[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to its sky-high base 150 Speed, its solid base 135 Attack, and its access to a wide variety of coverage moves, Mega Aerodactyl can outspeed and KO a majority of the metagame, making it a good late-game cleaner. However, it struggles against bulkier teams due to the presence of physically defensive Pokemon like Skarmory and Celesteela on such teams. Despite Mega Aerodactyl's typing granting Mega Aerodactyl immunity to Ground-type attacks, its Stealth Rock weakness is not appreciated and gives Mega Aerodactyl a hard time due to the lack of reliable hazard removal in the tier. The typing also leaves Mega Aerodactyl weak to common priority attacks such as Water Shuriken, Aqua Jet, Bullet Punch, and Ice Shard, which means Mega Aerodactyl can't really function as a revenge killer, as it won't be able to check Pokemon such as Ash-Greninja, Azumarill, Mega Scizor, and Weavile. Mega Aerodactyl is also checked by common Steel-types like Celesteela, Mega Scizor, and Magearna. Having coverage options may make Mega Aerodactyl somewhat unpredictable, but it also leaves it suffering from four-moveslot syndrome and means it will always be checked by a bulkier threat.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Aerial Ace
move 3: Ice Fang
move 4: Fire Fang / Earthquake
item: Aerodactylite
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stone Edge is Mega Aerodactyl's strongest Rock-type STAB attack and allows it to check offensive threats such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, Mega Pinsir, and Salamence. Aerial Ace is Mega Aerodactyl's most spammable move, which lets it check bulkier threats such as Mega Venusaur, Tangrowth, and Mega Heracross. Ice Fang lets Mega Aerodactyl check Pokemon like Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Salamence, which are all very weak to Ice-type moves. Mega Aerodactyl usually runs Fire Fang to 2HKO Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, Celesteela, and Magearna. Earthquake could be run over Fire Fang to check offensive threats such as Tapu Koko, Heatran, Magnezone, and Nihilego. Roost is also an option that lets Mega Aerodactyl recover health after repeatedly switching into Stealth Rock. Stealth Rock is a possible filler move for Mega Aerodactyl, since it is able to reliably set Stealth Rock against most Pokemon, with the exception of against Mega Sableye.
Set Details
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Maximum investment in Attack maximizes Mega Aerodactyl's damage output. 252 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allows Mega Aerodactyl to outspeed the entirety of the unboosted OU metagame as well as +1 Mega Gyarados and +1 Dragonite, and it also allows it to Speed tie with Mega Alakazam. This also allows Mega Aerodactyl to function as a very good revenge killer. Since abilities from faster Pokemon activate first in a turn, Pressure allows the player to scout out Choice Scarf sets from Intimidate users like Landorus-T and Terrain setters like Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, and Tapu Bulu. Specifically, if the abilities of these Pokemon activate before Pressure, then the Pokemon is faster than Aerodactyl.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Aerodactyl usually fills in the role of late-game cleaner for the team, though it can be a reliable revenge killer as well. It should be switched in after its counters have been dealt with or are critically weakened to sweep late-game. Avoid switching into Stealth Rock as much as possible, since Mega Aerodactyl usually doesn't carry Roost and will be easily whittled down. Utilize Mega Aerodactyl's coverage moves to deal heavy damage to common switch-ins like Ferrothorn and Landorus-T. Mega Aerodactyl can also be switched in to revenge kill the opposing threat after a teammate has fallen.
Team Options
========
Mega Aerodactyl appreciates hazard removal, making Defog users like Tapu Fini and Latios great partners. Tapu Fini and Mega Aerodactyl have good synergy between them, as the former is able to switch into strong Water-types like Choice Specs Greninja Ash-Greninja, and Mega Aerodactyl is able to check the likes of Mega Charizard Y, Mega Venusaur, and Tangrowth in return. Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Celesteela pose as problems for Mega Aerodactyl, making Magnezone a valuable teammate, as it is able to trap and KO the previously mentioned two. Entry hazard setters such as Ferrothorn, Skarmory, Landorus-T, Alolan Marowak, and Garchomp can provide support in the form of Stealth Rock and Spikes, which are able to weaken the opposing team, assisting Mega Aerodactyl's late-game sweep. Protean Greninja is a great partner that provides Spikes, can check Garchomp and Landorus-T with Ice Beam, and has a good chance of OHKOing Ferrothorn with Hidden Power Fire after. It can carry Extrasensory to break through Toxapex, a check to Mega Aerodactyl. 3 attacks Zapdos is able to check Ferrothorn, Tapu Fini, and Landorus-T, making Zapdos another great partner. Bloom Doom Heatran is able to trap and OHKO Water-types such as Tapu Fini, Rotom-W, and Slowbro, and check problematic Steel-types like Mega Scizor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Lead Aerodactyl holding a Focus Sash, with Taunt and Stealth Rock, is a possible set, but Aerodactyl is outclassed by Azelf as a suicide lead. Pursuit + Roost is another set that is often paired with trappers like Magnezone to break defensive cores. Unfortunately, this is outclassed by the all-out attacker set, since coverage moves are vital on Mega Aerodactyl to deal damage to most of the tier. Hone Claws can let Mega Aerodactyl deal more damage but isn't that viable, since Mega Aerodactyl gets checked by Choice Scarf users. Taunt could be used over a coverage move to prevent hazard setters from using Stealth Rock. Thunder Fang lets Mega Aerodactyl hit Water-types like Tapu Fini, Greninja, and Gyarados and is slightly more reliable than Stone Edge. Defog can be run to remove hazards but Mega Aerodactyl would rather have a coverage move over it. Aqua Tail allows Mega Aerodactyl to deal more damage to Hippowdon while still doing respectable damage to Landorus-T.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini, Rotom-W, Toxapex, Suicune, and Slowbro are able to switch into any of Mega Aerodactyl's moves and retaliate back with their Water-type STAB moves.
**Ground-types**: Without coverage from Aqua Tail, Hippowdon is able to take any hit from Mega Aerodactyl and proceed to set up Stealth Rock or KO with Stone Edge.
**Priority Attackers**: Mega Aerodactyl faces difficulty against priority users such as Mega Scizor, Greninja, and Azumarill, which are able to deal heavy damage with Bullet Punch, Water Shuriken, and Aqua Jet respectively.
**Bulky Steel-types**: Without Fire-type coverage, Steel-types such as Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory are able to easily wall Mega Aerodactyl. Skarmory and Ferrothorn can set up entry hazards such as Spikes and Stealth Rock, and Celesteela can use Mega Aerodactyl as setup fodder or OHKO with Heavy Slam.
**Choice Scarf users**: Choice Scarf users such as Nihilego, Tapu Lele, Latios, Greninja, Keldeo, Garchomp, and Gengar are all able to deal heavy damage to Mega Aerodactyl.
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