Mega Aerodactyl
QC: [3/3]
GP: [1/1]
[OVERVIEW]
* Mega Aerodactyl is one of the few Mega Evolutions available in UU and is an extremely easy fit on teams of all archetypes.
* Its blistering base 150 Speed lets it revenge kill much of the tier.
* A good Attack stat and Tough Claws give it respectable damage output.
* Mega Aerodactyl has several viable coverage options; thus, its sets are highly customizable, although some of these options lack power.
* Hone Claws allows it to function as a dangerous sweeper.
* Between its Speed, power, and coverage, Mega Aerodactyl has all the tools it needs to be one of the premier anti-offense Pokemon in the tier.
* While its defensive stats are only average, it has a useful defensive typing and Roost to augment its longevity.
* Utility options such as Stealth Rock, Taunt, and Defog allow it to support its team if necessary.
* A lack of a powerful Flying-type STAB move means that Mega Aerodactyl struggles to break through some of the tier's bulkier Pokemon, even with Hone Claws.
* A weakness to Stealth Rock limits its switch-in opportunities.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Wing Attack / Aqua Tail
move 3: Earthquake / Aqua Tail
move 4: Pursuit / Roost
item: Aerodactylite
ability: Unnerve
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Stone Edge is Mega Aerodactyl's strongest STAB option.
* Wing Attack is the secondary STAB move of choice and benefits from Tough Claws. Aerial Ace has the same Base Power and ignores accuracy and evasion modifiers, but Wing Attack's higher PP makes it the better choice in most situations.
* Earthquake provides good coverage in conjunction with Mega Aerodactyl's STAB moves, enabling it to hit Raikou, Steel-types like Bisharp, Magneton, Cobalion, and Empoleon, (comma) and bulky Poison-types such as Tentacruel and Nidoqueen super effectively.
* Aqua Tail is an option over either Wing Attack or Earthquake because it provides coverage for Ground-types like Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Krookodile.
* Pursuit gives Mega Aerodactyl the ability to weaken or KO many of the Pokemon it forces out such as Gengar, Alakazam, Latias, Starmie, and Celebi. Mega Aerodactyl can either remove these Pokemon or weaken them to the point where they can no longer come in safely.
* Roost provides Mega Aerodactyl with a means of recovering its HP and allows it to switch in more often.
Set Details
========
* 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature enables Mega Aerodactyl to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and common Choice Scarf users slower than Jolly Heracross.
* 252 Attack EVs increase Mega Aerodactyl's damage output as much as possible.
* Unnerve prevents foes from consuming Berries. Mega Aerodactyl gets Tough Claws upon Mega Evolution, which boosts the power of its contact moves by 33%.
Usage Tips
========
* Mega Aerodactyl can revenge kill many common offensive Pokemon and should be brought in on attacks that are weak and neutral or resisted in order to force out or KO slower Pokemon.
* Mega Aerodactyl functions well as a late-game cleaner after its bulkier checks have been removed or worn down.
* Mega Aerodactyl should utilize its Speed and coverage to pressure opposing offensive teams.
* Mega Aerodactyl is less helpful against bulkier teams and should be used carefully as a countermeasure to particular Pokemon common on bulkier archetypes such as Celebi, Amoonguss, and Mandibuzz.
Team Options
========
* Strong wallbreakers like Cobalion, Primarina, and Bewear can open up opportunities for Mega Aerodactyl to clean.
* Scizor can switch in on Ice- and Steel-type attacks aimed at Mega Aerodactyl and lures in Fire-types that Mega Aerodactyl can take advantage of.
* Mega Aerodactyl is weak to Stealth Rock, so it appreciates entry hazard control. Latias, Starmie, Tsareena, Scizor, Empoleon, and Tentacruel can all fulfill this role due to their access to Defog or Rapid Spin.
* Mega Aerodactyl is excellent for users of Spikes, as it threatens and traps many of the Defog and Rapid Spin users in the tier. In turn, Mega Aerodactyl appreciates how Spikes damage breaks down most of its checks. Klefki in particular is a great partner because it can set up Spikes and take Rock- and Ice-type attacks for Mega Aerodactyl. In return, Mega Aerodactyl provides an immunity to Ground-type attacks aimed at Klefki and can pressure the Fire-types that threaten it.
* As Mega Aerodactyl struggles to break through bulky Water- and Ground-types, offensive Grass-types like Celebi, Decidueye, and Roserade that can deal with them make good teammates. In exchange, Mega Aerodactyl can take on the Flying- and Fire-types that threaten them.
* Offensive Water-types like Primarina, Starmie, and Keldeo can pressure Ground-types like Hippowdon, Gliscor, Krookodile, and Swampert. Keldeo in particular makes a great partner, as Mega Aerodactyl pressures and traps most of its common checks and counters.
* Fighting-types like Cobalion, Lucario, and Infernape appreciate Mega Aerodactyl's ability to trap fast offensive Ghost- and Psychic-types. Each of these Pokemon possesses some way of breaking through bulky Pokemon for Mega Aerodactyl in return.
[SET]
name: Hone Claws
move 1: Hone Claws
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Wing Attack / Earthquake
move 4: Aqua Tail / Earthquake
item: Aerodactylite
ability: Unnerve
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Hone Claws boosts Mega Aerodactyl's Attack and accuracy by one stage, giving it the power to break through bulkier Pokemon and turning Stone Edge into a reliable move.
