Aerodactyl {QC 3/3} {GP 2/2}


[Overview]

<p>With Team Preview required in all standard BW battles, Aerodactyl's role as a suicide lead is less effective than it was in DPP. No longer can it immediately grab momentum and prevent the opponent from setting up Stealth Rock; they can just set it up later. As such, Aerodactyl has seen a great drop in usage, falling from the ranks of OU all the way down to RU. Its poor defenses and Stealth Rock weakness make it almost useless mid-game, limiting its roles greatly. On the bright side, the one thing it hasn't lost over the generation shift is its ability to set up Stealth Rock effectively&mdash;its amazing Speed allows it to set up the entry hazard with remarkable consistency. Add to that the fact that most players don't account for Aerodactyl when they make their team, and you might just have yourself a key cog in your strategy machine. In such a fast-paced, offensive metagame, this niche is more than enough reason to use Aerodactyl.</p>

[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Fire Blast / Taunt
item: Focus Sash
nature: Hasty / Jolly
ability: Pressure
evs: 100 Atk / 152 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With a new generation comes a new strategy. You may be shocked to see Taunt not listed as a main option and even more so to see Fire Blast getting the nod. However, this is where Team Preview actually works to your advantage! When an opponent sees an Aerodactyl, they will more or less assume that you are running Taunt to prevent opposing setup. As such, they will neglect to send out their Stealth Rock user in exchange for a more favorable matchup, such as Scizor or Forretress. This is where Fire Blast comes in&mdash;with the EV spread provided, you OHKO both Pokemon (although Forretress will survive due to Sturdy). How's that for a momentum grabber! Also, think of it this way&mdash;if your opponent doesn't use his Stealth Rock setter as a lead, then that's just more turns that Stealth Rock isn't on your side of the field! But all that is beside the point, as Aerodactyl's main attraction is its ability to set up Stealth Rock. With its fast Speed, Aerodactyl is almost impossible to prevent from setting up the entry hazard, only stopped by Magic Coat and Prankster Taunt users. Aerodactyl does not even fear the two Magic Bounce users (Espeon and Xatu), as both are promptly 2HKOed upon switching in. It also has the added advantage of being able to threaten some of the most prevalent Rapid Spinners in OU, 2HKOing Starmie and Tentacruel with Stone Edge and Earthquake, respectively, and as mentioned before, roasting Forretress with Fire Blast.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>If you are interested in using Aerodactyl to the fullest, unsurprisingly it is recommended to use it on a heavily offensive team that values Stealth Rock. This means that good teammates for Aerodactyl are fast, hard-hitting attackers. There are a wide range of Pokemon that fit the bill, but Keldeo and Breloom get special mentions for their ability to beat Hippowdon, a Pokemon Aerodactyl struggles with greatly if lacking Taunt. Both can choose between going for the KO or boosting with Calm Mind and Swords Dance, respectively. In all honesty, you could just name any fast boosting sweeper and it would most likely be a good partner for Aerodactyl.</p>

<p>Defensively speaking, Aerodactyl is so frail that any hit will be able to take it down, so you don't even have to account for teammates! Choosing Aerodactyl for your team just cuts down on one aspect that you usually have to account for. That right there, is convenience at its finest. Due to its fragility, Focus Sash is the recommended item, as most attacks will be able to OHKO if you don't use it. When running Aerodactyl, you should watch out for Deoxys-D, as it often carries Magic Coat, a move that makes Aerodactyl more of a burden than anything else. To counteract this, Gengar is a fairly good teammate, as not only does it 2HKO Deoxys-D with Shadow Ball, but it also prevents the opponent from using Rapid Spin due to its Ghost typing.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>A Hone Claws attacker set can be used to boost Aerodactyl's middling Attack to higher levels, while also making Stone Edge incredibly accurate. Although it has trouble getting the opportunity to set up a Hone Claws, Aerodactyl can wreak havoc with the boost. A stallbreaker set including Taunt and Roost can be used, but with the decline of stall in the metagame, its use has greatly diminished. Aerodactyl can use a Choice Band to further increase its power, but a lack of coverage and bulk make such a set generally inferior to those run by other Pokemon, such as Garchomp. A specially defensive set in sandstorm could be useful to counter Tornadus-T, but at that point you're picking for straws out of a dead haystack.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Aerodactyl's main job is to set up Stealth Rock and then cause as much damage as possible before it faints, so a counter to it would have to prevent Stealth Rock. Donphan is a solid counter, as it can damage Aerodactyl with either Ice Shard or Stone Edge and finish it off with Rapid Spin, effectively nullifying its presence. Deoxys-D with Magic Coat is also an excellent counter, as Magic Coat allows it to bounce Stealth Rock back. If your goal is to defeat Aerodactyl at the cost of having Stealth Rock on your side on the field, then nearly any Pokemon is a good switch-in against it. Just make sure that your Pokemon isn't weak to Rock-, Ground-, or Fire-type attacks and doesn't have Sharpedo-esque defenses, and you'll be fine.</p>
 

Jukain

!_!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
placeholder for an am check because I really shouldn't procrastinate but hey why not

I just like to not lose work on posts, so this is a WIP but will be done shortly.

EDIT: It's done now. Just saying, I really like your writing style and the general way that this is presented. just don't misuse you're/your ever henceforth

[Overview]

<p>With Team Preview required in all standard BW battles, Aerodactyl's role as a suicide lead from DPP has been greatly hampered. No longer can it prevent the opponent from setting up Stealth Rock; they can just set it up later. As such, Aerodactyl has seen a great drop in usage, dropping from the mantle of OU all the way to down to RU. Its lacking defenses and Stealth Rock weakness make it almost useless mid-game, limiting its roles greatly. On the bright side, the one thing it hasn't lost over the generation shift is its ability to set up Stealth Rock&mdash;its amazing Speed allows it to set up the entry hazard with remarkable consistency. Add to that the fact that most players don't account for Aerodactyl when they make their team, and you might just have yourself a key cog to your team. In such a high fast-paced, offensive metagame, this niche is more than enough reason to use Aerodactyl.</p>

[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Fire Blast / Taunt
item: Focus Sash
nature: Hasty / Jolly
ability: Pressure
evs: 100 Atk / 152 SpA / 252 Spde

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With a new generation, comes a new strategy. You may be shocked to see Taunt not listed as a main option, and even more-(space)so to see Fire Blast getting the nod. However, this is where Team Preview actually works to your advantage! When an opponent sees an Aerodactyl, they will more or less assume that you are running Taunt to prevent opposing set-up. As such, they will neglect to send out their Stealth Rock user in exchange for a more favorable matchup, such as Scizor or Forretress. This is where the beauty of Fire Blast comes into shape&mdash;with the EV spread provided, you OHKO both Pokemon (although Forretress will survive due to Sturdy). How's that for a momentum grabber! Also, think of it this way, if your opponent doesn't use his Stealth Rock setter as a lead, then that's just more turns in which that Stealth Rock areisn't on your side of the field! But all that is beside the point, as the true attraction to Aerodactyl is its ability to set up Stealth Rock. Aerodactyl's blazing fast Speed makes it almost impossible to stop from setting up the valuable entry hazard, only stopped by Magic Coat and Prankster Taunt users. However, it has nothing to fear forom the two Magic Bounce users (Espeon and Xatu), as both are promptly 2HKO'ed upon switching in. It also has the added advantage of being able to threaten some of the most prevalent Rapid Spinners in OU, 2HKOing Starmie and Tentacruel with Stone Edge and Earthquake, respectively, and as mentioned before, roastsing Forretress with Fire Blast.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>If you are interested in using Aerodactyl, it should be no surprise that the recommendation is to use it on a heavily offensive team that values Stealth Rock. This means that good teammates for Aerodactyl are fast, hard-hitting attackers. There is are a wide range of Pokemon that fit the bill, but Keldeo and Breloom get special mentions for their ability to beat Hippodown, a Pokemon Aerodactyl struggles with greatly without Taunt. Both are able to can have a choice on whether to go for the KO, or using their respective boosting moves in Calm Mind and Swords Dance. In all honesty, you could just name a fast boosting sweeper and it would most likely be a good partner for Aerodactyl.</p>

