Aerodactyl, The Fossil Pokémon. A Pokémon from the age of the dinosaurs. It used its sawlike fangs to shred its prey before eating them. In ancient times, it ruled the skies. A widely accepted theory is that it went extinct due to a large meteor impact.
Overview
Aerodactyl was a kind of hidden reward for doubling back to Pewter City after getting Cut. However, Aerodactyl has had a wild ride in the competitive scene, being too soft in Red and Blue to abuse its high speed stat, and suffer similarly in Gold and Silver, lacking access to Earthquake at this point in time. However, Aerodactyl really shined in Ruby and Sapphire, gaining access to both Rock Slide and Earthquake, neutral coverage on all Pokémon as well as having Fire Blast to pressure out Skarmory and Forretress whole Hidden Power Flying gave it a nice Flying stab, as physical/special moves were type based till gen 4. Lastly the Choice Band was introduced, allowing Aerodactyl to pressure everything with massive damage and its insane speed [Choice Scarf hadn't been put in yet so revenge killing was based on base speed]. Gen 4 brought Stealth Rocks, allowing Aerodactyl to be one of the best leads due to, again, its high base speed. This allowed it to Taunt other Stealth Rock users out of their hazards and KO them. While Gen 5 hurt Aerodactyl with Team Preview, Gen 6 gave it a mega form, and while not a top Overused threat, it dominated Underused and remains a strong threat.
Positives
+ Insane base speed allows Aerodactyl to outpace most threats not boosted, allowing it to pressure threats fairly easily
+ Decent Attack can allow it to pressure most threats and has good coverage
Negatives
- Abilities aren't too good and don't really help Aerodactyl or create easy mega evolution chances like Gyarados or Salamence
- All offensive sets are out classed by Mega Aerodactyl, making Aerodactyl easy predictable
Abilities
Rock Head - Prevents recoil - This used to be the best offensive ability but Mega Aerodactyl outclasses all offensive sets making Pressure better
Pressure - Increases power point usage - The more utility ability and overall the better one now as most of the time you will just be mega evolving
Unnerve - Prevents opposing Pokémon eating berries - Best ability in doubles hands down, this prevents the use of commonly used items lending a large advantage
Movesets
Ancient Support
-Stealth Rock
-Taunt
-Stone Edge
-Fire Blast
Item Attached: Focus Sash
Ability: Pressure
EVs and Nature:
176 Atk/ 80 SpAtk/ 252Spd
Hasty/Jolly Nature
Sadly, Mega Aerodactyl outclasses all offensive Aerodactyl Movesets. As such, Aerodactyl shines as a hyper offensive lead. With high base speed, Aerodactyl can always get rocks out or Taunt other users out of them to aid the team. Stone Edge is the main move after setting up hazards and a solid stab move while Fire Blast allows Aerodactyl to KO steel threats that will attempt to wall it. A Focus Sash is needed to stay around a little longer and guaranteed hazards
Other Options
Hone Claws - Hone Claws is Aerodactyl's only boosting move for Attack, making it worth noting. This should also be run with Roost as Aerodactyl is soft
Roost - Being a form of recovery, Roost is nice. However normal Aerodactyl will be OHKOed easily while Mega Aerodactyl lacks the ability to give up coverage
Pursuit - Pursuit is nice as it allows Aerodactyl to easily KO psychic threats as none want to stay in on Aerodactyl. This would allow Aerodactyl to guarantee the KO on big threats
Partners
Cobalion - With its good mixed stats Cobalion can break through walls that can trouble Mega Aerodactyl and give it a free switch in with Volt Switch, allowing Aerodactyl to get in without damage.
Primarina - Primarina has the ability to pressure out ground threats that are a problem for Mega Aerodactyl to handle even with Aqua Tail. Primarina can also switch into bulky waters as well and bring in grass Pokémon that Aerodactyl can pressure in return
VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options
Aerodactyl is one of the best support Pokemon in doubles because of the offensive presence it possesses. With a fantastic speed stat that matches Tapu Koko, Aerodactyl can reliably set up Tailwind. Even without Tailwind, Aerodactyl's great speed is perfect for spamming arguably the best attack in doubles: Rock Slide. By attacking first and getting a bit of luck, Rock Slide flinches can turn close battles into blowouts. With a variety of useful support moves, Aerodactyl deserves a chance on any team in need of speed control.
