Why did you go? I can't watch. So quiet and peaceful, where did I go wrong?
Say you can stay, I can't look away.
QC: Trinitrotoluene / AM / bludz
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / Snobalt
[OVERVIEW]
Mega Aerodactyl has cemented itself as a terrifying offensive threat in the OU metagame for a variety of reasons. One of the most important aspects is its blistering Speed tier, outspeeding the majority of the metagame, including speedy threats such as Alakazam, Mega Manectric, Mega Lopunny, and Tornadus-T. Combine this with its decent Attack stat and its broad movepool, with the majority of its moves being further bolstered by Tough Claws, and Mega Aerodactyl is able to serve as an incredible revenge killer and late-game cleaner. Adding onto these positive traits, it is able to check a vast array of threats such as Tornadus-T, Talonflame, Mega Pinsir, Mega Charizard X, and Volcarona as a result of its decent bulk and valuable defensive typing.
Sadly, Mega Aerodactyl's weakness to the common Stealth Rock limits the number of times it is able to switch in if lacking Roost. Furthermore, even though its typing is decent, it has troublesome weaknesses to common priority moves in Aqua Jet, Ice Shard, and Bullet Punch. Mega Aerodactyl also has issues breaking through defensively-oriented teams, as the prevalence of bulky Garchomp, Slowbro, and Clefable can make its life miserable.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Aerial Ace
move 3: Aqua Tail
move 4: Fire Fang
item: Aerodactylite
ability: Unnerve
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stone Edge is Mega Aerodactyl's hardest-hitting STAB attack, hitting most targets for phenomenal damage, even without the boost from Tough Claws. Aerial Ace targets Pokemon such as Keldeo, Tangrowth, Celebi, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Venusaur and, unlike Stone Edge, gets the power boost from Tough Claws. Aqua Tail provides solid coverage against bulky Ground- and Rock-type Pokemon, such as Gliscor, Hippowdon, Landorus-T, Excadrill, Mega Diancie, and Tyranitar, which might otherwise be able to tank Mega Aerodactyl's STAB attacks. Fire Fang roasts Steel-type Pokemon that resist Mega Aerodactyl's STAB types, such as Ferrothorn, Magnezone, Scizor, Jirachi, Skamory, and Bisharp. Taunt is an alternative option that prevents defensively-oriented Pokemon such as Clefable, Heatran, Chansey, Mew, and Skarmory from setting up entry hazards, inflicting status conditions, and, most importantly, healing. Ice Fang demolishes Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Garchomp, hitting them harder than Aqua Tail does. Earthquake hits Jirachi, Magnezone, Bisharp, and Mega Metagross harder than Fire Fang, while having the added benefit of 2HKOing Empoleon and Mega Manectric. It also targets Rock-types such as Mega Diancie, Terrakion, and Tyranitar.
Set Details
========
By running a Jolly nature, Mega Aerodactyl is able to maintain its absurd Speed tier, allowing it to outpace the likes of Talonflame, Mega Lopunny, Mega Manectric, and Mega Beedrill. 252 Attack EVs allow Mega Aerodactyl to maximize its offensive potential, dealing heavy damage with its attacks. Unnerve is used before Mega Evolution, as it prevents the use of assorted Berries, such as Custap Berry on Skarmory and Sitrus Berry Hawlucha. However, Pressure can be useful for lead situations scouting for certain items. For example, against an opposing Landorus-T, you can find out whether it is equipped with Choice Scarf or Leftovers, as Pressure has identical priority with Intimidate.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Aerodactyl should primarily be used as a late-game sweeper or a revenge killer. It is able to revenge kill the likes of Mega Lopunny, Serperior, Talonflame, unboosted Mega Charizard X, and non-Choice Scarf Keldeo, provided that it can enter the battlefield via Volt Switch, U-turn, or a double switch. A sweep should only be attempted when all foes are in KO range of Mega Aerodactyl's attacks. Overestimating its power could be costly, though, as it isn't particularly powerful, especially considering that Stone Edge is not powered up by Tough Claws. Mega Aerodactyl can also be brought in early in the match to wear down its more passive checks, especially if it carries Taunt to prevent the likes of Clefable and Hippowdon from recovering health. Mega Aerodactyl can occasionally switch into certain Fire- and Flying-type attacks, such as Heatran's Fire Blast and Talonflame's Brave Bird. However, if lacking Roost, be wary of switching it into these attacks more than twice.