<p>Defensively speaking, Aerodactyl's defenses are so poor that any hit will be able to take it down, so you don't even have to account for teammates! Choosing Aerodactyl for your team just cut down on one aspect that you usually have to account for. That right there, that is convenience at its finest. Due to its fragility, Focus Sash is the recommended item as most attacks will be enough to normally KO with it. Pokemon that you should watch out for include Deoxys-D, as it often carries Magic Coat, a move that makes Aerodactyl more of a burden than anything else. To counteract this, Gengar is a fairly good teammate, as not only does it 2HKO Deoxys-D with Shadow Ball, but it also prevents the opponent from spinning away using Rapid Spin to remove Stealth Rock due to its Ghost-(space)typing.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>A Hone Claws attacker set can be used to boost Aerodactyl's middling Attack to higher levels, while also making Stone Edge incredibly accurate. Although it has trouble getting the opportunity to set up a Hone Claws, it Aerodactyl can cause wreak havoc with the boost. A stallbreaker set including Taunt and Roost can be used, but with the decline of stall in the metagame, its use has greatly diminished. A specially defensive set in Ssandstorm could be useful to counter Tornadus-T, but at that point you're picking for straws out of a dead haystack.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Technically speaking, Aerodactyl's main job is to set up Stealth Rock and then cause as much damage as possible before it faints, so a counter to it would have to prevent Stealth Rock. Donphan is a good solid counter, as it can damage Aerodactyl with either Ice Shard and Stone Edge, and finish it off with Rapid Spin, effectively nullifying its presence. A Deoxys-D with Magic Coat is an excellent counter, as Magic Coat allows it to reflect any hazards sent its way bounce Stealth Rock back. If your goal is to defeat Aerodactyl at the cost of having Stealth Rock on your side on the field, thean nearly any Pokemon is a good switch-in against it. Just make sure that you're Pokemon isn't weak to Rock-, Ground-, or Fire-type attacks and doesn't have Sharpedo-esque defenses, and you'll be fine.</p>
 
the only change i didnt do was removing required from the first sentence, but other than that implmented your changes, thank you pokemon0078 :D

and yeah idk how i messed up youre and your lol
 

Stellar

of the Distant Past
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Admin Alumnusis a Top Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Discord Contributor Alumnusis a Researcher Alumnusis a CAP Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis an Administrator Alumnusis a Past SPL Champion
I feel like the first few lines of the introduction should be reworked.

"No longer can it prevent the opponent from setting up Stealth Rock; they can just set it up later."
This is not necessarily true. It is still possible for Aerodactyl to prevent the opponent from setting up Stealth Rock. It was also possible for them to "set it up later" in Generation 4.

"With Team Preview required in all standard BW battles, Aerodactyl's role as a suicide lead from DPP has been greatly hampered."
"Hampered" isn't the correct word to use here. I'd avoid passive voice and use something along the lines of "With Team Preview required in all standard BW battles, Aerodactyl's role as a suicide lead is less effective than it was in DPP."

I'd also change "lacking" to "poor." "Lacking" has become a bit of Smogon cliché, and it just doesn't "sound right" in this case.

Sorry if this is nitpicky, but with the recent emphasis on overviews, I thought I would throw out my two cents. It is very important for language to be clear in these, otherwise new players might be confused!
 
Yes, but in my opinion Fire Blast should be a OO option.

Ah, Choice Band is a good choice for OO too. Choice Band Aerodactyl (Pursuit / Aqua Tail / Stone Edge / whatever) is a great set for stall teams, it can revengekill something thanks to its speed and it can pursuit some ghost types, it's a good cleaner / late game sweeper too.
 
Amateur GP check. Take whatever you think is useful from it.
Additions in Blue
Subtractions in Red
Comments in Purple

[Overview]

<p>With Team Preview required in all standard BW battles, Aerodactyl's role as a suicide lead is less effective than it was in DPP. No longer can it prevent the opponent from setting up Stealth Rock; they can just set it up later. As such, Aerodactyl has seen a great drop in usage, dropping from the mantle ranks of OU all the way to down to RU. Its poor defenses and Stealth Rock weakness make it almost useless mid-game, limiting its roles greatly. On the bright side, the one thing it hasn't lost over the generation shift is its ability to set up Stealth Rock&mdash;its amazing Speed allows it to set up the entry hazard with remarkable consistency. Add to that the fact that most players don't account for Aerodactyl when they make their team, and you might just have yourself a key cog to in your team. In such a fast-paced, offensive metagame, this niche is more than enough reason to use Aerodactyl.</p>

[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Fire Blast / Taunt
item: Focus Sash
nature: Hasty / Jolly
ability: Pressure
evs: 100 Atk / 152 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With a new generation comes a new strategy. You may be shocked to see Taunt not listed as a main option, (remove comma) and even more so to see Fire Blast getting the nod. However, this is where Team Preview actually works to your advantage! When an opponent sees an Aerodactyl, they will more or less assume that you are running Taunt to prevent opposing set up. As such, they will neglect to send out their Stealth Rock user in exchange for a more favorable matchup, such as Scizor or Forretress. This is where the beauty of Fire Blast comes into shape&mdash;with the EV spread provided, you OHKO both Pokemon (although Forretress will survive due to Sturdy). How's that for a momentum grabber! Also, think of it this way, if your opponent doesn't use his Stealth Rock setter as a lead, then that's just more turns that Stealth Rock isn't on your side of the field! But all that is beside the point, as the true attraction to Aerodactyl Aerodactyl's main attraction is its ability to set up Stealth Rock. Aerodactyl's With its blazing fast Speed (add comma) makes it Aerodactyl is almost impossible to stop prevent (I'm only suggesting this because you use another form of 'to stop' later in the sentence, which seemed like it might be a little redundant) from setting up the entry hazard, only stopped by Magic Coat and Prankster Taunt users. However, it has nothing to Aerodactyl does not even fear from the two Magic Bounce users (Espeon and Xatu), as both are promptly 2HKOed upon switching in. It also has the added advantage of being able to threaten some of the most prevalent Rapid Spinners in OU, 2HKOing Starmie and Tentacruel with Stone Edge and Earthquake, respectively, and as mentioned before, roasting Forretress with Fire Blast.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>If you are interested in using Aerodactyl to its fullest, it should be no surprise that the recommendation is unsurprisingly it is reccommended to use it on a heavily offensive team that values Stealth Rock. This means that good teammates for Aerodactyl are fast, hard-hitting attackers. There are a wide range of Pokemon that fit the bill, but Keldeo and Breloom get special mentions for their ability to beat Hippowdon, a Pokemon Aerodactyl struggles with greatly without Taunt. Both can have a choice on whether to go choose between going for the KO, (remove comma) or using their respective boosting move in Calm Mind and Swords Dance. In all honesty, you could just name a fast boosting sweeper (add comma) and it would most likely be a good partner for Aerodactyl.</p>

