Evolution has been used as a sign of strength in the Pokémon series since the beginning. Evolving Pokémon into bigger, better beasts is an exciting key mechanic in the games, as well as the anime. Starter Pokémon always have three evolutions, and some of the most popular Pokémon designs are final evolutionary forms. Because of this, it is easy to forget the Pokémon who don't evolve at all. Of these Pokémon, there is a Normal-type who is a big asset to any team, and is a powerhouse from a very early level.
Miltank is a Normal-type Pokémon added to the Pokédex during Generation 2. The cow-inspired design may seem goofy and uninteresting, but Miltank is surprisingly powerful for those wanting a strong Normal-type for their team. Miltank has a unique move set, including a few specific moves that make it a pain to go up against. At Level 5, Miltank learns the move Rollout. This is a Ground-type move that takes place over 5 turns. Every turn, the damage of the move doubles. It also has a move called Milk Drink, which it learns at Level 35. This move restores 50% of the user's HP without a consequence. Because Milktank is a Normal-type, it can also learn a large number of highly powerful moves using TMs, like Solar Beam and Blizzard.
Miltank also has unusually high Defense. By using Defense Up and HP Up items, Miltank can be built into a Pokémon who can take a serious hit. Miltank can have one of two of Pokémon's many Abilities as well: Thick Fat boosts resistance to Fire-type and Ice-type moves, while Scrappy enables Normal-Type moves to hit Ghost-type Pokémon. It can also have the Hidden Ability Sap Sipper, which boosts the Attack state when Miltank is hit by a Grass-type move. Each of these buffs only adds to Miltank's usefulness in battle.
Why Whitney's Miltank Is An Infamous Pokémon
Those who played any Generation 2 Pokémon games likely remember their encounter with the Normal-type Gym Leader Whitney. Whitney's Miltank has gained infamy as an over-powered Pokémon. Whitney's Gym is the Third Gym players take on when traveling through the Johto region, and it can be a real challenge for those who are unprepared. Whitney's Miltank is at Level 20, and can deliver a number of heavy-hitting moves, most notably, Rollout. It isn't uncommon for Whitney to annihilate the challenger the first time, or even the second and third times, she takes them on.
While there are plenty of evolved Pokémon who could potentially deliver a similar performance as Miltank, early access to powerful moves can be more than enough reason to give Miltank a try. While the Pokémon series might put extra emphasis on species who evolve into massive beasts, sometimes it is the most unassuming choice that can deliver the most powerful blows.