sazabi + Voice of reason (specifically for the CBF)
And he only ever dies on dia if I mess up the positioning/hotkey to heal him. This is on a budget only FOHDin using SSF only gear, minus the mercs equipment/the two spirits I bought so I could try it out.
On Hardcore my fire dudu uses
sazabi + Lawbringer, I have run pits/stoney/cows/eldritch/shenk/pindle (currently lvl 80) and he doesnt die. I rarely even have to heal him, dudes a total balla esp with lvl1(and some plus from gear) zoo.