[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Recover
move 2: Scald
move 3: Flip Turn
move 4: Haze / Dragon Tail
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
ability: Marvel Scale / Competitive
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 Spe
tera type: Poison / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Milotic is a premier defensive pivot thanks to its great mixed bulk, a defensive typing that gives it few weaknesses and allows it to check a majority of the tier, reliable recovery, a STAB move that spreads the ever-annoying burn, and a myriad of move options that make it less passive. Flip Turn lets Milotic remove itself from poor matchups like Pawmot and Amoonguss when they switch into Milotic while maintaining momentum. Haze and Dragon Tail do similar things: prevent opponents from setting up on Milotic by phazing them. Haze's main upsides are its higher PP, ability to hit opponents like Calm Mind Florges and Tera Fairy Calm Mind Espeon, and inability to miss. Dragon Tail is better for phazing non-Fairy-type setup sweepers like Tastugiri and Hariyama and accruing chip damage via entry hazards. Ice Beam can sometimes be used alongside Haze for a less passive Milotic set that trades out its ability to pivot for hitting Grass-types like Virizion and Venusaur that would otherwise find free entry on Milotic. Marvel Scale is used more to absorb status like burns and paralysis with an upside, but Competitive has a niche on entry hazards stacking teams to deter Defog users like Cramorant and Hisuian Decidueye from using Defog. and pairs well with Ice Beam for this reason. The 8 Spe EVs ensures Milotic will outspeed Adamant Hariyama. Tera Poison is useful for turning its poor Grass-type matchup on its head vs foes like Amoonguss and Thwackey and for its Toxic immunity vs foes like Dudunsparce and Skuntank, while Tera Fairy is a generally good defensive option to have and improves its matchups vs Pokemon like Zoroark, Galvantula, and Pawmot, which can occasionally break past a non-Terstalized Milotic, while retaining its ability to counter Rhydon.
Milotic is splashable enough to fit on most playstyles barring the extreme of hyper offense, but fits itself most comfortable on balance and bulky offense teams. Milotic has a couple of weaknesses to Grass- and Electric-types like Hisuian Decidueye and Rotom-H, so switch-ins to those such as Arcanine and Mudsdale are greatly appreciated, with Mudsdale providing entry hazards for Dragon Tail sets to rack up damage quicker. In turn, Milotic can switch into Ground- and Ice-types like Palossand and Alolan Sandslash that threaten these Pokemon out. Offensive partners like Salazzle and Jolteon appreciate the Grass- and Water-types Milotic often force in, as it can pivot out of them and gain momentum for its teammates. Pokemon with abilities that prevent Milotic from using Flip Turn on them, like Toxicroak and Tastugiri, are very threatenting to Milotic, so immediate answers to them, like Arcanine and Grimmsnarl, are recommended as to not let them setup. The aforementioned Grimmsnarl as well as Bombirdier and Ambipom can form a solid pivot core with Milotic, mixing faster and slower pivots to keep up the momentum.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/yunie.414072/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/uberskitty.355061/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
Last edited:
