kokoloko
what matters is our plan!
[Overview]
<p>Aerodactyl is the definition of fast, outpaced only by Accelgor in RU. It can take advantage of this by using Hone Claws to try to sweep, supporting the team with a fast Stealth Rock and Taunt, or simply equipping itself with a Choice Band and hitting stuff hard. It's not all good news for Aerodactyl though, as its subpar defenses don't let it take advantage of its great typing and leave it very vulnerable to priority and Choice Scarf users. Additionally, it has a weakness to Stealth Rock, further shortening its lifespan. Don't be fooled, however; this prehistoric beast is still one of the most deadly offensive Pokemon in the tier, and underestimating it can very well cost you a few games.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Aqua Tail
move 4: Double-Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Jolly
evs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Aerodactyl's incredible Speed, good Attack stat, and great coverage make it an excellent Choice Band user. Like other Choice item Pokemon, this set requires a bit of prediction to work properly, although the fact that all of its moves have a wide range of neutral coverage eases this a little. Stone Edge, as unreliable as it is, is Aerodactyl's STAB move, hitting everything that doesn't resist it for a good chunk of damage. Earthquake maims Steel-types such as Aggron that try to switch into predicted Stone Edges. Aqua Tail hits Rhydon harder than anything else on this set, securing a 2HKO. Double-Edge rounds out the set by providing Aerodactyl with a strong neutral coverage move that takes full advantage of Rock Head.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs and nature ensure Aerodactyl always outpaces unboosted Sceptile and maximize its Attack. The remainder gets tossed into HP to slightly increase Aerodactyl's longevity. You can choose to use an Adamant nature with maximum Speed and Attack, as Aerodactyl will still be faster than Scolipede and the common variants of Sceptile that only aim to beat it. Alternatively, you could keep Jolly and run 216 Speed EVs, which lets Aerodactyl outrun Swellow and neutral-natured +1 Feraligatr, or 232 Speed to beat neutral +1 base 80s, but at that point you might want to consider simply maximizing it. Fire Fang can be used to destroy Ferroseed, which effectively counters this set otherwise. However, you should seriously consider pairing this set with a Fire-type, as this allows you to take advantage of Tangrowth, another one of this set's counters, as well.</p>
<p>Due to Aerodactyl's weakness to Stealth Rock, you might also want to invest in a Rapid Spin user, but none of them have particularly good synergy with it. However, Kabutops works well offensively because it can take advantage of the weakened Pokemon resistant to Rock-type moves that Aerodactyl leaves behind. With Rapid Spin support, you can choose to forego Choice Band in favor of Life Orb. This will allow Aerodactyl to switch moves at the expense of some power and 10% of its health every time it attacks.</p>
[SET]
name: Taunt + Roost
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Roost
move 4: Taunt
item: Life Orb
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly
evs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is an excellent addition to most offensive teams in need of a good way to shut down teams that rely on setup moves a lot, such as stall and Spikes-based offense. It also acts as an excellent check to Fire-types such as Moltres and Entei when pitted against more offensive teams. Specifically, stall teams will have a hard time damaging Aerodactyl due to its blazing fast Taunt shutting down their attempts at setup while it simply Roosts to heal away the often negligible damage their attacks do. Stone Edge provides Aerodactyl with a strong STAB move to tear holes into opposing teams with. Earthquake gives it a means of damaging the various Rock- and Steel-types that resist Stone Edge, such as Aggron, Rhydon, and Steelix.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs and nature ensure Aerodactyl always outpaces Sceptile, but there are a few alternate spreads it can use with equal efficiency. An Adamant nature with 252 EVs invested in Speed allows it to outpace Scolipede and common variants of Sceptile that only aim to beat it. Alternatively, you could keep Jolly and run 216 Speed EVs, letting Aerodactyl outrun Swellow and neutral +1 Feraligatr, or bump it up to 232 to beat neutral +1 base 80s, but at that point you might want to consider simply maximizing its Speed. Life Orb is the item of choice here because this variant of Aerodactyl needs all the power it can get and has the ability to recover off the added recoil via Roost anyway.</p>
<p>This set appreciates being paired with Pokemon that can take advantage of the few threats it cannot. Tangrowth and physically defensive Slowking typically stop this set cold in its tracks; thus, Roselia, which can use both of these Pokemon as setup bait, makes for an excellent partner. Offensively, Fire-types such as Entei and Moltres make for good partners, as they can easily come in and threaten out Ferroseed and the aforementioned Tangrowth. This, however, will leave your team terribly weak to Stealth Rock, so you might also want to consider adding a Rapid Spin user such as Kabutops to your team.</p>
[SET]
name: Hone Claws
move 1: Hone Claws
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Aqua Tail / Double-Edge
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly
evs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set aims to patch up both of Aerodactyl's main issues: its lackluster power and the shaky accuracy of its STAB Stone Edge. The aforementioned problems are why Hone Claws is a good move on Aerodactyl, as it gives it both a power boost and perfect accuracy on its main STAB. After a Hone Claws boost, very few Pokemon in the tier can even think about tanking a Stone Edge, especially since they can't even hope for a miss. Earthquake lands a super effective hit on the Steel- and Rock-types that resist Aerodactyl's STAB. Aqua Tail rounds out the set's coverage by hitting Ground-types, such as Sandslash and Rhydon. Double-Edge is an acceptable replacement though, as it has a wide range of neutral coverage and takes advantage of Aerodactyl's alternate ability: Rock Head.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs and nature ensure Aerodactyl always outpaces Sceptile, but because Aerodactyl is so naturally fast, it can instead choose to use Adamant with 252 Speed EVs, letting it still outspeed Scolipede and the common variants of Sceptile that only aim to beat it. Alternatively, you can keep Jolly and run 216 Speed EVs, letting Aerodactyl outrun Swellow and neutral +1 Feraligatr, or 232 EVs, which beats neutral +1 base 80s, but at that point you might want to consider simply maximizing Speed. You could consider running Roost in the fourth slot, but this variant of Aerodactyl is usually better off simply trying to sweep late-game. Fire Blast can also be used with a Naive nature to hit Ferroseed and Tangrowth hard, but its utility ends there.</p>
<p>As this set's purpose is to sweep, you should pair it with something that either breaks down its counters or takes advantage of them to the point where they become a liability. Moltres excels in this department, as its immense power means that a single free switch into Tangrowth or Ferroseed can very well lead to something dying. It shares a weakness to Stealth Rock with Aerodactyl, though, so you will definitely want to add a Rapid Spin user. Kabutops works well here, as in addition to spinning, it can help break down Rock-type resistant Pokemon to ease Aerodactyl's late-game sweep. A Grass-type, especially Roselia with its access to Spikes, is also recommended, as it will gladly come into the various Electric- and Water-type attacks aimed at the prehistoric beast.</p>
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Taunt / Roost
item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly
evs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set's primary purpose is to ensure Stealth Rock hits the opposing field as early as possible, making it a decent choice as a dedicated lead. Stone Edge acts as Aerodactyl's obligatory STAB move, as it will make a pretty good dent in just about anything that doesn't resist it. As for Pokemon that do, such as Aggron and Rhydon, Earthquake usually takes care of them in one or two hits. The final moveslot is reserved for another form of support. Taunt allows Aerodactyl to lead more efficiently, as it will prevent the opposition from laying down their own entry hazards alongside Aerodactyl. Roost, on the other hand, gives Aerodactyl some good staying power and allows it to act as a very solid check to various Fire-types such as Entei and Moltres throughout the game.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The listed EVs and nature ensure Aerodactyl always outpaces Sceptile, but you might also choose to use one of the following alternatives. An Adamant nature with 252 Speed EVs allows Aerodactyl to outpace Scolipede and the common variants of Sceptile that only aim to beat it. Alternatively, you could keep Jolly and run 216 Speed EVs, which lets Aerodactyl outrun Swellow and neutral +1 Feraligatr, or 232 EVs to beat neutral +1 base 80s, but at that point you might want to consider simply maximizing Speed. Life Orb is the primary item here because Team Preview somewhat mitigates the need for Focus Sash, but if you are sure you're going to lead with Aerodactyl often, use Focus Sash. However, don't get greedy and lead with it if you spot an offensive spinner such as Hitmonchan on the opposing team, as this could very well ensure Aerodactyl accomplishes absolutely nothing for that match.</p>
<p>In order to make the most of this set, you should pair it with Pokemon that can really take advantage of the quick Stealth Rock support. Setup sweepers such as Omastar are among the best partners to this set, as Stealth Rock will not only break opposing Focus Sashes for them, but also secure many OHKOs. Additional hazard support in the form of Spikes from Pokemon such as Accelgor and Scolipede can also contribute to Aerodactyl's teammates' sweeps. You might also want to consider a spinblocker, as it'll make your opponent's attempts at getting rid of Aerodactyl's hard work futile. Offensive Trick Room Cofagrigus stands out as the best spinblocking partner to this set, as it is one of the few Ghost-types that can keep up with the offensive momentum the type of teams this set is used on usually grab. Another option is to pair Aerodactyl with lots of U-turn and Volt Switch users, which force many switches, rack up Stealth Rock damage, and seize momentum at the same time.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Aerodactyl's average movepool means that most of what it can do well has already been covered in the above set descriptions. However, there are a few gimmicks that you might want to try. After all, who knows? Maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised by the results. A Power Herb + Sky Attack set stands out among the more viable of these gimmicks, as the combination has lots of surprise value and gives Aerodactyl a one-time 140 Base Power STAB move to use on a wall such as Tangrowth for a potential free KO. Other moves such as Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Tailwind, and Whirlwind can seem tempting, but they are generally inferior to the moves listed above. With access to both Sunny Day and Rain Dance and base 130 Speed, Aerodactyl can make for a very effective early-game weather setter when equipped with the appropriate weather-extension rock.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Countering Aerodactyl is all about having the sheer bulk to tank multiple hits from it. For this reason, Pokemon such as Torterra and physically defensive Slowking, which fear nothing that Aerodactyl commonly carries, make for the safest counters. Tangrowth and Ferroseed are a very close second to the aforementioned two, except they are very vulnerable to surprise Fire Blasts and Fire Fangs. Steelix can easily tank just about anything Aerodactyl can throw at it, but an Earthquake or Aqua Tail from the Choice Band set will put it in 2HKO range of that same attack later. Ground-types, such as Rhydon, Golurk, and Sandslash, are very effective checks against versions lacking Aqua Tail. Aggron can play mindgames with Choice Band Aerodactyl, forcing it to predict correctly, lest it be the next target of its mighty Head Smash. Another way of ensuring Aerodactyl won't do too much damage is by packing strong priority attacks such as Feraligatr's Aqua Jet and Spiritomb's Sucker Punch. Finally, common fast Choice Scarf users such as Manectric also make for effective checks.</p>
<p>Aerodactyl is the definition of fast, outpaced only by Accelgor in RU. It can take advantage of this by using Hone Claws to try to sweep, supporting the team with a fast Stealth Rock and Taunt, or simply equipping itself with a Choice Band and hitting stuff hard. It's not all good news for Aerodactyl though, as its subpar defenses don't let it take advantage of its great typing and leave it very vulnerable to priority and Choice Scarf users. Additionally, it has a weakness to Stealth Rock, further shortening its lifespan. Don't be fooled, however; this prehistoric beast is still one of the most deadly offensive Pokemon in the tier, and underestimating it can very well cost you a few games.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Aqua Tail
move 4: Double-Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Jolly
evs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Aerodactyl's incredible Speed, good Attack stat, and great coverage make it an excellent Choice Band user. Like other Choice item Pokemon, this set requires a bit of prediction to work properly, although the fact that all of its moves have a wide range of neutral coverage eases this a little. Stone Edge, as unreliable as it is, is Aerodactyl's STAB move, hitting everything that doesn't resist it for a good chunk of damage. Earthquake maims Steel-types such as Aggron that try to switch into predicted Stone Edges. Aqua Tail hits Rhydon harder than anything else on this set, securing a 2HKO. Double-Edge rounds out the set by providing Aerodactyl with a strong neutral coverage move that takes full advantage of Rock Head.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs and nature ensure Aerodactyl always outpaces unboosted Sceptile and maximize its Attack. The remainder gets tossed into HP to slightly increase Aerodactyl's longevity. You can choose to use an Adamant nature with maximum Speed and Attack, as Aerodactyl will still be faster than Scolipede and the common variants of Sceptile that only aim to beat it. Alternatively, you could keep Jolly and run 216 Speed EVs, which lets Aerodactyl outrun Swellow and neutral-natured +1 Feraligatr, or 232 Speed to beat neutral +1 base 80s, but at that point you might want to consider simply maximizing it. Fire Fang can be used to destroy Ferroseed, which effectively counters this set otherwise. However, you should seriously consider pairing this set with a Fire-type, as this allows you to take advantage of Tangrowth, another one of this set's counters, as well.</p>
