[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 9-11 points
**Overview**: Milotic is the ideal bulky Water-type, able to soak hits thanks to its solid bulk, access to recovery, and the ability Marvel Scale, which can greatly boost its Defense. It can additionally take on the role of defensive pivot by slithering in and out of battle with Flip Turn, and it also has the option to disrupt setup sweepers with Scald, Haze, or Dragon Tail. However, its utility is narrowly tailored and it has no way of disrupting opposing utility Pokemon. It also tends to be very passive, since it struggles to deal meaningful damage or reliably spread status, and foes can easily use Taunt or set a Substitute against it. Thus, it functions best to check wallbreakers and setup sweepers.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wall**: Milotic can be tailored to check either physical or special threats with its solid defenses and excellent typing. It leverages Recover and utility like Scald and Dragon Tail to stop offensive Pokemon. While its set needs to be adapted to check your opponent's threats, it has a variety of options to choose from, such as Haze, Dragon Tail, Alluring Voice, and even Chilling Water.
**Defensive Pivot**: While Milotic's Speed isn't particularly low, it doesn't quite have the legs to reach the Speed that most offensive Pokemon in Draft do. Thus, it can slow pivot with Flip Turn and enable more frail Pokemon to switch in safely, while threatening burns with Scald and staying healthy with Recover.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Scald, Surf, Hydro Pump
**Setup Moves**: Dragon Dance Milotic is an excellent way to challenge yourself by playing 5v6
**Utility Moves**: Recover, Flip Turn, Haze, Dragon Tail
**Coverage**: Alluring Voice, Dragon Pulse, Draining Kiss, Ice Beam
Niche Moves
========
**Chilling Water**: Scald is generally the more threatening move against physical attackers, but Chilling Water can cool down foes with more consistency at the cost of power and permanency.
**Hypnosis**: A strong but unreliable status option for Milotic, Hypnosis can stop both physical and special sweepers or give a window for your own setup Pokemon to switch in.
**Mirror Coat**: As a special wall, Milotic can take a strong special attack then strike back with Mirror Coat, turning the tide on a setup sweeper or wallbreaker. Resistance Berries can ensure Milotic survives long enough to use Mirror Coat.
**Whirlpool**: Milotic can trap foes with Whirlpool and slowly squeeze its prey while staying healthy with Recover.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Milotic wants to be switching in to take hits often and can get easily worn down by entry hazards, making Heavy-Duty Boots its ideal item.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers helps Milotic rely less on Recover and survive on the battlefield for longer periods of time.
**Flame Orb**: Due to Milotic's relatively unique ability Marvel Scale, being burned increases its Defense, (AC) allowing it to check physically offensive wallbreakers more effectively. This item can be risky, however, since burn damage slowly chips away at Milotic's HP and makes it rely more on Recover than other items do, especially when entry hazards are present.
Niche Items
========
**Rocky Helmet**: When facing teams with an abundance of U-turn users and Pokemon with multi-hit contact moves, (AC) Rocky Helmet can be a pretty perfect option to punish those foes and give Milotic more defensive utility.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest can increase Milotic's special bulk and let it survive much stronger hits while still providing utility through Scald, Dragon Tail, and Flip Turn. However, this locks it out of recovery options and leaves it vulnerable to being worn down. Draining Kiss can help Milotic recover HP while running Assault Vest.
**Choice Specs**: Milotic has a usable Special Attack stat, and with Choice Specs and smart positioning with Competitive, it can dish out a surprising amount of damage. Its coverage is somewhat narrow, but Flip Turn can let it pivot out of bad matchups.
Tera
========
Milotic should not be a Tera Captain, as it isn't a strong Tera Blast user, (AC) and it already has an excellent defensive typing. If for some reason you decide to make it your secondary Tera captain, it should be given a strong defensive type like Steel, Fairy, or Ground to survive an attack and force the opposing Pokemon out using Dragon Tail. In the rare case that Milotic is being used offensively, Tera Electric gives Milotic BoltBeam coverage, while Tera Water powers up Milotic's existing moves.
Draft Strategy
========
Milotic is an excellent pick for a draft that needs a beautiful bulky Water-type: it can tank either physical or special hits, it can phaze and disrupt setup sweepers and wallbreakers, and it can be a slow pivot to let safely bring in frailer Pokemon. It has no way to remove entry hazards, however, so make sure you have that role filled before drafting Milotic, as it appreciates not having to bring Heavy-Duty Boots to every matchup.
**Frail Offensive Pokemon**: Milotic can safely bring in frail Pokemon like Weavile, Meowscarada, and Chi-Yu by taking an attack and switching out with Flip Turn. These Pokemon also appreciate Milotic's ability to stop sweepers and chip down defensive Pokemon with its pivoting.
** Entry Hazard Removal**: Milotic wants to be switching in and out to take hits from opposing offensive Pokemon. It can rely on Heavy-Duty Boots but would much prefer being able to carry Leftovers or another defensive item. This necessitates strong hazard removal like Great Tusk, Excadrill, and Corviknight to let Milotic take full advantage of its role.
** Entry Hazard Setters**: There are multiple ways Milotic can take advantage of hazards. It can use Dragon Tail to continually force switches and rack up hazard damage, making foes that have taken enough damage unable to enter the field again, and it can force switches and make progess by threatening Scald burns. Milotic can also use Competitive to boost its Special Attack against an anticipated Defog. Galarian Slowking and Gliscor in particular, with their access to Toxic Spikes, can let Milotic spread poison to every foe it forces in with Dragon Tail.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Having a second bulky Pokemon that Milotic can pivot between turns it into half of a powerful defensive core. Grass-type Pokemon are able to resist the Electric- and Grass-type attacks that Milotic is weak to, while Milotic shrugs off Ice- and Fire-type attacks. Regenerator Pokemon like Amoonguss and Hydrapple excel in this role, as do Pokemon with hazard control like Toedscruel.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types resist Milotic's Water-type STAB moves and its usual coverage move Ice Beam, and they generally aren't afraid of being burned. Milotic has no strong answer to these Pokemon and, in the case of Water Absorb and Storm Drain users, can't even pivot out with Flip Turn to gain momentum.
** Entry Hazard Setters**: Hazard setters that aren't weak to Water or Ice can sit in front of Milotic and set up hazards with little fear of reprisal due to Milotic's average Special Attack and lack of Encore or Taunt. Pokemon like Skarmory, Empoleon, and Forretress can take advantage of Milotic's passivity and force it to switch into something more suitable to deal with them.
**Offensive Pivots**: Knock Off, Volt Switch, and fast Utility Pokemon like Meowscarada and Tornadus-T can disrupt Milotic's ability to switch in and wear it down over time. Rotom-W, in particular, resists Water and Ice and can threaten Milotic with super effective attacks.
**Poison**: While poison does activate Marvel Scale, Milotic does not appreciate being chipped down and forced to waste valuable Recover PP on passive damage.
**Substitute / Taunt**: Milotic can struggle to break Substitute, and without Haze, it cannot stop setup from Pokemon like Palafin and Annihilape. Taunt leaves Milotic without a way to stay healthy and can shut down its defensive ability.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/fr3ya.574067
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 9-11 points
**Overview**: Milotic is the ideal bulky Water-type, able to soak hits thanks to its solid bulk, access to recovery, and the ability Marvel Scale, which can greatly boost its Defense. It can additionally take on the role of defensive pivot by slithering in and out of battle with Flip Turn, and it also has the option to disrupt setup sweepers with Scald, Haze, or Dragon Tail. However, its utility is narrowly tailored and it has no way of disrupting opposing utility Pokemon. It also tends to be very passive, since it struggles to deal meaningful damage or reliably spread status, and foes can easily use Taunt or set a Substitute against it. Thus, it functions best to check wallbreakers and setup sweepers.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wall**: Milotic can be tailored to check either physical or special threats with its solid defenses and excellent typing. It leverages Recover and utility like Scald and Dragon Tail to stop offensive Pokemon. While its set needs to be adapted to check your opponent's threats, it has a variety of options to choose from, such as Haze, Dragon Tail, Alluring Voice, and even Chilling Water.
**Defensive Pivot**: While Milotic's Speed isn't particularly low, it doesn't quite have the legs to reach the Speed that most offensive Pokemon in Draft do. Thus, it can slow pivot with Flip Turn and enable more frail Pokemon to switch in safely, while threatening burns with Scald and staying healthy with Recover.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Scald, Surf, Hydro Pump
**Setup Moves**: Dragon Dance Milotic is an excellent way to challenge yourself by playing 5v6
**Utility Moves**: Recover, Flip Turn, Haze, Dragon Tail
**Coverage**: Alluring Voice, Dragon Pulse, Draining Kiss, Ice Beam
Niche Moves
========
**Chilling Water**: Scald is generally the more threatening move against physical attackers, but Chilling Water can cool down foes with more consistency at the cost of power and permanency.
**Hypnosis**: A strong but unreliable status option for Milotic, Hypnosis can stop both physical and special sweepers or give a window for your own setup Pokemon to switch in.
**Mirror Coat**: As a special wall, Milotic can take a strong special attack then strike back with Mirror Coat, turning the tide on a setup sweeper or wallbreaker. Resistance Berries can ensure Milotic survives long enough to use Mirror Coat.
**Whirlpool**: Milotic can trap foes with Whirlpool and slowly squeeze its prey while staying healthy with Recover.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Milotic wants to be switching in to take hits often and can get easily worn down by entry hazards, making Heavy-Duty Boots its ideal item.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers helps Milotic rely less on Recover and survive on the battlefield for longer periods of time.
