Updated again... what do I put for additional comments?
[Overview]
<p>Milotic may appeared to have fallen from grace in OU, but it still fills a rare and valuable niche in standard as the only bulky water with instant recovery. In fact, the ability to regain 50% health through one move slot with single water typing is perhaps the only reason too use it in OU. Still, Milotic has quite a bit going for it in the higher levels of play with special attack on par with Starmie, a massive special defense stat, and a unique ability that lets it absorb status, giving it the potential to have better physical walling abilities than Skarmory. Despite its UU status, Milotic is still a reliable defensive check and a great choice for teams that need a bulky water with extra coverage. </p>
[SET]
name: OU Bulky Water
move 1: Surf
move 2: Ice Beam/Haze
move 3: Hidden Power Electric
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Special Attack
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Recover makes Milotic an amazing commodity, precisely because it frees up an extra move slot. Rather than lose two spots for Rest and Sleep Talk or Wish and Protect, Milotic can instead focus on the perfect neutral coverage trinity of Water, Ice, and Electric or disruption in the form of hazing.</p>
<p> Water type as usual makes Milotic a great switch into anything it resists while Marvel Scale lets it take Will-O-Wisps, Thunder Waves, and the first layer of Toxic Spikes without any hassle. In the past, Milotic relied on the fairly inaccurate Hypnosis, leaving it wide open for a Taunt. However, with several offensive options at its disposal Milotic can handle many of these switch-ins—especially Gyarados. </p>
<p>. Milotic isn’t by any means invincible, but it can still handle the likes of Dragonite, Gliscor, Heatran, Gyarados very well, and generally takes unboosted neutral and resisted hits with ease. Even stat-uppers like Scizor and Lucario who think they can setup on you with relative impunity will not enjoy taking a hit off of 236 Special Attack on the switch in, and will find themselves in a stalemate if Haze is in your repertoire. </p>
[Additional Comments]
<p> In previous metagames, Milotic tried to run hefty helping of special attack evs to eliminate Garchomp and tried to hit a "magic leftovers number," but with the monstrosity gone, it can instead focus its stats on HP and defense. The result is an impressive mixed wall with 394 HP/282 Defense/286 Special Defense. In UU, Milotic runs eight speed evs to outspeed max speed base 50 attackers such as Aggron, but since none of these have quite made it into OU, Milotic can again pour everything into its defenses.</p>
<p>Milotic can work either in bulky offense with its coverage or stall as having both Haze and Recover let it effectively wall any stat-uppers that don't utilize Electric or Grass moves. Do not make the mistake of just slapping it into a space Vaporeon would fit better--if you need a wall that can keep itself alive longer as opposed to a teammate than Milotic is the bulky water for you. </p>
<p>Milotic </p>
[Team Options]
<p> Milotic is best used with pokemon who compliment its resistances and back it up in the coverage department. Pokemon who shrug off Electric and Grass moves are the most important—the many grass types of OU that plague Milotic can actually make decent partners. Pokemon who are absolutely terrified of being burned also find a teammate in Milotic. Since Milotic was graced with Recover instead of wish, it's teammates should be similar to it--powerful and flexible with the ability to be self-sufficient. </p>
<p> Roserade makes a good lead for teams utilizing Milotic, although it shouldn’t necessarilylet itself die early game. It has decent special defense and can make Milotic’s life easier as it lays down and absorbs toxic spikes. Coverage wise, Leaf Storm and Hidden Power Fire have perfect synergy with Surf, Hidden Power Electric, and Ice Beam.</p>
<p>A defensive core of Heatran and Celebi with Milotic makes for combination that resists just about everything as each covers the others’ weaknesses perfectly.</p>
<p> Just about any Dragonite variant will shine with Milotic. Cleric dancing Dragonite gets special mention though, making a good offensive and defensive compliment as it handles grass moves with ease and electric moves decently while Milotic can take the ice moves aimed at it. Heal Bell allows it to eliminate the status Milotic doesn’t enjoy, mainly Toxic and Sleep. Milotic also does decently against the various steel types who won’t mind STAB Dragon Claw, but will mond STAB Surf, namely Heatran. </p>
<p> Despite acting as one of Milotic’s best counters, Breloom can handle both of Milotic’s weaknesses,, hit on the physical end of the spectrum, and switches into Toxic just fine. Milotic stops the threatening Dragonite, Heatran, and Gyarados while Breloom can dish out serious damage to pokemon who would normally try to stall Milotic to death like Blissey.</p>
<p> Gliscor is an excellent user of stealth rock on teams with Milotic. Just about any of its sets work well here because of Milotic’s resistances to its only weaknesses. Sweeper or staller, Gliscor’s versatility and physical movepool are very helpful.</p>
<p> Steel Types like Scizor, Forretress, and Bronzong enjoy Milotic taking fire and water hits for them, many of them dominating on the physical spectrum, allowing them to eliminate Milotic’s enemy special walls. Forretress in particular, can rapid spin away entry hazards that dent Milotic’s staying power, set up those that help guarantee it a smoother kill, and attack with powerful physical moves, although Earthquake will most certainly be a must to stop Magnezone, who try to rain on your parade. </p>
[Optional Changes]
<p> A Calm nature with 252 HP/200 Defense/56 Special Defense is also highly recommended because it takes full advantage of Milotic’s special bulk while still leaving it hardy enough for the physical attackers and more than enough for mixed attackers. This spread also makes Milotic ideal for taking on its fellow bulky waters. </p>
<p>60% accuracy has made Hypnosis all but obsolete, but if you’re team is desperate for a sleep-inducer that can take a hit, it’s not total suicide.</p>
<p>Mirror Coat can score a surprise KO on an opposing special sweeper, but it requires both ungodly prediction and heavy investment in special defense if you’re hoping to survive anything electric or grass. </p>
<p>Hidden Power Grass is an option too, but with more prevalent flying types, and Swampert being taken care of with Surf, it’s situational at best.</p>
<p> Without a stat-boosting move, Milotic just can't keep up with the rest of the sleep talkers of OU, but if you do want to take full advantage of Marvel Scale, try a moveset of Surf, Rest, Sleep Talk, and Recover--despite only being able to attack 33% of the time, it'll will still be able to keep its health up with its increased defense while sleeping </p>
[Counters]
<p>Milotic’s OU counters are pretty straight forward as it falls to the STABed moves Zapdos, Celebi, Jolteon, Shaymin, the Rotom formes, and Breloom, although Ice Beam will punish a good number of these. Other bulky waters will most certainly need Hidden Power Electric and Toxic to deal with Milotic, Tentacruel standing out as a decent counter. Blissey and Cresselia with Charge Beam will win a stall war. Metagross and Infernape can KO with super-effective hits, although neither of these should normally be switching in. </p>