[OVERVIEW]
Aerodactyl has a unique typing in Rock/Flying which allows it to resist Normal moves and be immune Ground type moves. Its typing can allow it to act as a pivot and encourage other Pokémon to use less powerful moves as it switches into another Pokémon. Its typing also allows it to act as an Explosion/Self Destruct sponge and, most notably, to wall common Snorlax sets as Body Slam is a possible 5HKO. It has a high base speed at 130 with a 25.39% crit rate and a decent 105 attack, allowing it to out speed the majority of the tier and threaten Pokémon with potential Critical hits. It can pick off weakened Pokémon and provide important chip damage. Because it is likely to be difficult for Snorlax KO it, with good prediction, it can potentially switch into Sleep inducing moves and act as sleep fodder as it can sit in front of Snorlax, waiting to wake up. It has a 45% chance to wake up in 4 turns. With paralysis support or through taking advantage of a sleeping Pokémon, it can have a 52% chance to wake up in 5 turns, and a 100% chance to wake up in 6 turns.
However, Aerodactyl has a myriad of issues. It is rather frail, leading it to be hit hard by Special attacks and non-resisted physical attacks. It has no non-charging STAB options and lacks viable coverage outside of Fire Blast and Sky Attack. It is walled by Rock types and since its most powerful STAB move, Sky Attack, signals what its next move will be, Electric and Rock types are easily able switch in. Unlike Porygon, Aerodactyl is likely to get paralyzed from Body Slam. Snorlax sets will sometimes run Ice-type moves or run rare coverage options such as Rock Slide, Thunderbolt, or Surf, all of which nail Aerodactyl.
[SET]
name: Rest
move 1: Fire Blast/Hyper Beam
move 2: Double-Edge
move 3: Sky Attack
move 4: Rest
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set is intended to allow Aerodactyl to wall common Snorlax sets to halt its progress, and threaten it with Critical hits and Burn. Fire Blast has a 30.1% chance to burn (ignoring accuracy) which allows it to potentially cripple Physical attackers such as Tauros, Rhydon, and Snorlax. Fire Blast deals more damage than Double-Edge to Rhydon, a common switch-in, which can bring it closer to KO range from special Super Effective Attacks. Aerodactyl's high crit rate aids in this further. Rock Slide from Rhydon in return will deal 70.2 - 82.6% Damage which Aerodactyl can potentially Rest off later. Fire Blast also does slightly more damage than Double-Edge against Tauros. Aerodactyl can use Fire Blast to attempt to chip and Burn opposing Tauros in order to put the Tauros mirror in your favor. Hyper Beam is an option to deal extra damage, though it can potentially leave Aerodactyl vulnerable. Fire Blast also deals more damage than Hyper Beam and Double Edge to a Snorlax with Reflect up. Sky Attack is a 140 base power Flying-type move that with an unfortunate 90% accuracy. This can be used to fish for crits against Reflect Snorlax nearly KOing it. Sky Attack can be charged against sleeping opponents in hopes to deal damage to the sleeping Pokémon or any Switch-ins. Rest removes paralysis and restores health to full. It is important to note that the speed drop from paralysis will remain after it rests. To also note, a burnt Snorlax will have its Attack stat halved until it switches after resting off a Burn.
Aerodactyl needs to be careful which moves it chooses as Hyper Beam and Sky Attack can put it in an unfavorable position and Fire Blast can burn the likes of Starmie which would preferably be paralyzed, frozen, or asleep. While Aerodactyl cannot cover all of Snorlax's sets, its teammates can make up for this weakness. For example the Rock/Water type Pokémon, Kabutops, resists Snorlax sets that only run Ice and Normal moves while ignoring Reflect with Slash. Kabutops also helps to deal with Rhydon as it can OHKO Rhydon with Surf.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Aerodactyl's options are very limited due to its Movepool.
Toxic may be an option to aid partial trapping teammates, as a more reliable status against Rhydon, or to pressure Reflect users such as Chansey.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock types** All of Aerodactyl's moves are resisted by Rock-types. Aerodactyl is hit hard by these Pokémon
**Electric types** Sky Attack is resisted by Electric-types. Aerodactyl is hit hard by these Pokémon
**Special Attacks** As Aerodactyl is frail, it will often need to switch-out with the threat of being severely damaged or OHKOd.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Billybobman, 11901715]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
Has Kadabra been played around with? It has respectable stats despite being a downgrade to Alakazam (120/105 special offense is nice). Not sure if having 2 Alakazam is necessary though because it's really frail and kinda low on coverage