<p>Defensively speaking, Aerodactyl's defenses are so poor Aerodactyl is so frail that any hit will be able to take it down, so you don't even have to account for teammates! Choosing Aerodactyl for your team just cut cuts down on one aspect that you usually have to account for. That right there, that is convenience at its finest. Due to its fragility, Focus Sash is the recommended item as most attacks will be enough to normally KO with without it. Pokemon that When running Aerodactyl, you should watch out for include Deoxys-D, as it often carries Magic Coat, a move that makes Aerodactyl more of a burden than anything else. To counteract this, Gengar is a fairly good teammate, as not only does it 2HKO Deoxys-D with Shadow Ball, but it also prevents the opponent from using Rapid Spin to remove Stealth Rock due to its Ghost typing.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>A Hone Claws attacker set can be used to boost Aerodactyl's middling Attack to higher levels, while also making Stone Edge incredibly accurate. Although it has trouble getting the opportunity to set up a Hone Claws, Aerodactyl can wreak havoc with the boost. A stallbreaker set including Taunt and Roost can be used, but with the decline of stall in the metagame, its use has greatly diminished. Aerodactyl can use a Choice Band to further increase its power, but a lack of coverage and bulkiness make it such a set generally inferior to those run by other Pokemon, such as Garchomp. A specially defensive set in sandstorm could be useful to counter Tornadus-T, but at that point you're picking for straws out of a dead haystack.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Technically speaking, Aerodactyl's main job is to set up Stealth Rock and then cause as much damage as possible before it faints, so a counter to it would have to prevent Stealth Rock. Donphan is a solid counter, as it can damage Aerodactyl with either Ice Shard and or Stone Edge, (remove comma) and finish it off with Rapid Spin, effectively nullifying its presence. Deoxys-D with Magic Coat is an excellent counter, as Magic Coat allows it to bounce Stealth Rock back. If your goal is to defeat Aerodactyl at the cost of having Stealth Rock on your side on the field, then nearly any Pokemon is a good switch-in against it. Just make sure that your Pokemon isn't weak to Rock-, Ground-, or Fire-type attacks and doesn't have Sharpedo-esque defenses, and you'll be fine.</p>
 

GatoDelFuego

The Antimonymph of the Internet
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Stamping with a couple changes

Also, think of it this way&mdash;if your opponent doesn't use his Stealth Rock setter as a lead, then that's just more turns that Stealth Rock isn't on your side of the field!

In all honesty, you could just name a fast boosting sweeper (add comma) and it would most likely be a good partner for Aerodactyl.</p> Don't add this comma

That right there, that is convenience at its finest.

Aerodactyl can use a Choice Band to further increase its power, but a lack of coverage and bulkiness

Also you could possibly cut down on the number of exclamation points, but that seems to be the general flavor of the analysis.

GP Approved 1/2
 
damn i messed up a lot on this analysis. thanks to melvni and gato for the checks - implemented all of them :D

and yeah idk why the analysis is in a jolly mood i must have been happy that day

1 more :o
 

bugmaniacbob

Was fun while it lasted
is an Artist Alumnusis a CAP Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Top Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Well this is short

REMOVE
ADD
COMMENT

[Overview]

<p>With Team Preview required in all standard BW battles, Aerodactyl's role as a suicide lead is less effective than it was in DPP. No longer can it immediately grab momentum and prevent the opponent from setting up Stealth Rock; they can just set it up later. As such, Aerodactyl has seen a great drop in usage, dropping falling from the ranks of OU all the way down to RU. Its poor defenses and Stealth Rock weakness make it almost useless mid-game, limiting its potential roles greatly. On the bright side, the one thing it hasn't lost over the generation shift is its ability to set up Stealth Rock effectively&mdash;its amazing Speed allows it to set up the entry hazard with remarkable consistency. Add to that the fact that most players don't account for Aerodactyl when they make their team, and you might just have yourself a key cog in your team strategy machine. In such a fast-paced, offensive metagame, this niche is more than enough reason to use Aerodactyl.</p>