* Stone Edge is Mega Aerodactyl's most powerful STAB move and hits hard after a Hone Claws boost. The accuracy boost from Hone Claws eliminates the risk of missing unless facing a Pokemon with the ability Unaware.
* Wing Attack is a secondary STAB move with good coverage that benefits from Tough Claws.
* Aqua Tail receives the damage bonus from Tough Claws and lets Mega Aerodactyl beat bulky Ground-types like Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Krookodile after a boost.
* Earthquake is an alternative to either Wing Attack or Aqua Tail to allow Mega Aerodactyl to break through Steel-types like Empoleon, Cobalion, and Magneton.
* Roost allows Mega Aerodactyl to set up on bulky Pokemon like Gliscor and Krookodile, but Mega Aerodactyl usually benefits more from a coverage move.
Set Details
========
* The EV spread enables Mega Aerodactyl to outspeed as much of the metagame as possible and do as much damage as it can.
* A Jolly nature allows Mega Aerodactyl to outspeed every unboosted Pokemon in the tier as well as Choice Scarf users like Chandelure and Gardevoir.
* Unnerve is rarely a factor, but it can on occasion be useful by preventing an opponent from using its held Berry. Once it Mega Evolves, Tough Claws provides a 33% power boost to all of Mega Aerodactyl's contact moves.
Usage Tips
========
* Save Mega Aerodactyl for the mid- or late-game, when it has opportunities to set up.
* This set should avoid switching it in as aggressively as the offensive set can, as it has no way of recovering HP and needs to be healthy enough to set up and avoid being revenge killed.
* Prior to setting up, remove Pokemon that Mega Aerodactyl's choice of coverage fails to handle effectively. Remove Ground-types if not using Aqua Tail and Steel-types if not using Earthquake.
Team Options
========
* Hippowdon makes a good partner due to its ability to set up sandstorm, which boosts Mega Aerodactyl's Special Defense by 1.5x and therefore makes it surprisingly specially resilient. Hippowdon can also set up Stealth Rock and switch in on Rock-type attacks for Mega Aerodactyl, while Mega Aerodactyl can pressure Grass-types like Celebi for Hippowdon.
* Wallbreakers like Primarina, Infernape, and Cobalion can open up opportunities for Mega Aerodactyl to sweep.
* Mega Aerodactyl is weak to Stealth Rock. Pokemon like Starmie and Tsareena can remove Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin, as can Defog users like Latias and Scizor.
* Magneton can remove Scizor, Empoleon, and other Steel-types for Mega Aerodactyl. This is especially useful if Mega Aerodactyl is not running Earthquake. Magneton can also pressure bulky Water-types that Mega Aerodactyl struggles to break through even after a boost.
* Grass-type partners that can take on bulky Water-types (and bulky Ground-types if Mega Aerodactyl forgoes Aqua Tail) include Celebi, Decidueye, and Roserade.
* Raikou threatens bulky Water-types and lures in special walls that Mega Aerodactyl can take advantage of.
* Mega Aerodactyl appreciates entry hazard support to wear down its checks. Swampert, Hippowdon, Celebi, and Nidoqueen can all set up Stealth Rock, while Klefki can provide Spikes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Fire Fang and Ice Fang can be used to hit targets like Scizor and Gliscor, respectively.
* Mega Aerodactyl can make use of utility options like Stealth Rock, Taunt, and Defog, but must sacrifice an attacking move, Roost, or Hone Claws. Taunt in particular can be useful against bulkier teams, as it prevents recovery or status from common Pokemon such as Mew, Hippowdon, and Clefable.
* Crunch is a viable option to hit Pokemon weak to Dark-type attacks like Latias, Starmie, Necrozma, Gengar, Reuniclus, and Chandelure super effectively.
* A bulky set with both Taunt and Toxic can be used, but sacrifices Mega Aerodactyl's offensive presence in exchange for a way to break stall.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types like Suicune, Swampert, and Slowbro can take anything Mega Aerodactyl can throw at it and retaliate with super effective STAB Scalds. Empoleon in particular resists both of Mega Aerodactyl's STAB types and Aqua Tail and takes little from Pursuit, though it has to fear Earthquake.
**Bulky Ground-types**: Bulky Ground-types like Hippowdon and Gliscor can take on the all-out attacking set if it doesn't run Aqua Tail and stall it out with Toxic.
**Bulky Steel-types**: Steel-types resist both of Mega Aerodactyl's STAB types and can retaliate with their own super effective STAB attacks, though most fear Earthquake. Scizor can pick Mega Aerodactyl off with Bullet Punch. Cobalion can survive an Earthquake and KO with Iron Head or All-Out Pummeling or set up a Rock Polish. Doublade takes even Earthquakes reasonably well and can set up a Swords Dance or KO with Gyro Ball or Iron Head. Forretress can take a Stone Edge with ease and threaten Mega Aerodactyl back with Gyro Ball.
**Fast Choice Scarf Users**: Fast Choice Scarf users can revenge kill Mega Aerodactyl, although some need a bit of prior damage. Options include Keldeo, Infernape, Hydreigon, and Mienshao. Pokemon slower than Heracross fail to outspeed Mega Aerodactyl.
**Priority**: Bullet Punch and Aqua Jet both hit Mega Aerodactyl super effectively, and a strong Mach Punch or Vacuum Wave can pick it off once it's weakened.
**Mega Sharpedo**: Mega Sharpedo can outspeed Mega Aerodactyl after one turn of Speed Boost and proceed to KO.
**Stealth Rock:** Mega Aerodactyl is weak to Stealth Rock, which limits its ability to switch in.
Last edited:
