What is a good moveset for Aerodactyl?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Aerodactyl, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Aerodactyl Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Comments

Aerodactyl (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Aerial Ace

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wich fang should I have?

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If you need a moveset for a double battle then read my answer down the page.

Answer 1

Aerodactyl (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Tail
- Crunch/Fire Fang
- Earthquake

Role: Sweeper
Stone Edge is a good stab move.
Aqua Tail is good coverage.
Crunch is good coverage.
Earthquake even more coverage.
Fire Fang For Ferrothorn And Forretress.

Answer 2

This set is for National Dex, because for some strange reason I still have to say this even though it is so completely obvious.

Aerodactyl-Mega @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dual Wingbeat
- Stone Edge / Earthquake
- Fire Fang / Ice Fang / Thunder Fang / Roost
- Dragon Dance

Dual Wingbeat is great STAB, Tough Claws boost and breaks Focus Sashes and Substitutes. Stone Edge is STAB while Earthquake is coverage. Elemental fangs are coverage, or you can opt for Roost to heal from Stealth Rock and deny revenge-killing attempts. Dragon Dance to set up and sweep. Use it against predicted switches.

Comments

Hey! Your set is illegal because Mega Evolution does not exist in Generation 8 but your moveset contains Dual Wingbeat, which is a move introduced in Generation 8. If this was meant for another Generation's Metagame, it is also impossible since Dual Wingbeat doesn't exist in any Generation pre-Generation 8.

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Read the description, it's clearly for NatDex.

Answer 3

Gen V

Aerodactyl (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
- Taunt
- Stone Edge

Classic lead. Use Taunt to stop the opponent from setting up entry hazards and Taunting you. Then set up Stealth Rock. Use Whirlwind to damage the foes team, while also finding out what their team is. This can give you an advantage as you'll know which of your Pokemon you'll have to protect so they can deal with the foe's Pokemon, while also damaging the foe's team, destroying Focus Sashes and making them easier to defeat. Stone Edge is so you can attack if need be. Focus Sash allows you to survive if you guessed wrong with Taunt, allowing you to still set up Stealth Rock. Max Speed so you can get everything in and outspeed the foe, that way they can't Taunt you. Attack EVs for Stone Edge.

Answer 4

Aerodactyl @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Rock Slide
- Defog/Roost/Whirlwind
Stealth rocks lead. It has high base speed, and can normally outspeed and put them down. It can block other defogger or stealth rock setter with taunt. Rock slide is so it isn't taunt bait itself. Finally, defog is an option if rocks are already set up. On the other hand, because you can already stop them with taunt, you may want a move lIke Roost or whirlwind there.

Answer 5

Role: Sweeper

Aerodactyl (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature

• Ice Fang
• Thunder Fang
• Earthquake
• Stone Edge

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Ice Fang and Thunder Fang gets Bolt Beam coverage. Earthquake is coverage (soo much coverage) while Stone Edge is STAB and power.

Answer 6

Double/Triple Battle

Aerodactyl (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Tailwind
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Fly

Tailwind provides team support. Rock Slide gets STAB and hits multiple foes. Earthquake hits multiple foes. Fly is STAB that can hit any foe and is good in Triple because the foe can't as easily predict you. It also allows for classic Will Pressure stalling.

Answer 7

Gen 8 NU

Aerodactyl @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Rock Tomb
- Double-Edge

Suicide Stealth Rock lead. Start off with Stealth Rock. Taunt is to stop opposing Pokémon from using status moves and hazard setters. Rock Tomb is for speed control. Double Edge is to be used after you're bought down to your sash and have setted up Stealth Rock so you can knock yourself out (unless the opponent is a ghost type) so you can "pseudo block" Defog and Rapid Spin a turn.

Answer 8

Suicide Stealth Rock Lead version 2
Gen 8 NU

Aerodactyl @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Taunt

This is the suicide lead Aerodactyl set you'll more likely than not see on HO teams in Gen 8 NU. Stealth Rock is for setting up rocks and providing an entry hazards. Earthquake provides coverage against Pokemon like Copperajah, Dragalge, Toxicroak, etc. Rock Blast is STAB and hits multiple times, allowing you to break sashes and subs. Taunt shuts stops opposing Pokemon from setting up on you, setting up Stealth Rock on you, and using status moves.

