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Aerodactyl (Life Orb)
- Thread starter Towelie
- Start date
10% better is a little misleading. It actually hits twice as often. 1 in 5 miss rate is a lot "more" less than 1 in 10.
No, it misses twice as often. IE, Stone Edge misses 2 in 10 hits, Rock Slide misses once in 10. That mean Stone Edge hits 8 in 10 and Rock Slide 9 in 10 2 x 8 =/= 9.
Aerodactyl misses out on so many KOs when he uses Rock Slide that Stone Edge achieves. Look for yourself:
Anyway, I hope you get the idea. Aerodactyl really, really wants as much power as he can get to actually hurt things. Aerodactyl doesn't want to use an attack that has 75 Base Power when it comes to sweeping. He misses out on too many notable OHKOs and 2HKOs. Stone Edge is so much better in my opinion, despite the accuracy issue.
Stone Edge vs ...
Rock Slide vs ...
- 0 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 80.84% - 95.40% (46% change to OHKO with Stealth Rock)
- 0 HP / 0 Def Gengar: 106.13% - 125.29% (OHKO)
- 156 HP / 96 Def Gyarados w/ Intimidate: 71.89% - 84.86% (74% chance to OHKO with Stealth Rock)
- 252 HP / 40 Def Gliscor: 40.96% - 48.59% (2HKO if he takes tiny bit of prior damage with Stealth Rock)
- 0 HP / 0 Def Rotom-A: 71.37% - 84.65% (good chance to OHKO with Stealth Rock and sandstorm)
Rock Slide vs ...
- 0 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 60.15% - 71.26% (no chance of an OHKO)
- 0 HP / 0 Def Gengar: 79.31% - 93.49% (41% chance to OHKO with Stealth Rock)
- 156 HP / 96 Def Gyarados w/ Intimidate: 54.05% - 63.78% (no chance of an OHKO)
- 252 HP / 40 Def Gliscor: 30.79% - 36.72% (no chance of a 2HKO)
- 0 HP / 0 Def Rotom-A: 53.53% - 63.49% (no chance of a OHKO)
Anyway, I hope you get the idea. Aerodactyl really, really wants as much power as he can get to actually hurt things. Aerodactyl doesn't want to use an attack that has 75 Base Power when it comes to sweeping. He misses out on too many notable OHKOs and 2HKOs. Stone Edge is so much better in my opinion, despite the accuracy issue.
For those who are in favor for a slash for Rock Slide, can they specify what significan advantages it has over Stone Edge, what what KO's it achieves that Stone edge could? Chris is right; 10% more can be a bit misleading.
Anyways, I really like this set! I really like not being countered by Tyranitar immediately (unlike some other psychic type orbers), and the fact that I can outspeed everything except for Crobat and Jolteon. I can just take care of my counters with Magnezone (which honestly, I really hate, but he has good utility).
Anyways, I really like this set! I really like not being countered by Tyranitar immediately (unlike some other psychic type orbers), and the fact that I can outspeed everything except for Crobat and Jolteon. I can just take care of my counters with Magnezone (which honestly, I really hate, but he has good utility).
If Aerodactyl had Head Smash, this set would be AHHHHHH!
Awesome set. It works really well to serve as a check to threats like non-bullet punch Lucario, Heatran, Infernape, and others.
Awesome set. It works really well to serve as a check to threats like non-bullet punch Lucario, Heatran, Infernape, and others.
Obviously Rock Slide isn't always better, that's why it's a slash. But if there's "unreliable option that misses twice as much but gets all of your KOs easily, or reliable option that misses on KOs so make sure you have prior damage first" presented to the user in the analysis, I think it would be perfectly fair to have the user decide whether or not their team will get enough prior damage on everything for Aero to sweep.
Really the choice is all up to whether or not your team can spin the opponent around enough to get prior damage on common threats, and I don't think the analysis should assume you can't.
Really the choice is all up to whether or not your team can spin the opponent around enough to get prior damage on common threats, and I don't think the analysis should assume you can't.
I side with towlie and Fuzznip on on this one. At most, Rock Slide should get a small mention Accuracy's sake. But, to whoever decides to type up the analysis, you should make it clear (through posting the calcs that Fuzznip provided, or just flat-out typing it) that Stone Edge is a superior option for sweeping due to the O/2HKOs that Rock Slide misses.
I also feel that Fire Blast should be mentioned in the AC, just for the fact that it gets the 2HKO on Skarmory, which, depending on the team, can be invaluable. But, I also agree on it not getting a slash in. Just a small comment on the 2HKO.
Oh yeah, to Accidental Greed, Aerodactyl at least ties with both of those Pokemon.
I also feel that Fire Blast should be mentioned in the AC, just for the fact that it gets the 2HKO on Skarmory, which, depending on the team, can be invaluable. But, I also agree on it not getting a slash in. Just a small comment on the 2HKO.
Oh yeah, to Accidental Greed, Aerodactyl at least ties with both of those Pokemon.
Yeah, gotta admit. Stone edge is just for things like choice band Tyranitar, and I agree that rock slide should not have a slash. Rather, just give it a few sentences of mention and maybe explain why would one use it over Stone Edge or not. Believe it or not, people like me have trouble figuring out if the team wants to run Surf or Hydro Pump on something gambreaking like Rain Dance Kingdra.
As for the speed tie between Jolteon, Crobat, and Aerodactyl, I wouldn't go againt Jolteon despite 50/50, so team options with Magnezone and special defensives would be highly reccomended.
As for the speed tie between Jolteon, Crobat, and Aerodactyl, I wouldn't go againt Jolteon despite 50/50, so team options with Magnezone and special defensives would be highly reccomended.
