My thoughts on Aerodactyl...As a dude who has literally been using Aerodactyl since XY UU Beta, I can say that it's one of those mons that has a lot of potential, but it's got almost as many flaws holding it back. Most of you guys know what I'm talking about: The lack of any high BP moves that abuse Tough Claws and/or STAB (Stone Edge sucks, let's keep it 100), and even a little bit of 4MSS when you start factoring support moves such as Defog, Stealth Rock, or Taunt (usually it's best to run 1 of these. 2 only if you REALLY need it). I mean the base 150 Speed and the ability to pretty much not get outran by anything lacking a Scarf is nice, but lacking the ability to really deal significant damage overall without nailing a super-effective hit also makes its power sort of feel...lacking, so to speak.
Either way though, Mega Aerodactyl, in my experience, has held up a lot in similarity to Pokemon like Noivern, Scarf Flygon, and Mega Manectric. Not a TON of strength to really shine early or mid-game unless you're able to get a kill or 2HKO something on the switch-in, but lategame it's fierce due to the incredible speed and coverage it has. Not to mention, despite an objectively bad defensive typing, 80/85/95 bulk can survive a decently-powered hit in a pinch if healthy, but nothing to write home about.
Anyway since Limitless kinda stressed he wants comparisons to other mons in the same rank, looking at the A Rank, Mega Aerodactyl actually fits right in, considering the advantages its coverage offers. Literally, with just Earthquake, Stone Edge, and Aerial Ace, and a Jolly nature, Mega Aerodactyl can at worst, 2HKO every single Pokemon in the A Rank barring Forretress, Reuniclus (Max HP/Def sets comfortably can take hits, however sets running only HP have almost a 50% chance of being 2HKOed by Stone Edge. Still pretty decent if you ask me), Suicune, and Umbreon. That alone is a pretty respectable feat in itself. On top of that, it can adjust its coverage moves to be able to hit other certain Pokemon who wall it; Fire Fang can be used to deal with Forretress (though not much else for real), Crunch for Reuniclus, Aqua Tail, Thunder Fang, etc. And if you really don't care about outpacing Mega Manectric, an Adamant nature can be used to deal as much damage as possible, since its incredible Speed tier allows it to do that.
If you drop down to A- Rank however, you have a few more solid checks who still take on Mega Aerodactyl, such as Mega Aggron, Mega Blastoise, Mega Ampharos (To be fair, only Phys. Def Mega Ampharos comes close to avoiding a 2HKO from EQ, but it gets whacked otherwise), Escavalier, Jirachi (max HP/Def Bold Jirachi has a solid chance of avoiding Earthquake 2HKO but no one runs that), and Hippowdon. However though, the catch with Aerodactyl, in the A and A- Ranks, sometimes being able to 2HKO something at worst isn't always ideal; sometimes scoring an OHKO is the essential means of ridding yourself of a threat, especially when they can live, hit back, and then kill Aerodactyl. This will tend to happen a lot to the inexperienced Aerodactyl enthusiast, and it will in turn, convince you to think it's garbage. Honestly because of this I'm actually suggesting it for A- Rank since a good number of Pokemon can actually survive a hit from Mega Aerodactyl while healthy, hit back, and leave it wounded, if not outright dead afterward due to the surprisingly average power level of most of its moves, the strongest one it has being the ever-so-reliable STAB Stone Edge. Mega Aerodactyl, as I said, really only shines offensively lategame after Pokemon have been softened up by its teammates or hazards, where it can use its incredible Speed and coverage to clean up uninterrupted. Early or Mid-game, Aerodactyl, if it should be running Stealth Rock or Defog, should focus on using those moves as early as it can since it has the speed to get them off quickly for team support, throwing out a hit or two here or there when applicable.
Tl;dr: Mega Aerodactyl for A- because despite the great stats and ability, it's got a very average level of strength offensively that really doesn't show up for much until most opposing Pokemon have been weakened. It's got great speed and revenge killing capability that allow it to take out frailer offensive Pokemon, not to mention useful support in Stealth Rock, Defog, and Taunt, but its middling strength allows even things weak to its coverage moves to survive a hit and KO in return.
I'm an Aerodactyl enthusiast, I know this stuff. Most of you guys probably did already, too. I'll post about Chandelure a bit later
