Overview
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With Defog's use as a tool to remove entry hazards, Pokemon such as Bisharp and Thundurus are often used to switch into the move, giving them a free Attack boost from Defiant. Milotic has a similar purpose, but differentiates itself from Bisharp and Thundurus by means of its ability, Competitive, which gives it a Special Attack boost when one of its stats are lowered. Furthermore, Milotic can beat two of the most common Defog users, Skarmory and Mandibuzz, which are often physically defensive. In addition to from Defog, Milotic can obtain a Competitive boost from Sticky Web and Intimidate, giving it no shortage of options that it can switch in on. Milotic's Life Orb-boosted attacks hit incredibly hard after a boost from Competitive, it has really good special bulk, and it can heal itself reliably with Recover. It isn't all easy for Milotic though, as it relies on teams with Defog, Sticky Web, or Intimidate users, as it doesn't hit hard enough without a boost. This is one of the reasons why Bisharp and Thundurus are more common Defiant users: they are useful on teams even without a boost from their ability. Milotic isn't fast like Thundurus and lacks powerful priority like Bisharp, which makes its few advantages barely stand out.
Offensive
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name: Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Recover
ability: Competitive
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Modest / Timid
Moves
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Hydro Pump is often the most spammable move; it does a ton of damage at +2 to most neutral foes and is almost guaranteed to OHKO enemies it is super effective against. It punches holes in everything. Ice Beam allows Milotic to hit bulky Grass- and Dragon-types that resist Hydro Pump, such as Latias, Latios, Mega Venusaur (which it 2HKOes after a boost from Competitive), and Dragonite. Hidden Power Grass is the most preferable option in the third slot, as it is Milotic's best option against Azumarill, Rotom-W, and Manaphy; furthermore, it prevents Milotic from being walled by the likes of Vaporeon, Quagsire, and Gastrodon. Recover is one of the reasons why this set is so effective. Milotic can Recover when it is at low health, and with its great bulk, it is a huge pain for the opponent to take down. One can opt to use Hidden Power Fire over Hidden Power Grass for the sole purpose of taking down Ferrothorn, but it doesn't have much use otherwise. Lastly, Dragon Pulse is an option to hit Kyurem-B on the switch as well as after surviving a Fusion Bolt if Milotic is running a max HP spread.
Set Details
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Milotic's item of choice is Life Orb, as it boosts Milotic's power while still allowing it to change moves. 252 Special Attack EVs and 252 Speed EVs are standard for a special sweeper, while a Modest nature is used over a Timid one to increase Milotic's power, as the only relevant threats it outspeeds with a Timid nature are Jolly Mamoswine, Jolly Mega Heracross, and Adamant Excadrill. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 SpA, which should only be used with a Modest nature, allows Milotic to better withstand attacks such as Kyurem-B's Fusion Bolt. It also means that Milotic can switch into Sticky Web to obtain a Competitive boost without its Speed investment becoming redundant. However, with the alternate spread, Milotic fails to outpace Adamant Dragonite, Adamant Mamoswine, and 0 Speed Latias.
Usage Tips
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Milotic has to switch into Defog or Intimidate to be powerful, so you must predict carefully; otherwise, Milotic won't be as effective. Ensure that you take advantage of the boost from Competitive through proper prediction, and break through foes with super effective attacks as they switch in. Recover is good for scouting what move an opponent will make as well as replenishing HP when you have the opportunity or when a switch is forced.
Team Options
========
For the offensively oriented teams that Milotic is on, a great teammate is one that can set up entry hazards, which pressure the opponent into using Defog. A spinblocker is necessary so that Rapid Spin users on the opposing team such as Excadrill and Starmie cannot remove your entry hazards. Aegislash with an Air Balloon is the most famous in a core like this, but other spinblockers such as Trevenant and Sableye work perfectly fine. Pokemon that can get rid of Chansey, Blissey, and Kyurem-B are also essential, as Milotic has trouble with these Pokemon. Terrakion, Keldeo, and Conkeldurr can easily do this, with the former two being great on hyper offense teams and the latter performing better on a bulky offense team.
Other Options
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Milotic can adopt a defensive set, but it is a role in which there is much competition. Milotic has little to make it stand out from the likes of Suicune, Vaporeon, Gastrodon, Slowbro, and Slowking. A RestTalk set can allow Milotic to function similarly to Suicune, and works great with Marvel Scale, but Suicune has one major advantage in this role: Calm Mind. While Milotic is rather pressed for moveslots, one can use Haze to put a stop to annoying setup sweepers. Finally, an Assault Vest set with Competitive allows Milotic to tank attacks from the likes of Thundurus and Mega Charizard Y with its insane special bulk, but it lacks the ability to restore health with Recover.
Checks & Counters
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**Chansey and Blissey**: Being the insane special walls that they are, Chansey and Blissey can tank any of Milotic's hits, even at +2, wear it down with Toxic, and stall it out with a combination of Wish + Protect, or in some cases, Softboiled.
**Kyurem-B**: Kyurem-B can OHKO 4 HP Milotic with Fusion Bolt as well as switch in on any attack bar the rare Dragon Pulse. If it comes in after Milotic gains a KO, it can 2HKO 252 HP Milotic with Fusion Bolt and will not mind one attack from Milotic.
**Thundurus and Thundurus-T**: Thundurus and Thundurus-T can't switch in on Ice Beam, but they can both outspeed and can easily revenge kill Milotic with Thunderbolt.
**Assault Vest Users**: Assault Vest Raikou performs similarly to Thundurus and Thundurus-T, but it can also tank attacks thanks to its impressive special bulk. Assault Vest Snorlax can take Milotic's attacks well and retaliate with Body Slam. Assault Vest Azumarill performs similarly against an unboosted Milotic, as it can 2HKO Milotic with Play Rough and does not take too much damage from Milotic's attacks.
**Tentacruel**: Tentacruel walls Milotic exceptionally well, as it takes pittance from any of Milotic's attacks even at +2, and can wear Milotic down with Toxic.
**Ferrothorn**: Though Ferrothorn must first scout for Hidden Power Fire, it can wall Milotic without the move, making it a relatively safe check.
**Mega Venusaur**: While Mega Venusaur is 2HKOed by +2 Ice Beam, it can easily wall an unboosted Milotic. Against a boosted Milotic, it can switch in on a Hydro Pump and use Toxic or Leech Seed.
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With Defog's use as a tool to remove entry hazards, Pokemon such as Bisharp and Thundurus are often used to switch into the move, giving them a free Attack boost from Defiant. Milotic has a similar purpose, but differentiates itself from Bisharp and Thundurus by means of its ability, Competitive, which gives it a Special Attack boost when one of its stats are lowered. Furthermore, Milotic can beat two of the most common Defog users, Skarmory and Mandibuzz, which are often physically defensive. In addition to from Defog, Milotic can obtain a Competitive boost from Sticky Web and Intimidate, giving it no shortage of options that it can switch in on. Milotic's Life Orb-boosted attacks hit incredibly hard after a boost from Competitive, it has really good special bulk, and it can heal itself reliably with Recover. It isn't all easy for Milotic though, as it relies on teams with Defog, Sticky Web, or Intimidate users, as it doesn't hit hard enough without a boost. This is one of the reasons why Bisharp and Thundurus are more common Defiant users: they are useful on teams even without a boost from their ability. Milotic isn't fast like Thundurus and lacks powerful priority like Bisharp, which makes its few advantages barely stand out.
Offensive
########
name: Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Recover
ability: Competitive
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Modest / Timid
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is often the most spammable move; it does a ton of damage at +2 to most neutral foes and is almost guaranteed to OHKO enemies it is super effective against. It punches holes in everything. Ice Beam allows Milotic to hit bulky Grass- and Dragon-types that resist Hydro Pump, such as Latias, Latios, Mega Venusaur (which it 2HKOes after a boost from Competitive), and Dragonite. Hidden Power Grass is the most preferable option in the third slot, as it is Milotic's best option against Azumarill, Rotom-W, and Manaphy; furthermore, it prevents Milotic from being walled by the likes of Vaporeon, Quagsire, and Gastrodon. Recover is one of the reasons why this set is so effective. Milotic can Recover when it is at low health, and with its great bulk, it is a huge pain for the opponent to take down. One can opt to use Hidden Power Fire over Hidden Power Grass for the sole purpose of taking down Ferrothorn, but it doesn't have much use otherwise. Lastly, Dragon Pulse is an option to hit Kyurem-B on the switch as well as after surviving a Fusion Bolt if Milotic is running a max HP spread.
