Pokemon Sword and Shield

Milotic - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Milotic.png

This is a strategy guide for using Milotic in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Milotic, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Milotic - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Milotic Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Milotic Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Milotic

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Water Type
Abilities
Competitive Raises Special Attack when the Pokemon's stats are lowered.
Marvel Scale Ups Defense if there is a status problem.
Cute Charm (Hidden) Contact with the Pokemon may cause infatuation.

Milotic Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
-
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Grass Image Pokemon Electric Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Water Image Pokemon Ice Image Pokemon Steel Image
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
95 60 79 100 125 81

Best Nature for Milotic

Best Natures
Bold
(+Def, -Atk)
Modest
(+SpAtk, -Atk)
Calm
(+SpDef, -Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Milotic

Marvel Scale Moveset & Best Build

Nature Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def. 252 / Sp.Def. 4
Final Stat Values HP 202 / Def. 144 / Sp.Atk. 120 / Sp.Def. 146 / Spd. 101
Ability Marvel Scale
Held Item Flame Orb
Moveset Recover
Haze
Scald
Mirror Coat

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

Marvel Scale Milotic.png

This build takes advantage of Marvel Scale, an Ability held only by Milotic this time around, to turn it into a Physical defender. Flame Orb causes Milotic to become Burned at the end of the first turn, activating Marvel Scale's 50% Defense boost. In addition to preventing other status conditions from being inflicted on it, Recover allows it to restore the HP lost from Burn. Getting a one-stage Defense boost out of it is a fair deal, and turning it into a solid wall of defensive muscle.

Alternate Move Choices

Protect To ensure you only get damage from your burn. Works on Pokemon switching in.
Icy Wind Guaranteed to reduce your oppoent's Spd.

Competitive Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature Modest (+SpAtk, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 252 / Def. 4 / Sp.Atk. 252
Final Stat Values HP 202 / Def. 110 / Sp.Atk. 152 / Sp.Def. 145 / Spd. 101
Ability Competitive
Held Item Sitrus Berry
Moveset Hydro Pump
Mirror Coat
Ice Beam
Dragon Pulse

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

Competitive Special Attacker Milotic.png

This set utilizes the Ability Competitive that raises Milotic's Special Attack when its stats are lowered. This goes well as most Dynamax moves have an additional effect of lowering stats, making it easier to be a special attacker.

Since it often withstands most special attacks from opponents due its high Special Defense, there are many situations where you can counterattack with Mirror Coat, but be careful as the threat of a Rotom with Choice Specs is always present.

Other Viable Moves

Icy Wind Guaranteed to reduce your oppoent's Speed.
Mud Shot A Ground-type move that lowers opponent Speed. Low-powered, but guarantees to reduce opponent's Speed, making it easy to attack first.
Scald Water-type moves that can inflict burn on opponents. Accurate, but less powerful than Hydro Pump
Protect Can be used to waste an opponent's Dynamax turn.

Competitive + Adrenaline Orb Moveset & Best Build

Nature Timid (+Spd, -Atk.)
EV Spread HP 4 / Sp. Atk. 252 / Spd. 252
Final Stat Values HP 171 / Def. 99 / Sp. Atk. 152 / Sp. Def. 145 / Spd. 146
Ability Competitive
Held Item Adrenaline Orb
Moveset Hydro Pump
Mirror Coat
Ice Beam
Recover

Pokemon with Intimidate are prevalent in battles, so this build takes advanatge of that by letting Milotic hold Adrenaline Orb. Additionally, getting affected by Intimidate will raise Milotic's Special Attack thanks to the Ability Competitive.

Other Viable Moves

Icy Wind Guaranteed to reduce your oppoent's Speed.
Mud Shot A Ground-type move that lowers opponent Speed. Low-powered, but guarantees to reduce opponent's Speed, making it easy to attack first.
Scald Water-type moves that can inflict burn on opponents. Accurate, but less powerful than Hydro Pump
Protect Can be used to waste an opponent's Dynamax turn.

How to Use Milotic Effectively

Beauty in Durability

Milotic is a very durable Pokemon with its high Special Defense and Defense stats. Being a monotype. it only has a few weaknesses which are Grass and Electric.

Furthermore, it can learn Recover, which further improves its durability as it can periodically heal itself.

Counters for Milotic

Milotic
Weakness Pokemon Grass Image Pokemon Electric Image

Attack its weak point to quickly lower its HP

Break through Milotic's defenses by using a hyper-offensive Pokemon. Avoid inflicting status ailments and attack before Marvel Scale is ticked as it boosts Milotic's Defense stat.

If planning to deal with it via physical moves, be aware that Scald can cause burn that lowers Attack.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Tapu Koko ImageTapu Koko Ranking: ★★★★★
・A big threat to Milotic, especially when holding Choice Specs, and with Thunderbolt + Electric Terrain.
Moveset & Best Build for Tapu Koko
Pokemon SWSH - Regieleki ImageRegieleki Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can easily defeat it with Choice Specs + Volt Switch.
Moveset & Best Build for Regieleki
Pokemon SWSH - Zapdos ImageZapdos Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can use special Electric-type moves to hit Milotic's weakness.
・Able to fit numerous team compositions.
Moveset & Best Build for Zapdos
Pokemon SWSH - Rillaboom ImageRillaboom Ranking: ★★★★★
・Hit Milotic's weak points with physical Grass-attacks.
・Can use Grassy Glide during Grassy Terrain to attack first.
Moveset & Best Build for Rillaboom
Pokemon SWSH - Mow Rotom ImageMow Rotom Ranking: ★★★★
・Can one-hit with Choice Specs + Leaf Storm.
Moveset & Best Build for Mow Rotom
Pokemon SWSH - Dracozolt ImageDracozolt Ranking: ★★★★
・Can still defeat Milotic with Hustle + Life Orb + Max Lightning even with Marvel Scale activated.
Moveset & Best Build for Dracozolt

Use a Pokemon holding Weakness Policy

When facing against a Milotic that is built for durability, more often than not no EVs are given to its Special Attack stat and therefore can be used as a starting point for Weakness Policy, followed by constantly attacking it as it uses Recover.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Moltres ImageGalarian Moltres Ranking: ★★★★★
・Unaffacted by Mirror Coat.
・Since its Special Defense stat is high, it is hard to be defeated even if hit with its weaknesses.
Moveset & Best Build for Galarian Moltres
Pokemon SWSH - Tyranitar ImageTyranitar Ranking: ★★★★
・As Special Defense is boosted when in Sandstorm, it is easy to activate
If Milotic is built as an attacker, it cannot withstand 2 attacks from Milotic.
Moveset & Best Build for Tyranitar
Pokemon SWSH - Hydreigon ImageHydreigon Ranking: ★★★★
・Unaffected by Mirror Coat.
Be careful as Milotic can learn Ice-type moves.
Moveset & Best Build for Hydreigon

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Tier ListTier List Pokemon SWSH - Best BuildsBest Builds Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ranked Battle Series 10 Contenders.pngSeries 10 List of Contenders
Pokemon SWSH - Doubles Tier ListDoubles Tier List Pokemon SWSH - Competitive Team BuildingTeam Building Pokemon SWSH - Rental TeamsRental Teams

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