[OVERVIEW]
Milotic's access to Competitive allows it to be a great counter to Intimidate users, such as Landorus-T and Scrafty. Further aided by its access to Recover granting it the ability to stay on the field for longer than most Pokemon, Milotic can be a good niche pick in the Doubles OU metagame.
However, Milotic's poor offensive movepool and resulting lack of coverage leave it walled by common Grass- and Water-types such as Ferrothorn and Rotom-W. Because Milotic needs to heavily invest in its Special Attack and defenses in order to be effective, its base 81 Speed can severely hold it back. Finally, without a boost from Competitive, Milotic lacks the offensive presence found in other Water-types such as Keldeo.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Recover
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Competitive
nature: Modest
evs: 72 HP / 80 Def / 188 SpA / 168 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Milotic's best STAB move, letting it do serious damage to most Rock-, Ground-, and Fire-types, such as Mega Diancie, Landorus-T, and Heatran, as well as good damage to neutral targets. Ice Beam allows Milotic to hit Flying- and Grass-types such as Thundurus and Amoonguss super effectively. Recover allows Milotic to have a reliable way to recover its health, a trait missed out on by many other Water-types, notably Suicune and Keldeo. Protect allows Milotic to scout for moves, stall out opposing speed control, and avoid taking damage while its partner handles a threat.
Set Details
========
Competitive sharply boosts Milotic's Special Attack every time one of its stats is lowered, allowing it to take advantage of certain abilities and moves such as Intimidate and Snarl. Life Orb increases Milotic's damage output, giving it some much-needed extra power. The Special Attack EVs provided allow Milotic to OHKO 4 HP Bisharp with Hydro Pump at +0 and 4 HP Mega Kangaskhan while at +2. The given Speed EVs let Milotic outspeed neutral-natured, fully invested, base 70 Speed Pokemon, particularly Bisharp. The remaining HP and Defense EVs allow Milotic to survive Adamant Mega Kangaskhan's Return.
Usage Tips
========
Milotic is a good option to choose as a lead if the opponent has an Intimidate user such as the very common Landorus-T. There are two different situations in which it is optimal to switch in Milotic. One is when you have two threatening physical attackers on the field and the opponent is going to bring in their Intimidate user to try to lower their Attack. The other situation is when your opponent is going to go for Icy Wind or Snarl, which Milotic takes little damage from and can use to activate Competitive. Remember to take into account that Milotic will only be affected by Intimidate if it comes onto the field before the Intimidate user.
Team Options
========
Milotic requires a decent amount of support, so there are a good number of teammate options to keep in mind when using it. For starters, Pokemon that benefit from not having to fear Intimidate are great partners for Milotic, such as Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Diancie, and Landorus-T. Many Grass-type Pokemon, such as Ferrothorn and Ludicolo, are good checks to Milotic, so having a Pokemon to beat them is also beneficial. A good choice to fulfill this role is Talonflame, as it also benefits from Milotic's deterrence of Intimidate users. Opposing Water-types, such as Keldeo and Rotom-W, will also cause trouble for Milotic, as they resist both of its attacks. Good options to beat them are Grass-types such as Serperior and Electric-types such as Thundurus and Zapdos. Lastly, Milotic will benefit heavily from the speed control provided by Tailwind users such as Talonflame, Zapdos, and Latios.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Icy Wind / Ice Beam
move 3: Recover
move 4: Protect
item: Sitrus Berry / Leftovers / Safety Goggles
ability: Competitive
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 24 SpA / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Milotic's most reliable STAB move, as it has 100% accuracy, decent power, and a 30% chance to burn the target. Icy Wind provides speed control and can also do good spread damage when Milotic has a Competitive boost. Alternatively, Ice Beam enables Milotic to hit Flying- and Grass-types such as Thundurus and Amoonguss for much greater super effective damage. Icy Wind should be used on teams that require the speed control granted by the move, but Ice Beam is a stronger option on teams that already have speed control options in place. Recover gives Milotic reliable recovery, allowing it to stick around longer and continue to check Intimidate users and provide speed control. Protect allows Milotic to scout for moves, stall out opposing speed control, and avoid taking damage while its partner handles a threat.
Set Details
========
The Special Attack EVs allow Milotic to 2HKO Mega Kangaskhan with Scald at +2 and OHKO Landorus-T with Ice Beam when unboosted. The Speed EVs let Milotic outspeed uninvested Rotom formes. Milotic's HP is maximized and the remaining EVs are put into Defense to maximize its bulk. Sitrus Berry provides instant recovery, which is especially handy against Mega Kangaskhan due to the possibility Parental Bond activating it between hits. Leftovers is an alternative that gives Milotic permanent passive recovery, which can help later in the game as Milotic attempts to stall out opposing Pokemon. Another option is Safety Goggles, which grants Milotic an immunity to Spore and lets it ignore redirection from Rage Powder, allowing Milotic to improve its matchup against Grass-types by avoiding sleep and attacking its intended target.
Usage Tips
========
Switching Milotic in when you think the opponent's Intimidate user is going to come in is a good way to get a Competitive boost. Milotic can also switch in on an Icy Wind or Snarl and gain a Competitive boost that way. A +2 Special Attack boost can turn Milotic into a very capable offensive threat that the opponent has to deal with immediately, which can provide an incredible momentum swing in any game. Milotic's bulk, access to recovery, and ability to burn foes with Scald are all very valuable for the mid- and late-game. Milotic can stall out foes with Recover and Scald, allowing you to win games even when you are down or when Milotic isn't in a particularly favorable matchup. The speed control granted by Icy Wind will prove to be consistently valuable as the game goes on into the mid- and late-game, so it is smart to not let Milotic get KOed in the early-game.
Team Options
========
Physical attackers such as Landorus-T and Mega Kangaskhan benefit from Milotic's deterrence of Intimidate users. Strong attackers with average speed such as Mega Gardevoir and Hoopa-Unbound benefit from the speed control provided by Milotic's Icy Wind. Milotic will also need teammates like Talonflame and Breloom that can defeat the Pokemon that can do big damage to it while taking very little damage from its attacks, such as Ferrothorn and Rotom-W. In return, these two appreciate Milotic's ability to discourage Intimidate users from switching in.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Milotic can run Toxic to beat bulky Pokemon it would otherwise have trouble damaging, such as Suicune and Cresselia. Hidden Power Electric is another coverage option for that can be run on the offensive set with no extra investment or on the defensive set with 136 Special Attack EVs to always OHKO 252 HP Gyarados with a Competitive boost. However, this causes Milotic to miss out on using a generally much better move, such as Ice Beam or Recover. Mirror Coat can help patch up Milotic's sparse coverage options and makes use of its naturally high Special Defense, allowing it to take a foe's special attack and return it at the attacker for double the damage, but again, Milotic misses out on running a more reliable move. Milotic can run Choice Scarf to catch opponents by surprise. This set would be best run with a moveset of Scald / Hydro Pump / Ice Beam / Icy Wind and an EV spread of 96 HP / 252 SpA / 160 Spe with a Modest nature, which would allow Milotic to outspeed Mega Lucario while maximizing its damage output and bolstering its bulk. However, using Choice Scarf locks Milotic into one move and forces it to miss out on utility options like Recover and Protect. Another item option for Milotic is Rocky Helmet, allowing it to punish physical attackers. Milotic can also hold a Maranga Berry in order to gain a +1 Special Defense boost when it is hit by a special attack, allowing it to take hits from and stall out even the strongest special attackers in the Doubles OU metagame. However, these two items lack the overall reliability and utility of the ones listed in the main sets, as the former can sometimes activate only a few times in a game, while the latter may not activate at all.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Typing Advantage**: Electric-types, bulky Grass-types, and opposing Water-types can cause a lot of trouble for Milotic. Thundurus can hit it with Thunderbolt or Taunt and is bulky enough to take an unboosted Ice Beam. Certain Grass-types such as Ferrothorn, Ludicolo, and Mega Venusaur take neutral damage from Ice Beam and can KO Milotic with their STAB moves. Water types such as Rotom-W and Keldeo totally wall Milotic and can do big damage to it in return. Kyurem-B is another special case, as with its good defensive typing and bulk, it can handle any of Milotic's attacks with ease, and Milotic is generally going to be Substitute bait for Kyurem-B unless it has a Competitive boost.
**Speed**: With its unremarkable base 81 Speed, Milotic is outsped by most of the top Pokemon in the Doubles OU metagame, and Pokemon with a lower base Speed can invest enough Speed EVs to outspeed it. There also isn't much room for investment without giving up some much-needed bulk. Notably, many common Electric- and Grass-types will be faster than Milotic, namely Serperior, Choice Scarf Rotom formes, Thundurus, and Ludicolo.
**Weather**: Sun halves the damage of Milotic's STAB attacks and activates Chlorophyll for Venusaur to take it out. The lingering effects of sun and the fact that Mega Charizard Y and Venusaur can both deal with an unboosted Milotic fairly easily mean that Milotic can be dead weight in many matchups against sun teams.