Set Details
========
Milotic's item of choice is Life Orb, as it boosts Milotic's power while still allowing it to change moves. 252 Special Attack EVs and 252 Speed EVs are standard for a special sweeper, while a Modest nature is used over a Timid one to increase Milotic's power, as the only relevant threats it outspeeds with a Timid nature are Jolly Mamoswine, Jolly Mega Heracross, and Adamant Excadrill. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 SpA, which should only be used with a Modest nature, allows Milotic to better withstand attacks such as Kyurem-B's Fusion Bolt. It also means that Milotic can switch into Sticky Web to obtain a Competitive boost without its Speed investment becoming redundant. However, with the alternate spread, Milotic fails to outpace Adamant Dragonite, Adamant Mamoswine, and 0 Speed Latias.
Usage Tips
========
Milotic has to switch into Defog or Intimidate to be powerful, so you must predict carefully; otherwise, Milotic won't be as effective. Ensure that you take advantage of the boost from Competitive through proper prediction, and break through foes with super effective attacks as they switch in. Recover is good for scouting what move an opponent will make as well as replenishing HP when you have the opportunity or when a switch is forced.
Team Options
========
For the offensively oriented teams that Milotic is on, a great teammate is one that can set up entry hazards, which pressure the opponent into using Defog. A spinblocker is necessary so that Rapid Spin users on the opposing team such as Excadrill and Starmie cannot remove your entry hazards. Aegislash with an Air Balloon is the most famous in a core like this, but other spinblockers such as Trevenant and Sableye work perfectly fine. Pokemon that can get rid of Chansey, Blissey, and Kyurem-B are also essential, as Milotic has trouble with these Pokemon. Terrakion, Keldeo, and Conkeldurr can easily do this, with the former two being great on hyper offense teams and the latter performing better on a bulky offense team.
Other Options
########
Milotic can adopt a defensive set, but it is a role in which there is much competition. Milotic has little to make it stand out from the likes of Suicune, Vaporeon, Gastrodon, Slowbro, and Slowking. A RestTalk set can allow Milotic to function similarly to Suicune, and works great with Marvel Scale, but Suicune has one major advantage in this role: Calm Mind. While Milotic is rather pressed for moveslots, one can use Haze to put a stop to annoying setup sweepers. Finally, an Assault Vest set with Competitive allows Milotic to tank attacks from the likes of Thundurus and Mega Charizard Y with its insane special bulk, but it lacks the ability to restore health with Recover.
Checks & Counters
########
**Chansey and Blissey**: Being the insane special walls that they are, Chansey and Blissey can tank any of Milotic's hits, even at +2, wear it down with Toxic, and stall it out with a combination of Wish + Protect, or in some cases, Softboiled.
**Kyurem-B**: Kyurem-B can OHKO 4 HP Milotic with Fusion Bolt as well as switch in on any attack bar the rare Dragon Pulse. If it comes in after Milotic gains a KO, it can 2HKO 252 HP Milotic with Fusion Bolt and will not mind one attack from Milotic.
**Thundurus and Thundurus-T**: Thundurus and Thundurus-T can't switch in on Ice Beam, but they can both outspeed and can easily revenge kill Milotic with Thunderbolt.
**Assault Vest Users**: Assault Vest Raikou performs similarly to Thundurus and Thundurus-T, but it can also tank attacks thanks to its impressive special bulk. Assault Vest Snorlax can take Milotic's attacks well and retaliate with Body Slam. Assault Vest Azumarill performs similarly against an unboosted Milotic, as it can 2HKO Milotic with Play Rough and does not take too much damage from Milotic's attacks.
**Tentacruel**: Tentacruel walls Milotic exceptionally well, as it takes pittance from any of Milotic's attacks even at +2, and can wear Milotic down with Toxic.
**Ferrothorn**: Though Ferrothorn must first scout for Hidden Power Fire, it can wall Milotic without the move, making it a relatively safe check.
**Mega Venusaur**: While Mega Venusaur is 2HKOed by +2 Ice Beam, it can easily wall an unboosted Milotic. Against a boosted Milotic, it can switch in on a Hydro Pump and use Toxic or Leech Seed.
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