In-battle formes
Base
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Abilities | |
| Tier |
| HP: | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack: | 105 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 65 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 75 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 130 |
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Mega
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Abilities | |
| Tier |
| HP: | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack: | 135 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 70 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 95 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 150 |
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Overview
Aerodactyl sits in a phenomenal Speed tier that allows it to outpace popular offensive threats such as Swellow and Salazzle. In conjunction with its tremendous Speed stat, Aerodactyl's solid coverage options allow it to function as an effective revenge killer and late-game cleaner. Aerodactyl can trap and weaken problematic Pokemon for offensive teams such as Swellow, Espeon, and Salazzle with Pursuit, as these Pokemon will often switch out when faced with Aerodactyl, fearing a powerful Stone Edge or super effective Earthquake. Unfortunately, Aerodactyl's only decent Attack stat can make it difficult for it to break through bulkier walls such as Rhyperior, Bronzong, and Slowbro. In a similar vein, Aerodactyl's poor defensive stats and weakness to common Water-, Steel-, and Rock-type attacks make it somewhat of a defensive liability and, as such, harder to fit on various team archetypes.
Physical Attacker
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| Move 2 |
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| Item | |
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| Ability | |
| Nature |
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| EVs |
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Moves
Stone Edge is a powerful Rock-type STAB move, nailing Noivern, Arcanine, and Mantine for super effective damage. It has rather lackluster accuracy, however. Earthquake has excellent synergy with Stone Edge, dealing super effective damage to Steel- and Rock-types like Metagross, Registeel, and Gigalith as they switch into Aerodactyl. Pursuit is very useful for trapping and weakening offensive threats usually forced out by Aerodactyl such as Swellow, Salazzle, and Noivern. Roost extends Aerodactyl's longevity throughout a battle, and lets it directly switch into some of the threats it's supposed to trap, like Noivern and Salazzle. Its lackluster bulk can make finding opportunities to Roost safely somewhat hard, however. Taunt can be used in order to shut down bulky walls that bother Aerodactyl such as Registeel and Cresselia. Ice Fang is an option that ensures Aerodactyl can revenge kill Zygarde-10% from full, while also nailing Flygon and Virizion. However, Ice Fang is quite weak against anything else, and Zygarde-10% in particular takes considerable damage from Earthquake. Lastly, Crunch is useful for hitting Bronzong, one of the most reliable counters to Aerodactyl, for super effective damage, while hitting Psychic-types such as Uxie, Slowbro, and Cresselia for slightly more damage.
Set Details
Maximum Attack and Speed investment allows Aerodactyl to hit as hard and as fast as possible. A Jolly nature is necessary to outspeed Pokemon such as Swellow and Salazzle. Unnerve is the ability of choice in order to bypass Berries from the likes of Shuca Berry Metagross, Colbur Berry Mismagius, Sitrus Berry Slurpuff, and Colbur Berry Uxie. Life Orb is the selected item, boosting Aerodactyl's damage output while still allowing it to switch up moves and take advantage of its impressive coverage.
Usage Tips
Aerodactyl sports very low defenses, so avoid directly switching it into attacks, as even powerful resisted attacks will do significant damage. Keeping Aerodactyl healthy until the later stages of a game is often optimal, as it serves as an excellent late-game cleaner once its checks and counters have been appropriately weakened or removed entirely. Make use of Volt Switch or U-turn and well-timed double switches to get Aerodactyl in as often as possible to pressure the opposing team. Aerodactyl makes for a decent offensive check to Pokemon such as Swellow, Salazzle, and Yanmega, so these Pokemon will often switch out when facing Aerodactyl. In this case, using Pursuit to weaken or potentially KO these Pokemon is often advisable.
Team Options
Aerodactyl greatly appreciates entry hazard support from the likes of Forretress and Roserade, as these hazards chip away at bulkier walls for Aerodactyl to eventually clean up late-game. Similarly, Aerodactyl does not appreciate coming into the field repeatedly with Stealth Rock up, so hazard removal support from Pokemon such as Mantine, Dhelmise, and Donphan works well with Aerodactyl. Powerful wallbreakers like Choice Specs Swellow and Choice Band Escavalier are excellent partners for Aerodactyl, as they can break through bulkier walls for Aerodactyl to sweep late-game. Bulky Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon such as Rhyperior and Metagross are bothersome for Aerodactyl, so Pokemon that can combat them such as Virizion and Milotic make for solid teammates. Volt Switch and U-turn users such as Raikou and Flygon pair well with Aerodactyl, as they can provide it with free switches in as well as chip away at bulkier Pokemon with their VoltTurn attacks. Shaymin also works very well with Aerodactyl, as it greatly appreciates Aerodactyl's prowess in trapping Pokemon such as Swellow and Salazzle, and also can switch into Scald with impunity.
Other Options
Fire Blast is capable of 2HKOing Bewear and can snipe Forretress while dealing some chip to Bronzong. Aside from these targets, it is generally far less useful than Earthquake's utility, though. In a similar vein, Aqua Tail smacks Rhyperior and Donphan for huge damage, though the ability to hit Steel-types for super effective damage with Earthquake is usually superior. Aerodactyl can also make use of a Hone Claws set with Flyinium Z and Sky Attack, but this set is often unreliable and still struggles to break through Pokemon such as Bronzong, Metagross, and Rhyperior. Choice Band is an alternative option that boosts Aerodactyl's Attack stat further; however, the inability to use support moves such as Roost and Taunt can leave it far less useful to a team, while not being able to switch moves can leave Aerodactyl as setup bait for a threatening sweeper such as Zygarde-10% if not locked into Ice Fang or Klinklang when not locked into Earthquake.
Checks and Counters
Bulky Steel-types: Bulky Steel-types such as Bronzong, Metagross, and Forretress resist Aerodactyl's STAB combination and take little damage from Earthquake. In return, these Pokemon can use Aerodactyl as setup fodder or simply KO it with their super effective Steel-type STAB moves.
Bulky Ground-types: Bulky Ground-types such as Rhyperior and Steelix resist Aerodactyl's STAB combination and take very little damage from Earthquake due to their high base Defense stats. These Pokemon can OHKO Aerodactyl with their respective STAB moves as well, making them particularly threatening.
Choice Scarf Users: Choice Scarf users such as Gardevoir and Tyrantrum can outspeed Aerodactyl and heavily damage it or even OHKO it with their super effective STAB attacks, making them solid offensive checks.
Priority: Powerful priority moves such as Honchkrow's Sucker Punch and Lycanroc-D's Accelerock bypass Aerodactyl's high Speed stat and do massive damage to it.
Bulky Attackers: Bulky Pokemon such as Milotic and Slowbro are capable of taking any attack Aerodactyl can throw at them and in return deal huge damage with a super effective STAB Water-type attack.
