[OVERVIEW]
Milotic is one of the best all-purpose bulky Water-types in the RU tier. This is thanks to a great combination of mixed defenses, good movepool, decent Speed as a defensive Pokemon, and an ability that actually gives it a benefit from being hit by status moves. Flip Turn even allows Milotic to be used on faster-paced teams, as it becomes a bulky Pokemon that can actually build or maintain momentum. Milotic's ability to check powerful threats like Darmanitan, Rhyperior, Noivern, and Metagross is very welcome on many teams. However, Milotic finds itself in a tier where Electric- and Grass-types, such as Raikou, Toxtricity, Zarude, and Roserade, are incredibly potent. While Milotic's ability to take hits of all kinds is relatively uncommon for defensive Pokemon, it does mean that extremely powerful wallbreakers, such as Indeedee and Heracross, can use their powerful STAB moves to brute force their way past Milotic.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Recover
move 3: Flip Turn / Haze
move 4: Toxic / Haze
item: Leftovers
ability: Marvel Scale
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 228 Def / 32 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Milotic's great typing and mixed defenses allow it to take both physical and special hits quite well. Flip Turn generally is preferred to generate and maintain momentum as a defensive Pokemon, something that is generally uncommon. This is especially helpful on faster-paced teams that would rather have Milotic stay a step ahead of threats like Raikou and Zarude. Toxic is able to cripple defensive Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Seismitoad, which can help Milotic's more offensive teammates push past them. It also is great for chipping away at common switch-ins like Raikou and Xurkitree. Haze is a great alternative that allows Milotic to stall out Substitute + Protect variants of Suicune lacking Toxic as well as prevent Calm Mind Galarian Slowbro from taking advantage of Milotic's low damage output. On more defensive teams, Haze is a solid option over Flip Turn, as these teams generally don't care as much about momentum as they do about covering as many offensive threats as possible. The Speed EVs allow Milotic to outspeed maximum Speed Dragalge, allowing it to use Flip Turn on it and switch to a better response or KO with Scald if Dragalge is very low on health. The rest is allocated to Milotic's physical bulk, as it has naturally high Special Defense. If Pangoro and assorted neutral-natured base 60 Speed Pokemon, such as Bewear, are of concern to your team, Milotic can bump up to 88 Speed EVs to outspeed them.
As Milotic is a defensive Pokemon that can maintain momentum, it can work on faster-paced teams that appreciate having it as a defensive backbone when they're forced out by certain Pokemon. Zygarde-10% and Durant are powerful wallbreakers that appreciate Milotic's slow Flip Turn allotting them more opportunities to switch in. Zygarde-10% notably does extremely well against Electric-types trying to switch into Milotic, while Durant enjoys feasting on the likes of Zarude and Roserade. Toxtricity and Thundurus are powerful Electric-types that can threaten the majority of the tier and appreciate Milotic being able to bring them in safely. VoltTurn cores with the likes of Cobalion, Zarude, Mienshao, and Raikou are also powerful on more offensive teams that aim to maintain momentum. Roserade is a great check to most Electric-types, can spare Milotic from Toxic from the likes of Porygon2 and bulky Water-types, and litter the field with Spikes to amplify the effects of Flip Turn. In return, Milotic is able to check offensive Steel-types and multiple Fire-types. Porygon2 is another great slow pivot move user on balance teams that can also run Toxic to allow Milotic to more easily use Haze for the likes of Galarian Slowbro and Suicune. Registeel, Togekiss, and Galarian Weezing are great options on slower teams. Registeel is able to set up Stealth Rock, check Indeedee and most Electric- and Grass-types, and appreciates Milotic being able to switch into most Fire- and Ground-types looking to take on Registeel. Galarian Weezing and Togekiss are able to take on the likes of Obstagoon, Zarude, and Heracross for Milotic. Galarian Weezing can even set Toxic Spikes so Milotic doesn't have to waste a turn using Toxic, while Togekiss can use Defog to clear the field of entry hazards, which sometimes force Milotic to use Recover more often than it would like.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Milotic has a few other options that can, at times, improve its matchups. Ice Beam is the most notable because it can directly threaten the likes of Thundurus, Zarude, and Roserade, but Milotic often cannot fit it over its other moves. A Competitive set can be a Defog deterrent on Spikes stacking teams, as the common Defoggers do not generally fare well against a Milotic with boosted Ice Beam. Marvel Scale might make Flame Orb strategies look appealing, but the constant chip damage forces Milotic to use Recover way too often.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: RU is not short on Electric-types, and all of them can simply push past Milotic's defenses with powerful STAB moves. Raikou and Xurkitree aren't scared of Scald nor hindered too badly by a potential Toxic, as they rarely stay in long. Thundurus has to be careful of the occasional Ice Beam but can otherwise do quite well. Toxtricity is more vulnerable to Flip Turns as it switches in due to its much lower Speed, but similarly threatens out Milotic if it safely switches in and is immune to Toxic. Heliolisk, though much less common than the others, is perhaps the worst enemy of Milotic thanks to Dry Skin even cutting off Milotic's ability to pivot out with Flip Turn as Heliolisk switches in.