**Flame Orb**: Due to Milotic's relatively unique ability Marvel Scale, being burned increases its Defense, (AC) allowing it to check physically offensive wallbreakers more effectively. This item can be risky, however, since burn damage slowly chips away at Milotic's HP and makes it rely more on Recover than other items do, especially when entry hazards are present.
Niche Items
========
**Rocky Helmet**: When facing teams with an abundance of U-turn users and Pokemon with multi-hit contact moves, (AC) Rocky Helmet can be a pretty perfect option to punish those foes and give Milotic more defensive utility.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest can increase Milotic's special bulk and let it survive much stronger hits while still providing utility through Scald, Dragon Tail, and Flip Turn. However, this locks it out of recovery options and leaves it vulnerable to being worn down. Draining Kiss can help Milotic recover HP while running Assault Vest.
**Choice Specs**: Milotic has a usable Special Attack stat, and with Choice Specs and smart positioning with Competitive, it can dish out a surprising amount of damage. Its coverage is somewhat narrow, but Flip Turn can let it pivot out of bad matchups.
Tera
========
Milotic should not be a Tera Captain, as it isn't a strong Tera Blast user, (AC) and it already has an excellent defensive typing. If for some reason you decide to make it your secondary Tera captain, it should be given a strong defensive type like Steel, Fairy, or Ground to survive an attack and force the opposing Pokemon out using Dragon Tail. In the rare case that Milotic is being used offensively, Tera Electric gives Milotic BoltBeam coverage, while Tera Water powers up Milotic's existing moves.
Draft Strategy
========
Milotic is an excellent pick for a draft that needs a beautiful bulky Water-type: it can tank either physical or special hits, it can phaze and disrupt setup sweepers and wallbreakers, and it can be a slow pivot to let safely bring in frailer Pokemon. It has no way to remove entry hazards, however, so make sure you have that role filled before drafting Milotic, as it appreciates not having to bring Heavy-Duty Boots to every matchup.
**Frail Offensive Pokemon**: Milotic can safely bring in frail Pokemon like Weavile, Meowscarada, and Chi-Yu by taking an attack and switching out with Flip Turn. These Pokemon also appreciate Milotic's ability to stop sweepers and chip down defensive Pokemon with its pivoting.
** Entry Hazard Removal**: Milotic wants to be switching in and out to take hits from opposing offensive Pokemon. It can rely on Heavy-Duty Boots but would much prefer being able to carry Leftovers or another defensive item. This necessitates strong hazard removal like Great Tusk, Excadrill, and Corviknight to let Milotic take full advantage of its role.
** Entry Hazard Setters**: There are multiple ways Milotic can take advantage of hazards. It can use Dragon Tail to continually force switches and rack up hazard damage, making foes that have taken enough damage unable to enter the field again, and it can force switches and make progess by threatening Scald burns. Milotic can also use Competitive to boost its Special Attack against an anticipated Defog. Galarian Slowking and Gliscor in particular, with their access to Toxic Spikes, can let Milotic spread poison to every foe it forces in with Dragon Tail.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Having a second bulky Pokemon that Milotic can pivot between turns it into half of a powerful defensive core. Grass-type Pokemon are able to resist the Electric- and Grass-type attacks that Milotic is weak to, while Milotic shrugs off Ice- and Fire-type attacks. Regenerator Pokemon like Amoonguss and Hydrapple excel in this role, as do Pokemon with hazard control like Toedscruel.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types resist Milotic's Water-type STAB moves and its usual coverage move Ice Beam, and they generally aren't afraid of being burned. Milotic has no strong answer to these Pokemon and, in the case of Water Absorb and Storm Drain users, can't even pivot out with Flip Turn to gain momentum.
** Entry Hazard Setters**: Hazard setters that aren't weak to Water or Ice can sit in front of Milotic and set up hazards with little fear of reprisal due to Milotic's average Special Attack and lack of Encore or Taunt. Pokemon like Skarmory, Empoleon, and Forretress can take advantage of Milotic's passivity and force it to switch into something more suitable to deal with them.
**Offensive Pivots**: Knock Off, Volt Switch, and fast Utility Pokemon like Meowscarada and Tornadus-T can disrupt Milotic's ability to switch in and wear it down over time. Rotom-W, in particular, resists Water and Ice and can threaten Milotic with super effective attacks.
**Poison**: While poison does activate Marvel Scale, Milotic does not appreciate being chipped down and forced to waste valuable Recover PP on passive damage.
**Substitute / Taunt**: Milotic can struggle to break Substitute, and without Haze, it cannot stop setup from Pokemon like Palafin and Annihilape. Taunt leaves Milotic without a way to stay healthy and can shut down its defensive ability.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/fr3ya.574067
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270
Last edited:
