|
-
Pressure
- Enemy attacks lose 1 extra PP. Increases wild encounter rate.
-
Rock Head
- Recoil moves have no recoil.
|
Statistics
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
80
|
- |
301 |
364 |
- |
| Atk |
105
|
221 |
246 |
309 |
339 |
| Def |
65
|
149 |
166 |
229 |
251 |
| SpA |
60
|
140 |
156 |
219 |
240 |
| SpD |
75
|
167 |
186 |
249 |
273 |
| Spe |
130
|
266 |
296 |
359 |
394 |
The premise is quite simple. Rock Slide is an obvious choice because of STAB, good base power, and a chance of flinching, which helps a lot considering Aerodactyl's 130 base Speed. If you use Rock Head as your trait, Aerodactyl can use Double-Edge without suffering recoil. Earthquake is a good choice overall. It is also wise to use a Jolly nature instead of Adamant so that you have a chance to go first against other Aerodactyl and Jolteon, as well as outspeeding the likes of Dugtrio and Raikou. Hidden Power Ghost is a seemingly odd option, but it does take out Gengar in one hit, nearly KOs Starmie, and 2HKOs Claydol. Use it if you don't fear Heracross.
Simply use Substitute, Protect, and Fly to avoid getting hit. Max HP EVs and Speed EVs should allow this to happen. This set can be very, very annoying due to Aerodactyl's immense Speed. Rock Slide is still there to allow Aerodactyl to do some unexpected damage if you desire. This set doesn't actually achieve much because of lack of actual power, though.
Other Options
Fire Blast can possibly be used for Skarmory. Rock Slide already does a ton to Skarmory on from Aerodactyl's Choice Band sets, though, so it's not as important as it is on, say, Salamence. Taunt beats Skarmory and a few other things as well, and Taunt Aerodactyl holding a White Herb is a great recipient for Baton Passers with Curse, the most common one being Umbreon.
EVs
For the Choice Band set, simply max Attack and Speed. For the second set, you will want some HP EVs so that your Substitutes are more effective. Max Speed is recommended, since you really don't want to be hit at all. Simply use max attack and max Speed for any Choice Band variation of Aerodactyl. Adamant Aerodactyl is an option, except you must beware that Timid Raikou is faster, as well as Jolly Tyranitar after one Dragon Dance. If you are using absolute max Speed, be sure to set your IVs to 30 in everything but Speed. This will give you max Speed Hidden Power Flying. Another option is 32 HP / 248 Atk / 220 Spe / 8 SpD with the default Hidden Power Flying IVs. This survives Timid Gengar Thunderbolt 100% of the time, and still beats out everything the standard spread beats, it just can't try and coin flip other Aerodactyl and Jolteon.
Opinion
Aerodactyl is a powerful cleaner, due to its amazing Speed and physical movepool. Nothing resists Earthquake, Rock Slide, and Hidden Power Flying, two of which it gets STAB on. Aerodactyl also has Double-Edge, which has no recoil thanks to its trait, to take out things that are neutral to everything, such as Blissey. The STAB on Rock helps keep Skarmory at bay, the bane of most physical attackers. Aerodactyl's low defenses, however, keep it from truly shining. It can't even safely switch into Choice Band Normal attacks, despite its resistance, and is weak to the three most common special attacks: Surf, Ice Beam, and Thunderbolt.
Counters
Suicune, Claydol, Jirachi, Metagross, Donphan, and Swampert all have high Defense to survive one or more attacks and then can OHKO Aerodactyl. Electrode outspeeds Aerodactyl and, of course, can easily kill it with one Thunderbolt. Since nearly all Aerodactyl use Choice Band, predicting the move it will use and switching to something that will resist it will force it to switch out. Since Choice Band Aerodactyl has no way to recover outside of Wish support from a teammate, any damage it sustains will probably be permanent.
Skarmory can switch into almost any of Aerodactyl's moves without taking much damage, and set up Spikes. So, if you predict Skarmory switching in, use Rock Slide. Skarmory can still Spike up and Rest the damage off, though—a CH or flinch might help you here.