Air Jurassic
-Rock Slide
-Tailwind
-Sky Drop
-Taunt / Wide Guard / Protect
Item Attached: Focus Sash
Ability: Unnerve / Pressure
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
Maximum speed with a Jolly lets Aerodactyl attack first to set up Tailwind or hit with Rock Slide, and it will also speed tie any max speed Tapu Koko. 252 EVs in attack provides some offensive power to hit as hard as possible with its STAB Rock Slides. Focus Sash guarantees that Aerodactyl can live any one hit, which comes in handy against surprise Choice Scarf Pokemon your opponent may have. Pressure's only real use is to determine if the opponent has any Choice Scarf Pokemon. For example, if their Tapu Lele's terrain activates before Pressure, you will know the Lele is faster and must have a Choice Scarf. While Unnerve cannot help determine speed tiers, it is much more useful. With the "pinch" berries getting a huge buff and being so common on Pokemon like Snorlax and Alolan Muk, being able to stop their recovery while Aerodactyl is on the field can be vital.
Rock Slide is just evil at times, as every VGC player knows how ridiculous getting multiple flinches in a row is. Tailwind is Aerodactyl's most important move as a support Pokemon. With its great speed and a Focus Sash, Aerodactyl can reliably set it up. Sky Drop is an awesome move for a pseudo-Fake Out that can be used repeatedly to set up a teammate or take out a threat. For example, Aerodactyl can pick up a Tapu Fini while you switch its teammate into Kartana to try for the KO the next turn. The last slot is typically another support move. Taunt can look to shut down Trick Room or other strategies, while Wide Guard can keep the team safe from Dazzling Gleam, Muddy Water, Discharge, and other spread moves from the opponent. Protect is not as necessary on Aerodactyl if it carries a Focus Sash, but it can be useful to dodge a double target from an opponent's Fake Out and another attack.
Other Options and Team Ideas
-Stone Edge is stronger than Rock Slide, though really only sees use on a set as the rock z move.
-Ice Fang does still see use on the non-mega to threaten Garchomp, though its Rough Skin will break your Focus Sash. Fire Fang can threaten Kartana or Celesteela, while Thunder Fang hits Gyarados and Pelipper hard. Earthquake provides spread damage and is super-effective against Tapu Koko.
-Iron Head, Crunch, and Dragon Claw all provide additional coverage, though see less usage.
-Flamethrower is another option seen to hit Kartana on its much weaker defensive stat.
-Smack Down is a personal favorite which has perfect accuracy. Smack Down knocks flying types or Pokemon with Levitate to the ground, leaving them open to strong Earthquakes or Tectonic Rages from a teammate.
-Focus Sash is the only item that Aerodactyl really holds in VGC 2017, and the mega stone is the only other notable item in other doubles formats. Z moves can open up some other options though if you want to try something new. Fly and Stone Edge are strong STAB options, while Earthquake can surprise Pokemon like Arcanine or Tapu Koko as Tectonic Rage.
-Rock Tomb and Bulldoze are other forms of speed control that will also do damage.
-Roar and Whirlwind can prevent Trick Room or mess up set up strategies.
-Aerodactyl learns a variety of weather moves such as Sunny Day, Rain Dance, and Sandstorm, which can throw off your opponents' strategy thanks to its high speed (and a Focus Sash, if not mega).
-Aerodactyl gains Aqua Tail for additional coverage through the ORAS move tutors. It also can have access to Sky Attack, which is incredibly powerful as Supersonic Skystrike.
-Sand support is good with Aerodactyl, especially with the mega to make it surprisingly bulky on the special side. Tyranitar is a great choice, and Gigalith can help it counter Trick Room. Hippowdon is a personal favorite from VGC 2015, as they have good synergy together.
-Garchomp is often seen with Aerodactyl in VGC 2017. The Choice Scarf variant is a good teammate, as it can threaten Tapu Koko.
-Sweepers with middling speed like the Tailwind support.
-Lightningrod keeps Aerodactyl safe from Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt or Gigavolt Havoc.
-Sun support weakens water moves against Aerodactyl. Mega Charizard-Y likes Aerodactyl as a teamma
te, as Tailwind can speed it up and Wide Guard keeps Charizard safe from Rock Slide.
Countering Aerodactyl
Bulky Waters - Aerodactyl only has Thunder Fang to attempt to handle bulky waters, which really isn't that good for it. Slowbro for example just laughs about it and Swampert is not affected. Lastly all carry Scald and can easily cripple Aerodactyl for the rest of the match
Scizor - Scizor can easily beat Aerodactyl with its priority Bullet Punch. While Scizor does need to be wary of Fire Fang, it can also switch into most of Aerodactyl's moves fairly easily and boost if Scizor carries Swords Dance. Mega Sharpedo also works well with Aqua Jet, but is a softer answer
Overview
Mega Aerodactyl was a dominating mega in XY and is still a strong force. With its high base speed, Mega Aerodactyl can outpace most threats and, with boosted attack and its new ability Tough Claws, rips through most threats with ease, though it struggles with some physical walls.
Abilities
Tough Claws - Increases damage of moves that make direct contact by 33% - This is just an awesome ability for any offensive Pokémon and Mega Aerodactyl has a wide move pool to use it efficiently
Movesets
Terrordactyl
-Stone Edge
-Earthquake
-Aqua Tail
-Fire Fang
Item Attached: Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws (Pressure before Mega)
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spd
Jolly Nature
WitMega Aerodactyl is an offensive powerhouse, boosting neutral coverage with stab Stone Edge and Earthquake, allowing nothing to come in safe firstly. Next, Aerodactyl has a large physical move pool that benefits from Tough Claws. As such, Aqua Tail is a solid option as it helps muscle through bulky grounds that are a pain for Mega Aerodactyl, while Fire Fang is a solid way around steels like Forretress. Other options however are Wing Attack for grass and fighting, Thunder Fang for waters, or Ice Fang for grounds, namely Gliscor.
VGC & Double Battle Options
Like its non-mega form, Mega Aerodactyl is a great support Pokemon, and a severely underrated mega in doubles formats. The stat boosts it receives give it a very nice boost to its bulk and attack, and the speed increase makes it one of the fastest Pokemon around, able to outspeed some opponents even if they have Tailwind up or hold a Choice Scarf. The change in mega evolution mechanics is also very nice, as Mega Aerodactyl can now outspeed Pokemon like Adamant Choice Scarf Landorus-T immediately upon mega-evolving. Though it loses the ability to carry a Focus Sash, Mega Aerodactyl's ridiculous speed can let it set up Tailwind or go for Rock Slide flinches before the opponent attacks.
Dinosoar
-Rock Slide
-Tailwind
-Sky Drop / Ice Fang / Taunt / Wide Guard
-Protect
Item Attached: Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws (Pressure before Mega)
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe>
Jolly Nature
Just like its base form, Mega Aerodactyl wants to be as fast as possible while still hitting hard. Max speed with a Jolly nature ensures it attacks before Pokemon like Modest Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and the previously mentioned Adamant Scarf Landorus-T. Maximum attack investment alongside its base 135 attack makes its STAB Rock Slides hurt, and of course it needs to hold its mega stone. The pre-mega ability does not matter quite as much since you will typically want to get the mega's stat boosts as soon as possible, but Pressure can again help you determine speed tiers when the Pokemon are first sent out. Unnerve will require Aerodactyl not to mega to be useful, but it may come in handy in certain situations to not allow a Snorlax's berry to activate.
The mega's set is very similar to its previous form's. Rock Slide is so good that it is considered broken by some players, and Tailwind can speed up teammates. Protect is good as it cannot hold a Focus Sash. The last slot has quite a few options. Sky Drop is again a great support attack to control the field, while Taunt and Wide Guard can shut down your opponent's moves. Ice Fang sees more usage on the mega than the regular form, as it gains a Tough Claws boost and has a chance to OHKO Landorus-T even after an Intimidate.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Revive Old Amber
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Trade in Route 12
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Revive Old Amber
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Revive Old Amber
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Revive Old Amber
Black/White:
Revive Old Amber
Black 2/White 2:
Revive Old Amber
X/Y:
Revive Old Amber
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Revive Old Amber
Sun/Moon:
Revive Old Amber
Animé Appearences