Team Options
========
Magnezone is an ideal teammate, as it can trap and KOes Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Scizor, and Jirachi and eliminate Water-types such as Rotom-W, Suicune, and Slowbro. This frees up Mega Aerodactyl's final moveslot, allowing it to run Taunt with less worry. Defog and Rapid Spin users such as Excadrill, Latias, Latios, and Starmie are able to remedy Mega Aerodactyl's Stealth Rock weakness, giving it more opportunities to switch in. Latias, Latios, and Starmie also wipe out Water- and Ground-types that give Mega Aerodactyl issues. Fighting-types such as Breloom, Terrakion, Toxicroak, and Conkeldurr appreciate Mega Aerodactyl's ability to remove Fire- and Flying-types. Grass-types can defeat bulky Water- and Ground-types that Mega Aerodactyl might struggle against. Serperior in particular annihilates bulkier teams that Mega Aerodactyl has issues breaking past, dealing with the likes of Rotom-W, Hippowdon, Gastrodon, and Garchomp comfortably. In return, Mega Aerodactyl checks Pokemon like Talonflame, Volcarona, Tornadus-T, and Alakazam. Entry hazard setters such as Landorus-T, Dragalge, and Ferrothorn back up Mega Aerodactyl, by greatly wearing down its checks, giving it a better opportunity to sweep the opposing team. Dragalge can provide wallbreaking potential on top of Toxic Spikes, dealing with the likes of Slowbro, Rotom-W, Clefable, and Azumarill. Other wallbreakers such as Kyurem-B, Manaphy, Keldeo, and Azumarill are prime teammates, as they are able to break past bulky walls such as Hippowdon, Slowbro, and Clefable. Hidden Power Fire on Manaphy or Kyurem-B surprises Ferrothorn and Scizor, allowing Mega Aerodactyl to drop Fire Fang and run Taunt.
[SET]
name: Pursuit Trapper
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Aerial Ace / Stone Edge
move 3: Aqua Tail / Fire Fang
move 4: Roost
item: Aerodactylite
ability: Unnerve
nature: Jolly
evs: 168 HP / 124 Atk / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Pursuit gives Mega Aerodactyl the opportunity to trap a multitude of Pokemon that may attempt to switch out, such as Gengar, Latios, Latias, Starmie, Tornadus-T, Talonflame, and unboosted Mega Charizard X, allowing them to be revenge killed easier later in the match, hinder their sweeping capabilities, or outright KOing them. The combination of Aerial Ace and Aqua Tail have fantastic coverage together, threatening a large majority of the metagame. Stone Edge can be used if your team is particularly weak to Talonflame or Charizard, and lacking Stone Edge means that the likes of Tornadus-T and Thundurus do not fear staying in as much as they normally would. This results in Mega Aerodactyl not being able to properly Pursuit trap them, however. Fire Fang prevents Scizor and Ferrothorn from setting up Swords Dance or entry hazards on Mega Aerodactyl. However, the combination of Aerial Ace and Aqua Tail generally is more threatening towards offensive teams, making Aqua Tail the better option in most situations. Roost gives Mega Aerodactyl a reliable form of recovery, which is easy to take advantage of thanks to its typing and decent bulk.