**Grass-types**: Zarude and Roserade might be the only common Grass-types, but they easily handle Milotic. Zarude's Jungle Healing can make Toxic and Scald burns a non-factor for it, while Roserade's Natural Cure and secondary Poison typing work similarly. Both can utilize their powerful Grass-type STAB moves to eliminate Milotic. To make matters worse, Zarude can maintain momentum with U-turn on a forced switch out, while Roserade can litter the field with Spikes to undermine Milotic's bulk later on.
**Powerful Wallbreakers**: Milotic's good but not spectacular mixed bulk means that very powerful wallbreakers can push past it. Choice Specs Indeedee, Guts Heracross, Choice Specs Dragalge, and Obstagoon are all strong enough to overcome Milotic with powerful neutral STAB moves, though Milotic can outspeed Dragalge and chip it with Flip Turn on the way out.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[EonX, 91480]]
- Quality checked by: [[GoldCat, 359771], [zizalith, 410251]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Milotic is one of the best all-purpose bulky Water-types in the RU tier. This is thanks to a great combination of mixed defenses, good movepool, decent Speed as a defensive Pokemon, and an ability that actually gives it a benefit from being hit by status moves. Flip Turn even allows Milotic to be used on faster-paced teams, as it becomes a bulky Pokemon that can actually build or maintain momentum. Milotic's ability to check powerful threats like Darmanitan, Rhyperior, Noivern, and Metagross is very welcome on many teams. However, Milotic finds itself in a tier where Electric- and Grass-types, such as Raikou, Toxtricity, Zarude, and Roserade, are incredibly potent. While Milotic's ability to take hits of all kinds is relatively uncommon for defensive Pokemon, it does mean that extremely powerful wallbreakers, such as Indeedee and Heracross, can use their powerful STAB moves to brute force their way past Milotic.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Recover
move 3: Flip Turn / Haze
move 4: Toxic / Haze
item: Leftovers
ability: Marvel Scale
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 228 Def / 32 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Milotic's great typing and mixed defenses allow it to take both physical and special hits quite well. Flip Turn generally is preferred to generate and maintain momentum as a defensive Pokemon, something that is generally uncommon. This is especially helpful on faster-paced teams that would rather have Milotic stay a step ahead of threats like Raikou and Zarude. Toxic is able to cripple defensive Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Seismitoad, which can help Milotic's more offensive teammates push past them. It also is great for chipping away at common switch-ins like Raikou and Xurkitree. Haze is a great alternative that allows Milotic to stall out Substitute + Protect variants of Suicune lacking Toxic as well as prevent Calm Mind Galarian Slowbro from taking advantage of Milotic's low damage output. On more defensive teams, Haze is a solid option over Flip Turn, as these teams generally don't care as much about momentum as they do about covering as many offensive threats as possible. The Speed EVs allow Milotic to outspeed maximum Speed Dragalge, allowing it to use Flip Turn on it and switch to a better response or KO with Scald if Dragalge is very low on health. The rest is allocated to Milotic's physical bulk, as it has naturally high Special Defense. If Pangoro and assorted neutral-natured base 60 Speed Pokemon, such as Bewear, are of concern to your team, Milotic can bump up to 88 Speed EVs to outspeed them.
As Milotic is a defensive Pokemon that can maintain momentum, it can work on faster-paced teams that appreciate having it as a defensive backbone when they're forced out by certain Pokemon. Zygarde-10% and Durant are powerful wallbreakers that appreciate Milotic's slow Flip Turn allotting them more opportunities to switch in. Zygarde-10% notably does extremely well against Electric-types trying to switch into Milotic, while Durant enjoys feasting on the likes of Zarude and Roserade. Toxtricity and Thundurus are powerful Electric-types that can threaten the majority of the tier and appreciate Milotic being able to bring them in safely. VoltTurn cores with the likes of Cobalion, Zarude, Mienshao, and Raikou are also powerful on more offensive teams that aim to maintain momentum. Roserade is a great check to most Electric-types, can spare Milotic from Toxic from the likes of Porygon2 and bulky Water-types, and litter the field with Spikes to amplify the effects of Flip Turn. In return, Milotic is able to check offensive Steel-types and multiple Fire-types. Porygon2 is another great slow pivot move user on balance teams that can also run Toxic to allow Milotic to more easily use Haze for the likes of Galarian Slowbro and Suicune. Registeel, Togekiss, and Galarian Weezing are great options on slower teams. Registeel is able to set up Stealth Rock, check Indeedee and most Electric- and Grass-types, and appreciates Milotic being able to switch into most Fire- and Ground-types looking to take on Registeel. Galarian Weezing and Togekiss are able to take on the likes of Obstagoon, Zarude, and Heracross for Milotic. Galarian Weezing can even set Toxic Spikes so Milotic doesn't have to waste a turn using Toxic, while Togekiss can use Defog to clear the field of entry hazards, which sometimes force Milotic to use Recover more often than it would like.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Milotic has a few other options that can, at times, improve its matchups. Ice Beam is the most notable because it can directly threaten the likes of Thundurus, Zarude, and Roserade, but Milotic often cannot fit it over its other moves. A Competitive set can be a Defog deterrent on Spikes stacking teams, as the common Defoggers do not generally fare well against a Milotic with boosted Ice Beam. Marvel Scale might make Flame Orb strategies look appealing, but the constant chip damage forces Milotic to use Recover way too often.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: RU is not short on Electric-types, and all of them can simply push past Milotic's defenses with powerful STAB moves. Raikou and Xurkitree aren't scared of Scald nor hindered too badly by a potential Toxic, as they rarely stay in long. Thundurus has to be careful of the occasional Ice Beam but can otherwise do quite well. Toxtricity is more vulnerable to Flip Turns as it switches in due to its much lower Speed, but similarly threatens out Milotic if it safely switches in and is immune to Toxic. Heliolisk, though much less common than the others, is perhaps the worst enemy of Milotic thanks to Dry Skin even cutting off Milotic's ability to pivot out with Flip Turn as Heliolisk switches in.
**Grass-types**: Zarude and Roserade might be the only common Grass-types, but they easily handle Milotic. Zarude's Jungle Healing can make Toxic and Scald burns a non-factor for it, while Roserade's Natural Cure and secondary Poison typing work similarly. Both can utilize their powerful Grass-type STAB moves to eliminate Milotic. To make matters worse, Zarude can maintain momentum with U-turn on a forced switch out, while Roserade can litter the field with Spikes to undermine Milotic's bulk later on.
**Powerful Wallbreakers**: Milotic's good but not spectacular mixed bulk means that very powerful wallbreakers can push past it. Choice Specs Indeedee, Guts Heracross, Choice Specs Dragalge, and Obstagoon are all strong enough to overcome Milotic with powerful neutral STAB moves, though Milotic can outspeed Dragalge and chip it with Flip Turn on the way out.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[EonX, 91480]]
- Quality checked by: [[GoldCat, 359771], [zizalith, 410251]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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