[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Fire Blast / Taunt
item: Focus Sash
nature: Hasty / Jolly
ability: Pressure
evs: 100 Atk / 152 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With a new generation comes a new strategy. You may be shocked to see Taunt not listed as a main option and even more so to see Fire Blast getting the nod. However, this is where Team Preview actually works to your advantage! When an opponent sees an Aerodactyl, they will more or less assume that you are running Taunt to prevent opposing setup. As such, they will neglect to send out their Stealth Rock user in exchange for a more favorable matchup, such as Scizor or Forretress. This is where the beauty of Fire Blast comes into shape in&mdash;with the EV spread provided, you OHKO both Pokemon (although Forretress will survive due to Sturdy). How's that for a momentum grabber! Also, think of it this way&mdash;if your opponent doesn't use his Stealth Rock setter as a lead, then that's just more turns that Stealth Rock isn't on your side of the field! But all that is beside the point, as Aerodactyl's main attraction is its ability to set up Stealth Rock. With its fast Speed, Aerodactyl is almost impossible to prevent from setting up the entry hazard, only stopped by Magic Coat and Prankster Taunt users. Aerodactyl does not even fear the two Magic Bounce users (Espeon and Xatu), as both are promptly 2HKOed upon switching in. It also has the added advantage of being able to threaten some of the most prevalent Rapid Spinners in OU, 2HKOing Starmie and Tentacruel with Stone Edge and Earthquake, respectively, and as mentioned before, roasting Forretress with Fire Blast.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>If you are interested in using Aerodactyl to the fullest, unsurprisingly it is reccommended recommended to use it on a heavily offensive team that values Stealth Rock. This means that good teammates for Aerodactyl are fast, hard-hitting attackers. There are a wide range of Pokemon that fit the bill, but Keldeo and Breloom get special mentions for their ability to beat Hippowdon, a Pokemon Aerodactyl struggles with greatly without if lacking Taunt. Both can choose between going for the KO or using their respective boosting move in with Calm Mind and Swords Dance,(comma) respectively. In all honesty, you could just name a any fast boosting sweeper and it would most likely be a good partner for Aerodactyl.</p>

<p>Defensively speaking, Aerodactyl is so frail that any hit will be able to take it down, so you don't even have to account for teammates! Choosing Aerodactyl for your team just cuts down on one aspect that you usually have to account for. That right there, is convenience at its finest. Due to its fragility, Focus Sash is the recommended item,(comma) as most attacks will be enough to KO without it able to OHKO if you don't use it. When running Aerodactyl, you should watch out for Deoxys-D, as it often carries Magic Coat, a move that makes Aerodactyl more of a burden than anything else. To counteract this, Gengar is a fairly good teammate, as not only does it 2HKO Deoxys-D with Shadow Ball, but it also prevents the opponent from using Rapid Spin due to its Ghost typing.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>A Hone Claws attacker set can be used to boost Aerodactyl's middling Attack to higher levels, while also making Stone Edge incredibly accurate. Although it has trouble getting the opportunity to set up a Hone Claws, Aerodactyl can wreak havoc with the boost. A stallbreaker set including Taunt and Roost can be used, but with the decline of stall in the metagame, its use has greatly diminished. Aerodactyl can use a Choice Band to further increase its power, but a lack of coverage and bulk make such a set generally inferior to those run by other Pokemon, such as Garchomp. A specially defensive set in sandstorm could be useful to counter Tornadus-T, but at that point you're picking for straws out of a dead haystack.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Aerodactyl's main job is to set up Stealth Rock and then cause as much damage as possible before it faints, so a counter to it would have to prevent Stealth Rock. Donphan is a solid counter, as it can damage Aerodactyl with either Ice Shard or Stone Edge and finish it off with Rapid Spin, effectively nullifying its presence. Deoxys-D with Magic Coat is also an excellent counter, as Magic Coat allows it to bounce Stealth Rock back. If your goal is to defeat Aerodactyl at the cost of having Stealth Rock on your side on the field, then nearly any Pokemon is a good switch-in against it. Just make sure that your Pokemon isn't weak to Rock-, Ground-, or Fire-type attacks and doesn't have Sharpedo-esque defenses, and you'll be fine.</p>


quickie

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