With the Platinum updates, Milotic has fallen to BL. I don't understand why this is, as Milotic is just as effective a bulky water as Suicune, Vaporeon, or Swampert (Although the last really fills a different niche). So, I'm presenting a topic to talk about, and debate about, this shift. I find Suicune to be the most similar in what it does to Milotic, so here I will be comparing them.
My initial assumption about its removal was that it was due to Hypnosis being nerfed, and that was a main component of the most popular Milotic set. So, I tested a Milotic running Toxic over Hypnosis, a Milotic running Haze over Hypnosis, a Milotic running RestTalk, and two varieties of the CMCune set (Ice beamer and Rester) as a control. The Toxic Milotic performed better overall across the ten games it was in than the CMCunes, and the Haze Milotic did better at (P)hazing than the Suicunes. The RestTalk Milotic performed rather poorly compared to the Resting CMCune, but was still fairly effective.
Next, I checked out their stats. Milotic is slightly outsped and outhealthed, and has a lower defense without status. Suicune has notably smaller Spd and Spa stats. Looking at this, I'd say that Suicune has slightly better stats than Milotic.
Now for their moves. Milotic has far better recovery options (Rest and Recover), a more diverse attacking movepool with Dragon Pulse (although this only really matters for against Kingdra), and Haze over Roar. I prefer Haze because it can't be ingrained against, it is unaffected by soundproof, has higher PP, and doesn't have god awful priority. Milotic also has Mirror Coat, Light Screen, and Aqua Ring for the few who use Flame Orb. Milotic can also still use Hypnosis quite effectively, even after its nerf. Finally, Milotic has Confuse Ray and Attract, which make for an interesting gimmick set. Suicune has Calm Mind, Tailwind, and Shadow Ball. Calm Mind's uses are obvious, but it isn't as useful in this newer environment, where it's just asking to be Taunted or Toxic'd. Tailwind and Shadow Ball will never be used, because Suicune is already pressed for moveslots. Suicune can also set up sandstorm, if you really hate Tyranitar, Hippodown, and Swampert, who can all set it up better.
Their abilities come out in favor of Milotic, I'd say. Marvel Scale helps make Milotic sturdier than Cune on both sides, if status is used. This makes Toxi-stalling Milotic more dangerous, because she can come back to bite your physical sweeper in the ass. Pressure can stall some low PP moves out, but would be far more effective on a Pokemon with one-turn recovery, or even wish.
Milotic also has the interesting, although generally stupid, option of Flame Orb. It does make it a very sturdy pokemon defensively, but the 12% life loss can really dig in to you and is especially dangerous when sandstorms are up. Aqua ring can be used to negate some of the damage, but you still get worn down, and waste a moveslot. If you really want status protection, just run Safeguard (then you can pass it to your team).
Looking at everything listed above, I have only one more thing to say. Give Milotic a one-way ticket to OU.
My initial assumption about its removal was that it was due to Hypnosis being nerfed, and that was a main component of the most popular Milotic set. So, I tested a Milotic running Toxic over Hypnosis, a Milotic running Haze over Hypnosis, a Milotic running RestTalk, and two varieties of the CMCune set (Ice beamer and Rester) as a control. The Toxic Milotic performed better overall across the ten games it was in than the CMCunes, and the Haze Milotic did better at (P)hazing than the Suicunes. The RestTalk Milotic performed rather poorly compared to the Resting CMCune, but was still fairly effective.
Next, I checked out their stats. Milotic is slightly outsped and outhealthed, and has a lower defense without status. Suicune has notably smaller Spd and Spa stats. Looking at this, I'd say that Suicune has slightly better stats than Milotic.
Now for their moves. Milotic has far better recovery options (Rest and Recover), a more diverse attacking movepool with Dragon Pulse (although this only really matters for against Kingdra), and Haze over Roar. I prefer Haze because it can't be ingrained against, it is unaffected by soundproof, has higher PP, and doesn't have god awful priority. Milotic also has Mirror Coat, Light Screen, and Aqua Ring for the few who use Flame Orb. Milotic can also still use Hypnosis quite effectively, even after its nerf. Finally, Milotic has Confuse Ray and Attract, which make for an interesting gimmick set. Suicune has Calm Mind, Tailwind, and Shadow Ball. Calm Mind's uses are obvious, but it isn't as useful in this newer environment, where it's just asking to be Taunted or Toxic'd. Tailwind and Shadow Ball will never be used, because Suicune is already pressed for moveslots. Suicune can also set up sandstorm, if you really hate Tyranitar, Hippodown, and Swampert, who can all set it up better.
Their abilities come out in favor of Milotic, I'd say. Marvel Scale helps make Milotic sturdier than Cune on both sides, if status is used. This makes Toxi-stalling Milotic more dangerous, because she can come back to bite your physical sweeper in the ass. Pressure can stall some low PP moves out, but would be far more effective on a Pokemon with one-turn recovery, or even wish.
Milotic also has the interesting, although generally stupid, option of Flame Orb. It does make it a very sturdy pokemon defensively, but the 12% life loss can really dig in to you and is especially dangerous when sandstorms are up. Aqua ring can be used to negate some of the damage, but you still get worn down, and waste a moveslot. If you really want status protection, just run Safeguard (then you can pass it to your team).
Looking at everything listed above, I have only one more thing to say. Give Milotic a one-way ticket to OU.
