Overview
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With the advent of Defog being usedas a tool to remove entry hazards, Pokemon such as Bisharp and Thundurus are often used to switch into ithe move, giving them a free Attack boost due to their abilityfrom Defiant. Milotic has a similar purpose, but differentiates itself from Bisharp and Thundurus by means of its ability, Competitive, which gives Milotic a Special Attack boost when one of its stats are lowered. Another thing that separatesFurthermore, Milotic from Defiant users is that it can beat two of the most common Defog users, Skarmory and Mandibuzz, which are often physically defensive. It alson addition to from Defog, Milotic can obtains its a Competitive boost from Sticky Web and Intimidate, giving it no shortage of options that it can switch in on, and it. Milotic's Life Orb-boosted attacks hits incredibly hard with a Life Orb after a boost from Competitive. I, it also has really good special bulk, and it can he abil ity toself reliably heal itself with Recover. It isn't all easy for Milotic though, as it relies on teams with Defog, Sticky Web, or Intimidate users to actually become powerful;, as it simply doesn't hit hard enough without a boost, which. This is one of the reasons why Bisharp and Thundurus are more common Defiant users;: they are useful on a teams even without a boost from their ability. Milotic also 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 / Hidden Power Fire
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 always a guaranteed to OHKO against enemies it is super effective against. It simply punches holes in everything. Ice Beam allows Milotic to hit the 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, and 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 simply Recover when it is at low health, and with Milotic's great bulk, it makeis it a huge pain for the opponent to take down. Instead ofOne can opt to use Hidden Power Grass, one can opt to useFire over Hidden Power FireGrass for the sole purpose of brtaking able to take down Ferrothorn, but it doesn't have much use outside of that. Finaltherwise. Lastly, Dragon Pulse is an option to hit Kyurem-B on the switch-in, as well as after surviving itsa Fusion Bolt isf 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. The 252 Special Attack EVs and 252 Speed EVs are standard for a special sweeper, while a Modest nature is used over a Timid onature to increase Milotic's power, as they only relevant threats youit outspeeds with a Timid nature are Jolly Mamoswine, Jolly Mega Heracross, and Adamant Excadrill. If you want to be faster than these Pokemon, then simply use a Timid nature. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 SpA, (which should only be used with a Modest) nature, allows Milotic to better withstand attacks msuch better, an example beingas 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, wit nowh 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 on a team. Ensure that you take advantage of yourthe boost from Competitive boost bythrough proper predictiong when you attack, so you cand break through foes on the second hit if they switch in on a super effective attack. Also,s as they switch in. Recover is not only good for scouting what move an opponent will make, but also for us as well as replenishing HP when you have the opportunity or when you force a switch is forced.
Team Options
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For the sorts of offensively mindoriented teams that Milotic is on, a great teammate is one that can set up entry hazards, which will pressure the opponent to use Defog, unless the. A spinblocker is necessary so thave at Rapid Spin user in which case they will have to try and get past the spinblocker on your own team, which is necessary soopposing that Pokeamon such as Excadrill and Starmie can'not remove your entry hazards. Aegislash with an Air Balloon is the most famous in this sort ofa 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 Conkleldurr can easily do this, with the former two being great in aon hyper offensive moldteams, and the latter performing better ion a bulky offensive team.
Other Options
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Milotic was known forcan adopt a defensive sets in BW, so it can perform in a similar role in XY, 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 Rest + Sleep Talk set can allow Milotic tork function a similar veinly to Suicune, whichand works great with Milotic's ability Marvel Scale, but Suicune has one major advantage over Milotic 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 its 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, and wear it down with Toxic while, and stalling 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 being able to switch in on any attack bar the rare Dragon Pulse. If it comes in after Milotic gains a killKO, it can 2HKO 252 HP Milotic with Fusion Bolt, and whilel not minding the onlye attack from Milotic will be able to get in.
**Thundurus and Thundurus-T**: Thundurus and Thundurus-T can't switch in on an Ice Beam, but they can both outspeed and can easily revenge kill Milotic with Thunderbolt, as they both outspeed it.
**Assault Vest Users**: Raikou when equipped with an Assault Vest Raikou performs similarly to Thundurus and Thundurus-T, but it can also tank attacks thanks to its impressive special bulk with the Assault Vest. Assault Vest Snorlax can also take Milotic's attacks well and retaliate with Body Slam, while. Assault Vest Azumarill performs similarly if Milotic has not obtainagainst an unboosted its boost yet,Milotic, as it can 2HKO Milotic with Play Rough whileand does not takinge too much damage from anything elseMilotic'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 bywith Toxic stalling it.
**Ferrothorn**: Though Ferrothorn can wall Milotic if it lacks the raremust first scout for Hidden Power Fire, so eveit can wall Milotic withough this must be determined first, itt the move, making is still a relatively safe check.
**Mega Venusaur**: While Mega Venusaur is 2HKOed by +2 Ice Beam, it can wall Milotic easily if it hasn't obtwall an unboosted Milotic. Againedst a boost, and if it hased Milotic, it can switch in on a Hydro Pump and use Toxic it or use Leech Seed.