Set Details
========
By using a Jolly nature and investing 216 EVs into Speed, Mega Aerodactyl is able to outpace everything up to Mega Beedrill and Mega Sceptile. 252 Speed EVs can be used to Speed tie with Mega Alakazam and opposing Mega Aerodactyl, although opposing Mega Alakazam will generally try to switch out, knowing that Psychic will not be able to OHKO, allowing Mega Aerodactyl to Pursuit trap it efficiently. 124 Attack EVs guarantee the OHKO on Serperior with Aerial Ace after Stealth Rock damage. The remaining EVs are placed into HP, giving Mega Aerodactyl extra bulk that works well in tandem with its good typing and reliable recovery. These EVs also guarantee that Mega Aerodactyl is able to survive a Life Orb Latios's Draco Meteor from full health, allowing it to 2HKO it with Pursuit 100% of the time after Life Orb recoil. A more EV offensive spread of 128 HP / 244 Atk / 136 Speed and a Jolly nature is viable as well; the 136 Speed EVs allow Mega Aerodactyl to outpace Mega Lopunny and Mega Manectric.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Aerodactyl is a phenomenal Pursuit trapper, with the added bonus of being a fantastic revenge killer, thanks to its great Speed and surprise factor. Many offensive Pokemon such as Gengar, Starmie, Latios, Latias, Celebi, and Alakazam will believe it is a safe option to switch out, thinking Mega Aerodactyl is being played as a revenge killer, only for them to take massive damage from an incoming Pursuit. Because of its good typing and decent bulk, Mega Aerodactyl has a massive advantage in being able to switch into and Pursuit trap a variety of Pokemon that would normally like to switch out, such as Tornadus-T, Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Thundurus lacking Thunder Wave. On top of Pursuit trapping, you can also use Mega Aerodactyl as a decently powerful revenge killer, being able to defeat Pokemon such as Keldeo, Serperior, and Mega Lopunny, and Mega Aerodactyl will still pose a threat to offensive teams thanks to its blistering Speed tier even with the loss of coverage moves.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can lure in and remove opposing Steel-types, such as Hidden Power Fire Manaphy and Watmel Berry Azumarill, can help break down Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Jirachi, and Mega Scizor, allowing Mega Aerodactyl to switch in more easily. Magnezone can trap and defeat many of Mega Aerodactyl's checks, such as Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory. Together, the two form a dual trapping core. Entry hazard removal is a necessity, as losing 25% of its HP upon each switch into Stealth Rock greatly hampers Mega Aerodactyl's longevity. Latios and Latias are particularly exceptional entry hazard removers, as they are able to switch in and defeat most bulky Water-types. Starmie is a valuable Rapid Spin user, thanks to its ability to lure in the likes of Rotom-W, Suicune, and Slowbro and defeat them each with Psychic and Thunderbolt. It also beats Ground-types such as Hippowdon, Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Garchomp. Rotom-W can gain momentum via Volt Switch and switch into bulky Garchomp without many issues. Celebi can counter Rotom-w and gain momentum with Baton Pass while possibly passing Swords Dance boosts to Mega Aerodactyl as well. Similarly to Celebi, Amoonguss shares fantastic type synergy with Mega Aerodactyl, being able to threaten Rock-, Water-, and Ground-types, and it can also put foes to sleep with Spore. Pokemon that appreciate Mega Aerodactyl's Pursuit support include Serperior, Keldeo, Kyurem-B, Manaphy, Volcarona, and Alakazam, as the move substantially weakens faster threats. These Pokemon also plow through certain bulkier Pokemon such as Slowbro, Garchomp, and Hippowdon that Mega Aerodactyl struggles against, and Keldeo in particularl is able to defeat Weavile and Scizor without much worry. Heatran takes on Latios and Latias and can lure in bulky Water-types such as Slowbro, Rotom-W, and Azumarill and proceed to KO them with Power Herb Solar Beam. Both Tyranitar and Hippowdon are able to provide sand for Mega Aerodactyl, boosting its Special Defense substantially, although you must be wary of the overlapping weaknesses. Only defensive Tyranitar should be used alongside it, as Choice Scarf or Choice Band sets overlap with Mega Aerodactyl's role of Pursuit trapping. Defensive variants are able to set up Stealth Rock and are able to lure in Garchomp and Landorus-T and hit them hard with Ice Beam.