exemplar Officer [0(5)]

Amon wants quick and easy synergy builders while maximizing the amount of meat that the opponent has to chew through. Bring dervishes so that they can bait in the trades while enlivening away without free strikes. Mechanics are essential to ensure that the whole machine maintains functionality. Battle group composition and some of the support inclusions will be hotly debated.

Protectorate Army - 75 / 75 points
[Theme] The Creator's Might

(Amon 1) High Allegiant Amon Ad-Raza [+29]
- Castigator [12]
- Castigator [12]
- Crusader [10]
- Crusader [10]
- Crusader [10]
- Dervish [7]
- Dervish [7]
- Dervish [7]
- Devout [9]
- Hierophant [0(3)]
The Covenant of Menoth [0(4)]
Vassal Mechanik [1]
Vassal Mechanik [1]
Vassal of Menoth [0(3)]
Vassal of Menoth [3]
Wrack [1]
Wrack [1]
Wrack [1]
Choir of Menoth (max) [6]
Choir of Menoth (max) [6]

Another popular one is Sevy2. Build him for ranged damage with lots of spell assassination potential. There's probably better builds out there for him but I use the one below. Note that if mercs do end up being allowed in themes then I'll make this into creator's might list immediately.

Protectorate Army - 75 / 75 points

(Severius 2) Hierarch Severius [+26]
- Blessing of Vengeance [13]
- Reckoner [16]
- Reckoner [16]
- Templar [15]
- Hierophant [3]
Vassal of Menoth [3]
Wrack [1]
Wrack [1]
Choir of Menoth (min) [4]
Idrian Skirmishers (max) [15]
- Idrian Skirmisher Chieftain & Guide [5]
Visgoth Juviah Rhoven & Honor Guard [9]

Some other popular archetypes are Sevy1 in interdiction or Creator's Might, High Reclaimer in Vanilla, Thyra in Guardians, Kreoss1 pop and drop in Creator's Might or Vanilla, Kreoss3 in Interdiction and Reznik2 in anything but Creator's might.

I really would play Amon but I don't wish to own 17000 Jacks....