Milotic - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle | Pokemon Sword and Shield

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
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Milotic

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Milotic
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.

Type Defenses

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage	-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Milotic

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Milotic

Marvel Scale Moveset & Best Build

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

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

Competitive Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

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

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

Competitive + Adrenaline Orb Moveset & Best Build

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

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

Weakness

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
Tapu Koko	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・A big threat to Milotic, especially when holding Choice Specs, and with Thunderbolt + Electric Terrain. Moveset & Best Build for Tapu Koko
Regieleki	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can easily defeat it with Choice Specs + Volt Switch. Moveset & Best Build for Regieleki
Zapdos	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can use special Electric-type moves to hit Milotic's weakness. ・Able to fit numerous team compositions. Moveset & Best Build for Zapdos
Rillaboom	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
Mow Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can one-hit with Choice Specs + Leaf Storm. Moveset & Best Build for Mow Rotom
Dracozolt	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
Galarian 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
Tyranitar	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
Hydreigon	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Unaffected by Mirror Coat. ・Be careful as Milotic can learn Ice-type moves. Moveset & Best Build for Hydreigon

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 8 Tier List Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu