[VGC 2017] Milotic ( Defensive / Offensive ) Movesets
[VGC 2017] Milotic ( Defensive / Offensive ) Movesets
![[Image: milotic_by_all0412-d62kgap.jpg]](http://img13.deviantart.net/50ba/i/2013/111/6/d/milotic_by_all0412-d62kgap.jpg)
Deviant Art by all0412
Milotic is one of the bulkiest Water-type Pokemon found in the metagame with its roles as both a defensive pivot and Intimidate deter haven't changed much since the transition to VGC 17. Based on its stat allocations, Milotic has a respectable 95 HP / 79 Defense / 125 Special Defense, making it one of the most defensively oriented Water-types in the game with access to recovery. Unless Milotic is double targeted or hit with essentially powerful Super Effective hits, chances are it will stick around throughout the battlefield to chip at its opposing team until its fainted. What makes Milotic a standout Water-type is the fact it has the ability Competitive that raises the Special Attack stat by two stages which is rather impressive. This makes Milotic one of the best counters to "Intimidate / Snarl users" given it has the bulk to take on most of them and retaliate with Scald or Ice Beam respectively.
Even so, note there are still some flaws with Milotic. For starters, base 100 Special Attack isn't strong enough to OHKO most things without the Competitive attack raise or significant investment. Perhaps the biggest issues with Milotic is the rise of strong Grass- and Electric-type Pokemon such as Tapu Bulu, Tapu Koko, and Kartana who all three can effectively OHKO Milotic with their Super Effective damage output. Lastly, the rise of defensive oriented team especially with Toxic status can slowly wear down Milotic progressively over the course of the matchup and hindering its walling capabilities.
In spite of these traits, Milotic need team support in general in order to function effectively as a bulky wall / pivot given its lack of offensive pressure without the Competitive boost. Milotic can effectively check most Fire-, Ground-, Rock-, and Dragon-type in due part most of the common offensive Pokemon seen in the VGC 17 format have high usages ( EX. Arcanine, Garchomp, Alolan Marowak, Salamence, etc).
![[Image: milotic.png]](http://pokemonforever.com/images/pokeimages/gen3/milotic.png)
Milotic
Type:
Base Stats: 95 HP / 60 Attack / 79 Defense / 100 Special Attack / 125 Special Defense / 81 Speed
Weaknesses:
x2 
x2 Resistances:
x0.5 
x0.5 
x0.5 x0.5Immunities: None
Ability 1 - Marvel Scale - Raised the Defense stat by 50% when hit with a non-volatile status.
Ability 2: Competitve - Raise the Special Attack stat by 2 stage every time the user is inflicted with a negative stat modifier, but not to self.
Hidden Ability: Cute Charm - Has a chance to infatuate the target upon making contact.
Defensive
Milotic @ Sitrus Berry / Leftovers / Maranga Berry / "Terrain" Seeds
Ability: Competitive
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 228 Def / 36 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Protect / Toxic
Milestones:
- Survive Leaf Blade or Thunderbolt from Kartana / Xurkitree respectively
- OHKOs most Intimidate user with a +2 Competitive boosts (Ex. Arcanine, Krookodile, or Salamence)
- Survives Tectonic Rage (Groundium Z EQ) from Garchomp
-Modest Psychic from Tapu Lele is a 3HKO with Sitrus Berry.
Ability: Competitive
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 228 Def / 36 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Protect / Toxic
Milestones:
- Survive Leaf Blade or Thunderbolt from Kartana / Xurkitree respectively
- OHKOs most Intimidate user with a +2 Competitive boosts (Ex. Arcanine, Krookodile, or Salamence)
- Survives Tectonic Rage (Groundium Z EQ) from Garchomp
-Modest Psychic from Tapu Lele is a 3HKO with Sitrus Berry.
Here's is a standard physically defensive Milotic intended to take on most of the strongest hits in the VGC 17 format. Scald is listed as a utility STAB to snag potential burns against physical attackers while make Milotic more difficult to take down. Ice Beam is strong enough to hit Pokemon like Garchomp, Salamence, Tapu Bulu, and other Pokemon hard though keep in mind some of these Pokemon won't necessary be OHKO without the Competitive boost. The last two move are a toss-up between Recover, Protect, or Toxic. To elaborate, Protect is useful to scout for attacks and potential gain Leftovers recovery. Recover is self-explanatory as it can virtually replenishes about 50% of Milotic's total health, which is amazing for longevity purposes. Toxic is a potential option to slash on either one of Milotic's attacks since this allows it to "stall" potential walls who are bulky such as Porygon2, Gastrodon, defensive Arcanine, or even opposing Milotics.
The item choice for defensive Milotic is entirely up to the player to select from. Sitrus Berry allow Milotic to replenish about 25% of its HP every time its health drops at half. If passive recovery is your strong suit, Leftovers will gradually replenish about 1/16th of Milotic's HP every turn. Maranga Berry is an interesting item selection which increase the Special Defense of Milotic every time it gets hit by a special attack. Considering Milotic has a naturally high special defense stat, the Maranga Berry can supplement this rather especially with recovery. Similar to Maranga Berry, Terrain Seeds can bolster either the Defense or Special Defense of a Pokemon depending on either its respective terrain.