<p>Due to Aerodactyl's weakness to Stealth Rock, you might also want to invest in a Rapid Spin user, but none of them have particularly good synergy with it. However, Kabutops works well offensively because it can take advantage of the weakened Pokemon resistant to Rock-type moves that Aerodactyl leaves behind. With Rapid Spin support, you can choose to forego Choice Band in favor of Life Orb. This will allow Aerodactyl to switch moves at the expense of some power and 10% of its health every time it attacks.</p>
[SET]
name: Taunt + Roost
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Roost
move 4: Taunt
item: Life Orb
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly
evs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is an excellent addition to most offensive teams in need of a good way to shut down teams that rely on setup moves a lot, such as stall and Spikes-based offense. It also acts as an excellent check to Fire-types such as Moltres and Entei when pitted against more offensive teams. Specifically, stall teams will have a hard time damaging Aerodactyl due to its blazing fast Taunt shutting down their attempts at setup while it simply Roosts to heal away the often negligible damage their attacks do. Stone Edge provides Aerodactyl with a strong STAB move to tear holes into opposing teams with. Earthquake gives it a means of damaging the various Rock- and Steel-types that resist Stone Edge, such as Aggron, Rhydon, and Steelix.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs and nature ensure Aerodactyl always outpaces Sceptile, but there are a few alternate spreads it can use with equal efficiency. An Adamant nature with 252 EVs invested in Speed allows it to outpace Scolipede and common variants of Sceptile that only aim to beat it. Alternatively, you could keep Jolly and run 216 Speed EVs, letting Aerodactyl outrun Swellow and neutral +1 Feraligatr, or bump it up to 232 to beat neutral +1 base 80s, but at that point you might want to consider simply maximizing its Speed. Life Orb is the item of choice here because this variant of Aerodactyl needs all the power it can get and has the ability to recover off the added recoil via Roost anyway.</p>
<p>This set appreciates being paired with Pokemon that can take advantage of the few threats it cannot. Tangrowth and physically defensive Slowking typically stop this set cold in its tracks; thus, Roselia, which can use both of these Pokemon as setup bait, makes for an excellent partner. Offensively, Fire-types such as Entei and Moltres make for good partners, as they can easily come in and threaten out Ferroseed and the aforementioned Tangrowth. This, however, will leave your team terribly weak to Stealth Rock, so you might also want to consider adding a Rapid Spin user such as Kabutops to your team.</p>
[SET]
name: Hone Claws
move 1: Hone Claws
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Aqua Tail / Double-Edge
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly
evs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set aims to patch up both of Aerodactyl's main issues: its lackluster power and the shaky accuracy of its STAB Stone Edge. The aforementioned problems are why Hone Claws is a good move on Aerodactyl, as it gives it both a power boost and perfect accuracy on its main STAB. After a Hone Claws boost, very few Pokemon in the tier can even think about tanking a Stone Edge, especially since they can't even hope for a miss. Earthquake lands a super effective hit on the Steel- and Rock-types that resist Aerodactyl's STAB. Aqua Tail rounds out the set's coverage by hitting Ground-types, such as Sandslash and Rhydon. Double-Edge is an acceptable replacement though, as it has a wide range of neutral coverage and takes advantage of Aerodactyl's alternate ability: Rock Head.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs and nature ensure Aerodactyl always outpaces Sceptile, but because Aerodactyl is so naturally fast, it can instead choose to use Adamant with 252 Speed EVs, letting it still outspeed Scolipede and the common variants of Sceptile that only aim to beat it. Alternatively, you can keep Jolly and run 216 Speed EVs, letting Aerodactyl outrun Swellow and neutral +1 Feraligatr, or 232 EVs, which beats neutral +1 base 80s, but at that point you might want to consider simply maximizing Speed. You could consider running Roost in the fourth slot, but this variant of Aerodactyl is usually better off simply trying to sweep late-game. Fire Blast can also be used with a Naive nature to hit Ferroseed and Tangrowth hard, but its utility ends there.</p>
<p>As this set's purpose is to sweep, you should pair it with something that either breaks down its counters or takes advantage of them to the point where they become a liability. Moltres excels in this department, as its immense power means that a single free switch into Tangrowth or Ferroseed can very well lead to something dying. It shares a weakness to Stealth Rock with Aerodactyl, though, so you will definitely want to add a Rapid Spin user. Kabutops works well here, as in addition to spinning, it can help break down Rock-type resistant Pokemon to ease Aerodactyl's late-game sweep. A Grass-type, especially Roselia with its access to Spikes, is also recommended, as it will gladly come into the various Electric- and Water-type attacks aimed at the prehistoric beast.</p>
