[SET]
Offensive (Aerodactyl-Mega) @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Dual Wingbeat / Taunt / Pursuit
- Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
Mega Aerodactyl's unrivalled Speed tier, attacking prowess, and decent defensive profile make it a great all-around offensive threat in the metagame, outpacing and forcing out a huge portion of faster threats, such as Cinderace, Ceruledge, Galarian Moltres, and Enamorus lacking Choice Scarf. Earthquake provides Mega Aerodactyl with perfect neutral coverage, hitting Rock-resistant Pokemon as well as targets that are weak to it, such as Iron Treads, Zeraora, and Bisharp, allowing Mega Aerodactyl to threaten them. Dual Wingbeat provides a secondary STAB option that ensures Mega Aerodactyl hits important targets such as Buzzwole, Mega Venusaur, and Amoonguss super effectively. Taunt can be used instead to deny the likes of bulkier targets, such as Clefable, Skarmory, and Hippowdon, from accessing their healing moves, on top of shutting down setup options from specific setup sweepers, such as Mega Latias. Mega Aerodactyl can even serve as an effective Pursuit trapper; with the Tough Claws boost, it makes for an effective option to use against the likes of Iron Moth, Latios, and Alakazam. Roost is mandatory in the last slot to offset Mega Aerodactyl's Stealth Rock weakness while also allowing it to repeatedly switch into foes such as Cinderace and Iron Moth, resisting most of their attacks in the process. Mega Aerodactyl fits best on bulky offense and balance teams in need of an offensive backbone with solid secondary defensive applications. Bulkier Pokemon such as Ting-Lu, Clefable, and Rotom-W appreciate Mega Aerodactyl's ability to relieve pressure in dealing with offensive threats which they may be overwhelmed by, such as Cinderace and Enamorus. In return, the former two provide hazard support to help Mega Aerodactyl secure damage rolls against Pokemon it would otherwise miss out on, such as against Autotomize Celesteela with Stone Edge and Mega Tyranitar with Earthquake, whereas the latter provides additional pivoting support, hazard removal in Defog to offset Mega Aerodactyl’s weakness to Stealth Rock, and the ability to take on several setup sweepers which it struggles to take on, such as Sand Rush Excadrill and Swords Dance Scizor. Similarly, other Pokemon that can remove entry hazards, such as Iron Treads and Mandibuzz, are effective at ensuring Mega Aerodactyl isn’t being dug into by Stealth Rock. On the other hand, offensive Pokemon such as Choice Band Galarian Zapdos, Nasty Plot Hydreigon, and Tapu Bulu can benefit from Mega Aerodactyl's ability to check or remove faster Pokemon which they may be dissuaded by, such as Iron Moth, Cinderace, and Keldeo. Mega Aerodactyl's ability to force in defensive Pokemon can also lead to some interesting synergies with other offensive Pokemon, particularly when carrying Taunt; setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Enamorus, Bulk Up Buzzwole, and Swords Dance Iron Hands each benefit from Mega Aerodactyl's ability to lure in and weaken walls such as Skarmory, Tapu Fini, Slowbro, and Mega Venusaur.
[SET]
Dragon Dance (Aerodactyl-Mega) @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Dual Wingbeat / Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
Dragon Dance turns Mega Aerodactyl into a threatening sweeper, leveraging its combination of power, Speed, and coverage to great effect. It particularly preys on faster teams that over-rely on using faster speed control options to check most sweepers, such as Choice Scarf users in Meowscarada, Galarian Zapdos, and Keldeo. Earthquake nails several Ground-weak targets in Iron Treads, Tyranitar, and Bisharp after a Dragon Dance, OHKOing the latter. Dual Wingbeat, especially with the boost from Tough Claws, flattens many neutral targets after a Dragon Dance, such as Clefable, Slowking, Gastrodon, and Mega Latias, while also allowing it to beat walls such as Buzzwole and Tangrowth. Alternatively, Mega Aerodactyl can run Roost in the last slot to offset its lack of longevity, potentially grabbing multiple setup opportunities against weaker Pokemon such as Ting-Lu and Clefable lacking Thunder Wave. Due to its offensive prowess, this Mega Aerodactyl set fits best on fast-paced teams as an effective mid-to-late game cleaner. Early-game wallbreakers such as Ceruledge, Iron Hands, and Serperior can help Mega Aerodactyl by opening up gaps in the opposition through their numerous offensive applications against walls which the latter may find itself being stopped by, such as Slowbro, Scizor, and Iron Defense Skarmory. Conversely, Mega Aerodactyl’s tendency to find opportunities against specific targets such as Ting-Lu and Mega Venusaur can also work to the benefit of other late-game cleaners, such as Booster Energy Iron Moth and Weakness Policy Latios. As Mega Aerodactyl often finds itself leveraging its bulk to make the most of its setup capabilities, teammates that can prevent entry hazards from going up, such as Taunt Mew, Iron Treads, and Tapu Fini, make for excellent partners. Mega Aerodactyl also benefits from entry hazard support provided by the former two, as well as others like Spikes Meowscarada, which help it secure OHKOs against Pokemon such as Iron Treads and Hydreigon after a Dragon Dance.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/arishem.546157/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sulo.528036/
Offensive (Aerodactyl-Mega) @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Dual Wingbeat / Taunt / Pursuit
- Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
Mega Aerodactyl's unrivalled Speed tier, attacking prowess, and decent defensive profile make it a great all-around offensive threat in the metagame, outpacing and forcing out a huge portion of faster threats, such as Cinderace, Ceruledge, Galarian Moltres, and Enamorus lacking Choice Scarf. Earthquake provides Mega Aerodactyl with perfect neutral coverage, hitting Rock-resistant Pokemon as well as targets that are weak to it, such as Iron Treads, Zeraora, and Bisharp, allowing Mega Aerodactyl to threaten them. Dual Wingbeat provides a secondary STAB option that ensures Mega Aerodactyl hits important targets such as Buzzwole, Mega Venusaur, and Amoonguss super effectively. Taunt can be used instead to deny the likes of bulkier targets, such as Clefable, Skarmory, and Hippowdon, from accessing their healing moves, on top of shutting down setup options from specific setup sweepers, such as Mega Latias. Mega Aerodactyl can even serve as an effective Pursuit trapper; with the Tough Claws boost, it makes for an effective option to use against the likes of Iron Moth, Latios, and Alakazam. Roost is mandatory in the last slot to offset Mega Aerodactyl's Stealth Rock weakness while also allowing it to repeatedly switch into foes such as Cinderace and Iron Moth, resisting most of their attacks in the process. Mega Aerodactyl fits best on bulky offense and balance teams in need of an offensive backbone with solid secondary defensive applications. Bulkier Pokemon such as Ting-Lu, Clefable, and Rotom-W appreciate Mega Aerodactyl's ability to relieve pressure in dealing with offensive threats which they may be overwhelmed by, such as Cinderace and Enamorus. In return, the former two provide hazard support to help Mega Aerodactyl secure damage rolls against Pokemon it would otherwise miss out on, such as against Autotomize Celesteela with Stone Edge and Mega Tyranitar with Earthquake, whereas the latter provides additional pivoting support, hazard removal in Defog to offset Mega Aerodactyl’s weakness to Stealth Rock, and the ability to take on several setup sweepers which it struggles to take on, such as Sand Rush Excadrill and Swords Dance Scizor. Similarly, other Pokemon that can remove entry hazards, such as Iron Treads and Mandibuzz, are effective at ensuring Mega Aerodactyl isn’t being dug into by Stealth Rock. On the other hand, offensive Pokemon such as Choice Band Galarian Zapdos, Nasty Plot Hydreigon, and Tapu Bulu can benefit from Mega Aerodactyl's ability to check or remove faster Pokemon which they may be dissuaded by, such as Iron Moth, Cinderace, and Keldeo. Mega Aerodactyl's ability to force in defensive Pokemon can also lead to some interesting synergies with other offensive Pokemon, particularly when carrying Taunt; setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Enamorus, Bulk Up Buzzwole, and Swords Dance Iron Hands each benefit from Mega Aerodactyl's ability to lure in and weaken walls such as Skarmory, Tapu Fini, Slowbro, and Mega Venusaur.
[SET]
Dragon Dance (Aerodactyl-Mega) @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Dual Wingbeat / Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
Dragon Dance turns Mega Aerodactyl into a threatening sweeper, leveraging its combination of power, Speed, and coverage to great effect. It particularly preys on faster teams that over-rely on using faster speed control options to check most sweepers, such as Choice Scarf users in Meowscarada, Galarian Zapdos, and Keldeo. Earthquake nails several Ground-weak targets in Iron Treads, Tyranitar, and Bisharp after a Dragon Dance, OHKOing the latter. Dual Wingbeat, especially with the boost from Tough Claws, flattens many neutral targets after a Dragon Dance, such as Clefable, Slowking, Gastrodon, and Mega Latias, while also allowing it to beat walls such as Buzzwole and Tangrowth. Alternatively, Mega Aerodactyl can run Roost in the last slot to offset its lack of longevity, potentially grabbing multiple setup opportunities against weaker Pokemon such as Ting-Lu and Clefable lacking Thunder Wave. Due to its offensive prowess, this Mega Aerodactyl set fits best on fast-paced teams as an effective mid-to-late game cleaner. Early-game wallbreakers such as Ceruledge, Iron Hands, and Serperior can help Mega Aerodactyl by opening up gaps in the opposition through their numerous offensive applications against walls which the latter may find itself being stopped by, such as Slowbro, Scizor, and Iron Defense Skarmory. Conversely, Mega Aerodactyl’s tendency to find opportunities against specific targets such as Ting-Lu and Mega Venusaur can also work to the benefit of other late-game cleaners, such as Booster Energy Iron Moth and Weakness Policy Latios. As Mega Aerodactyl often finds itself leveraging its bulk to make the most of its setup capabilities, teammates that can prevent entry hazards from going up, such as Taunt Mew, Iron Treads, and Tapu Fini, make for excellent partners. Mega Aerodactyl also benefits from entry hazard support provided by the former two, as well as others like Spikes Meowscarada, which help it secure OHKOs against Pokemon such as Iron Treads and Hydreigon after a Dragon Dance.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/arishem.546157/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sulo.528036/
Last edited:
