Milotic, the Tender Pokémon. Milotic has provided inspiration to many artists. It has even been referred to as the most beautiful Pokémon of all. It's said that a glimpse of a Milotic and its beauty will calm any hostile emotions you're feeling. When people bicker, it is said to arise from the depths of lakes to becalm violent hearts. It is the world's most beautiful Pokémon. There are many works of art featuring Milotic.
Overview
Milotic returns to reprise its role as a bulky water type in the 8th generation. Mono-Water typing with titanic defenses, reliable recovery and access to Scald make Milotic a chore to take down. Milotic’s Offense is not bad either having a good base 100 Special Attack with the rare Competitive to boost it up enables this beauty queen to strike hard. Isle of Armor adds more to Milotic’s game with the invaluable Flip Turn giving a reliable pivot option.
However, the homecoming queen has changed little as opposed to its surroundings. Milotic is stopped cold by common walls including its greatest competition in Toxapex. Additionally, powerful new and returning Grass and Electric types like Rillaboom and Regieleki are ready to eat Milotic alive given half a chance, making it difficult for Milotic to perform as a bulky wall or Water type attacker. Milotic has many things going for it, and can prove itself to be a reliable bulwark when given the chance./>
Positives
95/79/125 bulk with few weaknesses and reliable recovery in Recover and Refresh make Milotic very durable.
STAB Scald is an amazing attack, patching up Milotic’s poor Defense and providing reliable chip in taking down a foe.
Base 100 Special Attack and access to Competitive gives Milotic significant oomph behind its attacks and preventing Milotic from being completely passive
Negatives
79 Defense is a glaring weakpoint, especially when not bolstered by Scald Burns or Marvel Scale
The bulky water archetype is an incredibly crowded field giving Milotic stiff competition and the fact that most teams will be prepared for Milotic in some way.
No boosting outside of Competitive leaves Milotic little recourse against Poison immune walls.
Movesets
A Graceful Defense
-Scald
-Recover
-Toxic
-Flip Turn
Ability:Marvel Scale
Item: Leftovers
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
Milotic’s tried and true defensive set. Scald is an amazing move on any bulky water type and Milotic is no exception, giving reliable damage and having a good Burn chance that punishes switch-ins and cripples checks going after Milotic’s weaker defense. Recover does a lot to have Milotic stand out from the rest of the Bulky Water types, giving reliable recovery and staying power throughout a match, taking hit after hit and shrugging it off. Toxic gives Milotic a reliable answer against opposing Water types, setup sweepers and walls that are not bothered by a Scald Burn, compromising their integrity and putting them on a clock Milotic is well poised to run out. Flip Turn rounds out the set, giving Milotic an incredibly spammy move on top of Scald, enabling Milotic to pivot to its counter’s counters or to get a teammate in safely after the opponent has been crippled.
DYNAMAX:
Don’t. Good HP and Special Attack don’t offset the reliance Milotic has on its Base moves side effects that are removed upon Dynamaxing.
EVs and Items:
Max HP and Defense to make Milotic as bulky as possible on both sides of the spectrum. Speed investment can be considered -being able to outrun opposing targets can mean the difference in Milotic being slaughtered or pulling off a successful wall. 88 Speed outspeeds Neutral Nature Base 60s like Clefable. Leftovers is mandatory for the sheer recovery it provides and reducing the amount of times Milotic has to Recover. Flame Orb can be considered to reliably trigger Marvel Scale, but the passive damage forces Milotic to Recover too often, making it more passive.
Partners:
Partners that can pivot into and eliminate Milotic's weaknesses are greatly appreciated. Many Ground types like Milotic blanking Water and Ice attacks as well as punishing defog as many of these are often the team's Stealth Rock setter. Landorus Therian unsurprisingly makes for a great partner, having Intimidate to soften physical blows and U-Turn to get Milotic in when needed while not being bodied by Grass moves. Other Ground types like Garchomp and Rhyperior also make for excellent partners.