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Taunt / Roost
item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly
evs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set's primary purpose is to ensure Stealth Rock hits the opposing field as early as possible, making it a decent choice as a dedicated lead. Stone Edge acts as Aerodactyl's obligatory STAB move, as it will make a pretty good dent in just about anything that doesn't resist it. As for Pokemon that do, such as Aggron and Rhydon, Earthquake usually takes care of them in one or two hits. The final moveslot is reserved for another form of support. Taunt allows Aerodactyl to lead more efficiently, as it will prevent the opposition from laying down their own entry hazards alongside Aerodactyl. Roost, on the other hand, gives Aerodactyl some good staying power and allows it to act as a very solid check to various Fire-types such as Entei and Moltres throughout the game.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The listed EVs and nature ensure Aerodactyl always outpaces Sceptile, but you might also choose to use one of the following alternatives. An Adamant nature with 252 Speed EVs allows Aerodactyl to outpace Scolipede and the common variants of Sceptile that only aim to beat it. Alternatively, you could keep Jolly and run 216 Speed EVs, which lets Aerodactyl outrun Swellow and neutral +1 Feraligatr, or 232 EVs to beat neutral +1 base 80s, but at that point you might want to consider simply maximizing Speed. Life Orb is the primary item here because Team Preview somewhat mitigates the need for Focus Sash, but if you are sure you're going to lead with Aerodactyl often, use Focus Sash. However, don't get greedy and lead with it if you spot an offensive spinner such as Hitmonchan on the opposing team, as this could very well ensure Aerodactyl accomplishes absolutely nothing for that match.</p>
<p>In order to make the most of this set, you should pair it with Pokemon that can really take advantage of the quick Stealth Rock support. Setup sweepers such as Omastar are among the best partners to this set, as Stealth Rock will not only break opposing Focus Sashes for them, but also secure many OHKOs. Additional hazard support in the form of Spikes from Pokemon such as Accelgor and Scolipede can also contribute to Aerodactyl's teammates' sweeps. You might also want to consider a spinblocker, as it'll make your opponent's attempts at getting rid of Aerodactyl's hard work futile. Offensive Trick Room Cofagrigus stands out as the best spinblocking partner to this set, as it is one of the few Ghost-types that can keep up with the offensive momentum the type of teams this set is used on usually grab. Another option is to pair Aerodactyl with lots of U-turn and Volt Switch users, which force many switches, rack up Stealth Rock damage, and seize momentum at the same time.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Aerodactyl's average movepool means that most of what it can do well has already been covered in the above set descriptions. However, there are a few gimmicks that you might want to try. After all, who knows? Maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised by the results. A Power Herb + Sky Attack set stands out among the more viable of these gimmicks, as the combination has lots of surprise value and gives Aerodactyl a one-time 140 Base Power STAB move to use on a wall such as Tangrowth for a potential free KO. Other moves such as Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Tailwind, and Whirlwind can seem tempting, but they are generally inferior to the moves listed above. With access to both Sunny Day and Rain Dance and base 130 Speed, Aerodactyl can make for a very effective early-game weather setter when equipped with the appropriate weather-extension rock.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Countering Aerodactyl is all about having the sheer bulk to tank multiple hits from it. For this reason, Pokemon such as Torterra and physically defensive Slowking, which fear nothing that Aerodactyl commonly carries, make for the safest counters. Tangrowth and Ferroseed are a very close second to the aforementioned two, except they are very vulnerable to surprise Fire Blasts and Fire Fangs. Steelix can easily tank just about anything Aerodactyl can throw at it, but an Earthquake or Aqua Tail from the Choice Band set will put it in 2HKO range of that same attack later. Ground-types, such as Rhydon, Golurk, and Sandslash, are very effective checks against versions lacking Aqua Tail. Aggron can play mindgames with Choice Band Aerodactyl, forcing it to predict correctly, lest it be the next target of its mighty Head Smash. Another way of ensuring Aerodactyl won't do too much damage is by packing strong priority attacks such as Feraligatr's Aqua Jet and Spiritomb's Sucker Punch. Finally, common fast Choice Scarf users such as Manectric also make for effective checks.</p>