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hone Claws gives Mega Aerodactyl the opportunity to boost its Attack and accuracy by one stage, mitigating Stone Edge's shaky accuracy. Tailwind raises Mega Aerodactyl's teams's Speed for three turns, allowing slower teammates to outspeed threats they normally would not. Iron Head hits Fairy-type Pokemon such as Clefable, Sylveon, and Mega Altaria harder than Stone Edge thanks to the Tough Claws boost. A non-Mega set utilizing Focus Sash, Stealth Rock, and Double-Edge allows Aerodactyl to act as a fantastic suicide lead, as Double-Edge makes it KO itself after it is brought down to its Focus Sash, meaning that the foe cannot remove the hazards with Rapid Spin or Defog.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Slowbro, Rotom-W, Mega Swampert, Quagsire, Seismitoad, Alomomola, Suicune, and Azumarill take Aerial Ace and Stone Edge with ease and can retaliate with Scald or, in Azumarill's case, revenge kill with Aqua Jet. Slowbro is a particularly hard counter due to its immense physical bulk, reliable recovery in Slack Off, and ability to set up on Mega Aerodactyl with Calm Mind.
**Bulky Ground-types**: Bulky Ground-types such as Hippowdon, Garchomp, Gastrodon, and Landorus-T are good answers to Mega Aerodactyl, especially the latter two, with Garchomp being neutral to Aqua Tail and Landorus-T having Intimidate. Physically defensive variants of Hippowdon are capable of avoiding the 2HKO from Aqua Tail as well. Gastrodon avoids the 2HKO from Aerial Ace, has Storm Drain to prevent any damage from Aqua Tail, and can proceed to hit back hard with Scald. Defensive Garchomp is a good counter, too, as Rocky Helmet chips away at Mega Aerodactyl, meaning that even if it packs Ice Fang, Mega Aerodactyl's health will have been depleted somewhat anyway. In turn, these Ground-types can cripple Mega Aerodactyl with Toxic, phaze it with Dragon Tail in Garchomp's case, or KO it with Stone Edge.
**Priority Users**: Users of Bullet Punch, Aqua Jet, and Ice Shard such as Scizor, Azumarill, Weavile, Mega Medicham, and Mamoswine can easily pick off a weakened Mega Aerodactyl. Thundurus, Sableye, and Klefki can also cripple Mega Aerodactyl with Prankster Thunder Wave and Will-O-Wisp, respectively. However, none of these Pokemon can directly switch in for fear of Fire Fang, Stone Edge, and Aqua Tail.
**Steel-types**: Bulky Steel-types such as Mega Metagross, Klefki, Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, Empoleon, and Skarmory can switch into Mega Aerodactyl and KO it back with their respective STAB moves or, in Klefki's and Empoleon's case, cripple it with Thunder Wave or Scald, respectively. Mega Aerodactyl's Fire Fang fails to 2HKO Empoleon, Mega Metagross, and physically defensive Skarmory, while Earthquake fails to 2HKO Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn and doesn't affect Skarmory; such variants also lose to Magnet Rise Klefki.
**Fairy-types**: Mega Aerodactyl has difficulty breaking past certain Fairy-type Pokemon. Mega Altaria, particularly if it's a defensive variant, fears only the rare Ice Fang and can hit back hard with Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice or Return while healing off any damage it may have taken with. Clefable can either set up Calm Mind on Mega Aerodactyl or cripple it with Thunder Wave.
**Mega Sableye**: Mega Sableye is able to avoid the 2HKO from Stone Edge and can cripple Mega Aerodactyl with Will-O-Wisp. From there, it can proceed to stall out any of its moves with Recover, set up with Calm Mind, or hit it hard with Foul Play.
**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp, Keldeo, Landorus-T, and Latios can all outspeed Mega Aerodactyl and KO it with their respective coverage moves.
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