Milotic's access to Competitive allows it to be a great counter to Intimidate users, such as Landorus-T and Scrafty. Further aided by its access to Recover granting it the ability to stay on the field for longer than most Pokemon, Milotic can be a good niche pick in the Doubles OU metagame.
However, Milotic's poor offensive movepool and resulting lack of coverage leave it walled by common Grass- and Water-types such as Ferrothorn and Rotom-W. Because Milotic needs to heavily invest in its Special Attack and defenses in order to be effective, its base 81 Speed can severely hold it back. Finally, without a boost from Competitive, Milotic lacks the offensive presence found in other Water-types such as Keldeo.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Recover
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Competitive
nature: Modest
evs: 72 HP / 80 Def / 188 SpA / 168 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Milotic's best STAB move, letting it do serious damage to most Rock-, Ground-, and Fire-types, such as Mega Diancie, Landorus-T, and Heatran, as well as good damage to neutral targets. Ice Beam allows Milotic to hit Flying- and Grass-types such as Thundurus and Amoonguss super effectively. Recover allows Milotic to have a reliable way to recover its health, a trait missed out on by many other Water-types, notably Suicune and Keldeo. Protect allows Milotic to scout for moves, stall out opposing speed control, and avoid taking damage while its partner handles a threat.
Set Details
========
Competitive sharply boosts Milotic's Special Attack every time one of its stats is lowered, allowing it to take advantage of certain abilities and moves such as Intimidate and Snarl. Life Orb increases Milotic's damage output, giving it some much-needed extra power. The Special Attack EVs provided allow Milotic to OHKO 4 HP Bisharp with Hydro Pump at +0 and 4 HP Mega Kangaskhan while at +2. The given Speed EVs let Milotic outspeed neutral-natured, fully invested, base 70 Speed Pokemon, particularly Bisharp. The remaining HP and Defense EVs allow Milotic to survive Adamant Mega Kangaskhan's Return.
Usage Tips
========
Milotic is a good option to choose as a lead if the opponent has an Intimidate user such as the very common Landorus-T. There are two different situations in which it is optimal to switch in Milotic. One is when you have two threatening physical attackers on the field and the opponent is going to bring in their Intimidate user to try to lower their Attack. The other situation is when your opponent is going to go for Icy Wind or Snarl, which Milotic takes little damage from and can use to activate Competitive. Remember to take into account that Milotic will only be affected by Intimidate if it comes onto the field before the Intimidate user.
Team Options
========
Milotic requires a decent amount of support, so there are a good number of teammate options to keep in mind when using it. For starters, Pokemon that benefit from not having to fear Intimidate are great partners for Milotic, such as Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Diancie, and Landorus-T. Many Grass-type Pokemon, such as Ferrothorn and Ludicolo, are good checks to Milotic, so having a Pokemon to beat them is also beneficial. A good choice to fulfill this role is Talonflame, as it also benefits from Milotic's deterrence of Intimidate users. Opposing Water-types, such as Keldeo and Rotom-W, will also cause trouble for Milotic, as they resist both of its attacks. Good options to beat them are Grass-types such as Serperior and Electric-types such as Thundurus and Zapdos. Lastly, Milotic will benefit heavily from the speed control provided by Tailwind users such as Talonflame, Zapdos, and Latios.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Icy Wind / Ice Beam
move 3: Recover
move 4: Protect
item: Sitrus Berry / Leftovers / Safety Goggles
ability: Competitive
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 24 SpA / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Milotic's most reliable STAB move, as it has 100% accuracy, decent power, and a 30% chance to burn the target. Icy Wind provides speed control and can also do good spread damage when Milotic has a Competitive boost. Alternatively, Ice Beam enables Milotic to hit Flying- and Grass-types such as Thundurus and Amoonguss for much greater super effective damage. Icy Wind should be used on teams that require the speed control granted by the move, but Ice Beam is a stronger option on teams that already have speed control options in place. Recover gives Milotic reliable recovery, allowing it to stick around longer and continue to check Intimidate users and provide speed control. Protect allows Milotic to scout for moves, stall out opposing speed control, and avoid taking damage while its partner handles a threat.
Set Details
========
The Special Attack EVs allow Milotic to 2HKO Mega Kangaskhan with Scald at +2 and OHKO Landorus-T with Ice Beam when unboosted. The Speed EVs let Milotic outspeed uninvested Rotom formes. Milotic's HP is maximized and the remaining EVs are put into Defense to maximize its bulk. Sitrus Berry provides instant recovery, which is especially handy against Mega Kangaskhan due to the possibility Parental Bond activating it between hits. Leftovers is an alternative that gives Milotic permanent passive recovery, which can help later in the game as Milotic attempts to stall out opposing Pokemon. Another option is Safety Goggles, which grants Milotic an immunity to Spore and lets it ignore redirection from Rage Powder, allowing Milotic to improve its matchup against Grass-types by avoiding sleep and attacking its intended target.