Offensive Calcs
Defensive Calcs
Special Attacker
Milotic @ Adrenaline Orb
Ability: Competitive
Level: 50
EVs: 116 HP / 4 Def / 236 SpA / 4 SpD / 148 Spe
Modest Nature
- Scald / Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Electric] / Hidden Power [Grass] / Recover
- Protect
Milestones:
- Outspeeds base 110s after Adrenaline Orb boosts
-OHKOs Garchomp with Ice Beam
-Can take EQs from Garchomp
-OHKOs Gastrodon / Gyarados with either HP Grass / Electric after Competititve boost
This Milotic set takes advantage of the recent new item called the Adrelaline Orb, which has the in-battle effect of raising the Speed stat by one stage if "hit" by an Intimidate user. Given Milotic's main purpose is to deter Intimidate spam, if this already bulky Water-type gets the +2 in Special Attack and Speed stat, it has a good chance to sweep unprepared teams easily. Note EV Spread of this Milotic is heavily favored into the Special Attack (with Modest) and of course Speed to take advantage of the Adrenaline Orb boosts. If hit by an Intimidate, Milotic will reach an actual speed from 120 to 180 to outspeed all base 110s, and any potential "speed creep" mons at that same speed tier. The choice of Water-type STAB is dependent on the player's choice as Hydro Pump deals more damage though can miss while Scald can potentially burn targets, but is weaker. Ice Beam here is listed to hit Grass-, Dragon-, and Flying-types for Super Effective damage with a greater chance to OHKO some of them with the heavy Special Attack investment. The last move is a toss up between HP Electric, HP Grass, and Recover based on certain matchups. If the team is rather weak to Gyarados, HP Electric can be opted to net some heavy damage, if not OHKO most variants. HP Grass is listed to ensure Milotic won't be walled by Gastrodon who can potentially Toxic Stall it down thanks to Storm Drain. The last option aside Protect is Recover to ensure Milotic can stick around throughout the matchup to maintain offensive pressure.
For a list of all potential offensive achievements Milotic can do at +2 Special Attack with its heavy Special Attack investments, here's a list down below:
Offensive Calcs:
Defensive Calcs:
Potential Teammates include, but aren't limited to:
- Ground-types - Given how strong Electric-types are in this format with the advant of Tapu Koko, Milotic needs partners who are able to take on these threats sufficiently well. ( Ex. Garchomp, Mudsdale, Krookodile, etc ).
- Fire-types - Similar to Elecctric-types this format, Grass-types such as Tapu Bulu and Kartana are extemely threatening for Milotic as they can potentially OHKO it with a Grassy Terrain boosted STAB. If anything, Fire-types are the best response to Grass given how they can either OHKO them with their STABs or use Will-O-Wisp to reduce their damage output. ( Ex. Arcanine, Talonflame, Salazzle, Alolan Marowak, Incineroar, etc ).
- Grass-types - Note two of arguably the best Grass-types in the format (both Tapu Bulu and Kartana) happen to be physical attacks who can easily overpower opposing Water-types who can stand in Milotic's way. ( Ex. Tapu Bulu, Kartana, Dhelmise, Trevenant, etc ).
- Dragon-types - Most Dragon-types in the format have resistances to either Grass-, or Electric-types in general and can be used as a buffer switch in for Milotic. (Ex. Dragonite, Garchomp, Salamence, Drampa, Goodra, etc)
- Intimidate Support - Though Milotic has respectable bulk, Pokemon with the Intimidate ability can lower the opposing target's attack stats. This support can Milotic to stick around throughout the matchup ( Ex. Arcanine, Salamence, Krookodile, etc ).
- Physical Attackers - Note that Milotic has the "Competitive" ability which raises its Special Attack by +2 every time an Intimidate user (or and reduced stat changes) occurs. Try to pair Milotic with potential setup or high attack stats like Kartana, Garchomp, Flygon, Tapu Bulu, etc so pressure the opponent with either +2 Milotic, or a strong physical attacker.
- Electric-types - Tapu Koko, Alolan Raichu, Xurkitree, Magnezone, etc
- Grass-types - Tapu Bulu, Dhelmise, Whimiscott, Trevenant, etc
- Pokemon with Water-Immune Abilities (Storm Drain and Water Absorb): Gastrodon, Lanturn, Vaporeon, Lapras,
- Pokemon with "high" Special Defense: Tapu Fini, Snorlax, Porygon2, etc
- Toxic Status
- Strong Physical attackers
- Type-Reducing Berries such as Wacan or Rindo Berry can help Milotic take one strong hit.
- Choice Scarf allow Milotic to immediately have the speed advantage over other mons.
- Electric / Grassy Seed can be used to increase the Defense stat by one stage in either terrain.
- Misty Seed / Psychic Seed can raise the Special Defense stat by one stage in either terrain.
Might be the only thread I'll have up for the holidays, though will see how could pace these every so often. If anything, expect more content like this within the coming
month, or essentially the year. Well rambled enough so Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays!