Well, I'm not saying to try and take on any of those Pokemon (even though, when was the last time you saw your opponent use an Aerodactyl or Crobat for late-game sweeping?), but if you have to force a Speed-Tie, it's useful to know that you can at least have a 50/50 chance. It's like using Choice Scarf Jirachi as you Salamence Revenge Killer. It's a 50/50 shot that it'll out-speed and OHKO at +1, but the same can be said for them.
I highly agree with no fire-blast. It just doesn't damage skarmory enough to profit the team, and low base special attacking is kinda unwarranted unless you go against something like Scizor (which obviously is going to use Bullet Punch). Taunt shuts down would-be threats or annoyances like Blissey, Celebi, some variations of Gliscor, and fucking Skarmory. Plus, I like the idea of using a mid-game Taunter that's not Gliscor (relatively slower, and is almost dead weight against threats like some bulky waters.)
Tiny nitpick:
Breloom is actually one of the few Pokemon to resist Aerodactyl's Quake-Edge.
Breloom is actually one of the few Pokemon to resist Aerodactyl's Quake-Edge.
I'd also like to take some time out to mention that Breloom is a massive freaking prick to Life Orb Aerodactyl. It can really play mindgames with you because, once your opponent's discovered you're using Taunt, they can send in Breloom after you KO one of their Pokemon. Now you have to choose, do you want to use Taunt to stop them from Sporing, or do you want to attack. The normal choice would be to go straight to Taunt. However, a smart player would know you're going for Taunt to stop the Spore, and could just use Focus Punch.
I'd also like to note that, after Sandstorm (which you should be running along with Aerodactyl, just for the sake of boosting its SpD) and Stealth Rock damage, you can 2HKO Breloom. However, should Breloom be using the Spore Puncher set, they have the chance to OHKO you with Seed Bomb after Stealth Rock damage.
Just something to think about.
I have used an LO Aero in the past, and god its good. I personally would use Stone Edge > Rock Slide, because on something as frail as Aero, he needs to nail those OHKOs, which Rock Slide misses out on. Its somewhat similar to why you don't run Discharge on Jolteon, sure the extra affect is nice, but the KO is more than worth it.
On a Lead its a little different, because you have Focus Sash. Although I think it would still deserve a slash, as things like these are largely personal preference, and a calcs/list section showing the KOs you miss out on, basically the calcs Fuzznip did.
On a Lead its a little different, because you have Focus Sash. Although I think it would still deserve a slash, as things like these are largely personal preference, and a calcs/list section showing the KOs you miss out on, basically the calcs Fuzznip did.
So I've been testing this set happily with great results. Life Orb Aerodactyl is BOSS against Stealth-Rock weakened teams.
In my experience, he most significant counters to this set are fucking Swampert, odd choice scarved Pokemon, Metagross with Bullet Punch, bulky waters, Donphan, and Scizor. Donphan isn't seen often, so he can be discounted.
People seem to go out of their way to get rid of Aerodactyl as a priority, so they send out some odd choice scarfers like Gengar, Starmie, and Jirachi. Also, Bulky waters annoy Aero to no end. My personal solution to all of them is Salac + Charge Beam Magnezone. Should Jirachi and Scizor try to KO Aerodactyl, they're met face to face against Magnezone, and are hopelessly useless against it while Magnezone happily boosts its speed and special attack. From there either Magnezone or Aerodactyl can sweep the team, Magnezone weakening the team, of course.
Of course, Swampert and smart Breloom are complete bitches, so Sandstorm and maybe a Celebi can be mentioned.
The main thing is: DO NOT send out Aerodactyl early unless you're in deep shit or against an annoying stall team. And if you want to bait in foolish Jirachi and Scizor into KOing you.
In my experience, he most significant counters to this set are fucking Swampert, odd choice scarved Pokemon, Metagross with Bullet Punch, bulky waters, Donphan, and Scizor. Donphan isn't seen often, so he can be discounted.
People seem to go out of their way to get rid of Aerodactyl as a priority, so they send out some odd choice scarfers like Gengar, Starmie, and Jirachi. Also, Bulky waters annoy Aero to no end. My personal solution to all of them is Salac + Charge Beam Magnezone. Should Jirachi and Scizor try to KO Aerodactyl, they're met face to face against Magnezone, and are hopelessly useless against it while Magnezone happily boosts its speed and special attack. From there either Magnezone or Aerodactyl can sweep the team, Magnezone weakening the team, of course.
Of course, Swampert and smart Breloom are complete bitches, so Sandstorm and maybe a Celebi can be mentioned.
The main thing is: DO NOT send out Aerodactyl early unless you're in deep shit or against an annoying stall team. And if you want to bait in foolish Jirachi and Scizor into KOing you.
Yup as I stated in the OP Breloom and bulky waters are a bitch. Scizor is a counter but takes a huge chunk from Stone Edge. I also stated to bring it out late game so ya. Sub Charge magnezone still gets outpaced by base 115s after salac and it's just to slow paced for an offensive team. Thank you for the suggestion though!
I don't know if this deserves a mention, but LO Aerodactyl actually works pretty well on stall teams. I'm using it as the wild card for a stall team I just made, and Aero does well in beating Infernape, TauntTran, TauntGliscor, Lucario, ScarfTar and a bunch of other stallbreakers that I forget.
Since Towelie's on hiatus, I'll just step up to the plate and make some minor nitpicks, some personal.
Changes are in Green
Comments are in Blue
Deletions in Red
Changes are in Green
Comments are in Blue
Deletions in Red