Usage Tips
========
Switching Milotic in when you think the opponent's Intimidate user is going to come in is a good way to get a Competitive boost. Milotic can also switch in on an Icy Wind or Snarl and gain a Competitive boost that way. A +2 Special Attack boost can turn Milotic into a very capable offensive threat that the opponent has to deal with immediately, which can provide an incredible momentum swing in any game. Milotic's bulk, access to recovery, and ability to burn foes with Scald are all very valuable for the mid- and late-game. Milotic can stall out foes with Recover and Scald, allowing you to win games even when you are down or when Milotic isn't in a particularly favorable matchup. The speed control granted by Icy Wind will prove to be consistently valuable as the game goes on into the mid- and late-game, so it is smart to not let Milotic get KOed in the early-game.
Team Options
========
Physical attackers such as Landorus-T and Mega Kangaskhan benefit from Milotic's deterrence of Intimidate users. Strong attackers with average speed such as Mega Gardevoir and Hoopa-Unbound benefit from the speed control provided by Milotic's Icy Wind. Milotic will also need teammates like Talonflame and Breloom that can defeat the Pokemon that can do big damage to it while taking very little damage from its attacks, such as Ferrothorn and Rotom-W. In return, these two appreciate Milotic's ability to discourage Intimidate users from switching in.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Milotic can run Toxic to beat bulky Pokemon it would otherwise have trouble damaging, such as Suicune and Cresselia. Hidden Power Electric is another coverage option for that can be run on the offensive set with no extra investment or on the defensive set with 136 Special Attack EVs to always OHKO 252 HP Gyarados with a Competitive boost. However, this causes Milotic to miss out on using a generally much better move, such as Ice Beam or Recover. Mirror Coat can help patch up Milotic's sparse coverage options and makes use of its naturally high Special Defense, allowing it to take a foe's special attack and return it at the attacker for double the damage, but again, Milotic misses out on running a more reliable move. Milotic can run Choice Scarf to catch opponents by surprise. This set would be best run with a moveset of Scald / Hydro Pump / Ice Beam / Icy Wind and an EV spread of 96 HP / 252 SpA / 160 Spe with a Modest nature, which would allow Milotic to outspeed Mega Lucario while maximizing its damage output and bolstering its bulk. However, using Choice Scarf locks Milotic into one move and forces it to miss out on utility options like Recover and Protect. Another item option for Milotic is Rocky Helmet, allowing it to punish physical attackers. Milotic can also hold a Maranga Berry in order to gain a +1 Special Defense boost when it is hit by a special attack, allowing it to take hits from and stall out even the strongest special attackers in the Doubles OU metagame. However, these two items lack the overall reliability and utility of the ones listed in the main sets, as the former can sometimes activate only a few times in a game, while the latter may not activate at all.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Typing Advantage**: Electric-types, bulky Grass-types, and opposing Water-types can cause a lot of trouble for Milotic. Thundurus can hit it with Thunderbolt or Taunt and is bulky enough to take an unboosted Ice Beam. Certain Grass-types such as Ferrothorn, Ludicolo, and Mega Venusaur take neutral damage from Ice Beam and can KO Milotic with their STAB moves. Water types such as Rotom-W and Keldeo totally wall Milotic and can do big damage to it in return. Kyurem-B is another special case, as with its good defensive typing and bulk, it can handle any of Milotic's attacks with ease, and Milotic is generally going to be Substitute bait for Kyurem-B unless it has a Competitive boost.
**Speed**: With its unremarkable base 81 Speed, Milotic is outsped by most of the top Pokemon in the Doubles OU metagame, and Pokemon with a lower base Speed can invest enough Speed EVs to outspeed it. There also isn't much room for investment without giving up some much-needed bulk. Notably, many common Electric- and Grass-types will be faster than Milotic, namely Serperior, Choice Scarf Rotom formes, Thundurus, and Ludicolo.
**Weather**: Sun halves the damage of Milotic's STAB attacks and activates Chlorophyll for Venusaur to take it out. The lingering effects of sun and the fact that Mega Charizard Y and Venusaur can both deal with an unboosted Milotic fairly easily mean that Milotic can be dead weight in many matchups against sun teams.
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