Grass and Fire type partners are greatly appreciated, forming the ever-reliable Grass-Fire-Water core. Milotic loves Grass types like Ferrothorn, and Zarude being able to switch into Grass and Electric moves while they appreciate Milotic checking Fire types. Arcanine and Incineroar make for excellent Fire type partners, countering opposing Grass types and blunting opposing offense with Intimidate, Will-o-Wisp and/or Parting Shot.
Other Options:
Whirlpool -Milotic arguably makes for one of the best Whirlpool trappers in the game and can be used in tandem Toxic and Scald Burns to pile on the passive damage or help trap and eliminate a counter.
Mirror Coat -Milotic as the defenses to tank a super effective Special Attack and OHKO back, especially as most Electric and Grass moves are special.
Refresh -Great for removing unwanted Status like Toxic, but you will lose out on the Marvel Scale boost.
Haze -Alternative way to punish setup Sweepers that actually stops them instead of putting them on a timer.
Ice Beam -best coverage move Milotic has.
Competitive -Milotic works great as an Anti-Defogger as few Defog Pokémon are capable of taking a +2 Ice Beam or Scald
Double Battles & VGC
Milotic has a small niche in doubles thanks to being one of the few Pokémon that has Competitive. The numerous Intimidates, Parting Shots and Max Moves flying about make it easy for Milotic to accrue boosts. Additional tools including Speed control in Icy Wind, Hypnosis and great Water STABs in Scald and Muddy Water give Milotic some breadth to its game, while its good bulk forces opponents to focus fire to bring it down quickly. However, powerful Grass and Electric types run rampant in VGC and the most popular restricted, Zacian-Crowned eviscerates Milotic easily. Additionally, Milotic’s damage isn’t that impressive without the Competitive boost, making it inconsistent and can require good reading of your opponent.
Competition Queen
-Muddy Water
-Icy Wind
-Scald
-Protect
Ability:Competitive
Item Attached: Leftovers
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
Milotic set meant to punish Intimidates. Pivot Milotic in when you expect your opponent to throw out an Intimidate, take advantage of the boost and start laying on the damage. Muddy Water is great spread damage, while Icy Wind provides valuable speed control, giving Milotic and their partner a Leg up against their opponents. Scald is to prevent Milotic from being stopped cold by Wide Guard and to cripple switch ins like Rillaboom, Zacian Crowned and Groudon, ensuring Milotic can contribute even if it can’’t take them out on its own. Protect rounds out the set, for being the best move in doubles. Stall out weather and trick room from your opponent, stall out for Leftovers healing, punish double targeting, etc.
This Milotic appreciates physically offensive partners that are hindered by Intimidate, to better lure and punish the opponent as well as place them in a brutal catch 22 of letting either your Physical Sweeper or Milotic run rampant. .
Countering Milotic
Special Sponges that are immune to Toxic can wall Milotic all day without worry. Toxapex and Ferrothorn stand out, having fantastic defenses, a resistance to water and not caring much about Scald Burns.
Otherwise, overwhelming Milotic with Offense is a tried-and-true method to beat Milotic. STAB Electric and Grass Attackers like Rillaboom, Regieleki, Kartana and Banded Zeraora all reliably outspeed and OHKO Milotic though most deteste getting burned from Scald.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Evolve Feebas
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Trade from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald
Colosseum/XD:
Trade from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Feebas
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Evolve Feebas
Black/White:
Route 1
Black 2/White 2:
Route 1
X/Y:
Trade from Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Evolve Feebas
Sun/Moon:
Evolve Feebas
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Evolve Feebas
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Lake of Outrage, South Lake Miloch, Giant's Bed
Max Raid Battles: Bridge Field, East Lake Axewell, Lake of Outrage, West Lake Axewell, Giant's Bed, Giant's Foot, Frigid Sea, Ballimere Lake
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Evolve Feebas
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Anime Appearences