Answer 9

Gen 8 NU

Aerodactyl @ Life Orb
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Aqua Tail

A Dragon Dance set for Gen 8 NU if you want to use one. Dragon Dance Aerodactyl got a bit better with Bronzong gone from NU, as you would have to slot in Crunch for Levitate Bronzong. Now, you don't have to use Crunch on Dragon Dance Aerodactyl. Dragon Dance allows you to boost your Attack and Speed stats, and it shouldn't be too hard to find a setup opportunity. Stone Edge is for a powerful rock STAB. Earthquake provides coverage against Steel- and Poison-types like Copperajah, Dragalge, Salazzle, Toxicroak, Duraludon, and the rare Silvally-Steel. Aqua Tail is for coverage against ground types like Silvally-Ground, Rhydon and Mudsdale. Aqua Tail is especially useful for Mudsdale, as the move allows you to 2HKO Mudsdale after Mudsdale, as shown in this calc:

+1 252 Atk Life Orb Aerodactyl Aqua Tail vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mudsdale: 237-281 (58.6 - 69.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Possible damage amounts: (237, 239, 242, 247, 250, 252, 255, 257, 260, 263, 265, 268, 270, 273, 276, 281)

For those wondering, "Won't Mudsdale's Stamina stop the 2HKO?" Here is a calc for a +1 Life Orb Aqua Tail that did minimum damage to Mudsdale:

+1 252 Atk Life Orb Aerodactyl Aqua Tail vs. +1 252 HP / 252+ Def Mudsdale: 161-190 (39.8 - 47%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Possible damage amounts: (161, 161, 164, 166, 166, 169, 172, 174, 174, 177, 179, 182, 182, 185, 187, 190)

Do keep in mind that was for mininum damage, so Aqua Tail 2HKOes Mudsdale, which is pretty nice.
Enjoy!

Comments

Aero is NU? That's depressing to me.

Answer 10

National Dex OU Sub Setup Sweeper

Aerodactyl-Mega @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Unnerve
Tera Type: Rock
EVs: 96 HP / 252 Atk / 160 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance / Hone Claws
- Stone Edge
- Dual Wingbeat
- Substitute

With Roaring Moon banned and more offensive Pokemon on the chopping block, defensive styles seem to be having a minor resurgence. It just so happens that some of the strongest defensive Pokemon, namely Gliscor (apparently it's the best Pokemon in the tier rn although I still believe it's Gholdengo, but dang Glisc is everywhere) and Moltres, cannot pressure Mega Aerodactyl at all without status moves. Substitute negates that issue, effectively turning them into setup fodder whilst also providing a tool to scout switches without much prediction. 160 Speed EVs outspeeds Zamazenta, and the rest of the EVs are dumped into HP to hit Stealth Rock number (one above a number divisible by 4 to reduce Rocks damage). Stone Edge and Dual Wingbeat are your standard STABs, and Hone Claws is able to correct the brutal inaccuracy of these moves. Alternatively, Dragon Dance allows Mega Aerodactyl to outpace every viable Pokemon, scarf or unscarfed.

Using Substitute does have its list of advantages, such as the potential to outplay Raging Bolt and being a great switch scouter when Mega Aerodactyl forces something to switch out. However, it is very much unable to smack Steel types, and even the Steels that don't resist both STABs, such as Ferrothorn, Corviknight, and Skarmory, have tools to make Mega Aerodactyl hate its life. Therefore, teammates who pack Fire- and Ground- type moves are much appreciated. For example, Swords Dance Garchomp packing Fire Fang is an effective wallbreaker for Mega Aerodactyl, weakening checks like Melmetal and Kingambit with Earthquake and packing Fire Fang for the aforementioned Steels along with Mega Scizor. Flamethrower Terapagos scares off common hazards setter Ferrothorn and removes Rocks for Mega Aerodactyl to come in with full health.

Answer 11

Aerodactyl @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Ice Fang

This moveset covers all of its weakness and it has 193 normal effectiveness and 476 super effective. With Choice Band Aerodactyl can almost destroy whole teams, I think.

Answer 12

Aerodactyl @ Shell Bell
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Impish Nature
- Incinerate
- Earthquake
- Crunch
- Sky Drop

• Incinerate (Covers Steel and Ice weakness, good power, burns berries)
• Earthquake (Covers Water, Rock and Electric weakness and AMAZING POWER!)
• Crunch (Good damage, lowers def)
• Sky Drop (Stalling, STAB and DO NOT use against flying type)

Comments

Why are you putting a special move on Aerodactyl? Special attack is his worst stat at 60.

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impish is {-sp. atk + def }

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Use fire fang instead

Answer 13

SANDSTORM TEAM - DOUBLE-BATTLE PARTNERS:

Mega-Aerodactyl @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Aerial Ace
- Thunder Fang
- Fire Fang

• Rock Slide - Powerful STAB rock move that hits two opponents with a chance to flinch and covers Tyranitar's weakness to Bug.

• Aerial Ace - STAB flying move that will definitely hit (apart from someone flying etc.) that covers Tyranitar's weaknesses to Bug, Grass and Fighting.

• Thunder Fang - Electric move that covers Mega-Aerodactyl's and Tyranitar's weakness to Water as well as having a chance to paralyze [10%] and flinch [10%] if the target has not yet moved (bearing in mind Mega-Aerodactyl's base Speed stat is 150.

• Fire Fang - Fire move that covers Mega-Aerodactyl's weaknesses to Ice and Steel and Tyranitar's weaknesses to Bug, Grass and Steel as well as having a chance to burn [10%] and flinch [10%] if the target has not yet moved (bearing in mind Mega-Aerodactyl's base Speed stat is 150.

Tyranitar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 128 HP / 128 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Earthquake
- Crunch
- Curse / Rest
- Iron Head

• Earthquake - Extremely powerful ground move that hits all opponents (Aerodactyl isn't hit) as well as covering Aerodactyl's weaknesses to Electric, Rock and Steel and Tyranitar's weakness to Steel.

• Crunch - Powerful STAB move that provides type coverage.

• Curse/Rest - Increases Tyranitar's Def and Atk however Tyranitar's Spe is lowered though it is already low and less valuable than its' Def / Restores Tyranitar's HP and heals it of hindering status problems like a burn that lowers attack of paralysis that has a 25% of preventing Tyranitar from moving.

• Iron Head - Powerful steel move that provides type coverage has a chance to flinch [30%] if the target hasn't moved as well as covering Tyranitar's weakness to Fairy and Aerodactyl's weaknesses to Ice and Rock.

Tyranitar:
With minimum SP.DEF, this Tyranitar has a SP.DEF of 552 at level 100 with a sandstorm raging [SP.DEF x2] and an Assault Vest [SP.DEF x1.5]: 184 x 2 x 1.5 = 552. This Tyranitar also has a DEF of 350. This Tyranitar has an ATK of 336.

Mega-Aerodactyl:
This Mega-Aerodactyl has a SPE of 438 and with minimum SP.DEF a SP.DEF of 350 at level 100 with a sandstorm raging [SP.DEF x2]: 175 x 2 = 350. Considering tough claws, this Mega-Aerodactyl has an ATK of 451 [rounded].

Comments

i'm telling you late, i know, but i have a tip: instead of using thunder fang, use tailwind, for make tyranitar much faster, allowing him to use some curses without getting it's speed to low.

Answer 14

Aerodactyl @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Thunder Fang
- Fire Fang
- Stone Edge
- Hone Claws

• Thunder Fang (boosted by Tough Claws, coverage)
• Fire Fang (boosted by Tough Claws, coverage)
• Stone Edge (STAB, coverage, Hone Claws)
• Hone Claws (works well with Stone Edge)

This thing is just a fast UU sweeper, it works well in a lot of teams.

Answer 15

Aerodactyl @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Rock Head / Pressure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Double-Edge / Return
- Thunder Fang
- Stone Edge / Rock Slide
- Earthquake

• Double-Edge - (Return if you can't get Double-Edge, its only in Gen 3) - powerful, overall coverage, works well with this moveset
• Thunder Fang - You need this for water types, and nonetheless it is a strong and powerful move also, coverage
• Stone Edge (Rock Slide if you hate the 80% accuracy) - STAB, also gets rid of ice types
• Earthquake - Coverage, takes care of electric, rock, steel, some of your weaknesses

Answer 16

Here's the Set I run For Mega Aerodactyl.

Aerodactyl @ Aerodactlyite
Ability: Tough Claws
Evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fire Fang
- Aerial Ace
- Iron Head / Earthquake
- Stone Edge

Explanation: I go for a Jolly Nature to outspeed Jolteon, Mega Beedrill and Tapu Koko. Fire Fang is Grass, Ice and Steel type coverage with a chance to burn or flinch and powered up with Tough Claws. Aerial Ace is STAB and it doesn't miss also Powered up with Tough Claws. Iron Head is Fairy, Ice and Rock type coverage with a Chance to make the foe flinch and it is also powered up with Tough Claws or Earthquake is Electric type coverage. Stone Edge is STAB with a high Crit Ratio.

Answer 17

This is the Aerodactyl that I use in online battles in Alpha Sapphire...

Aerodactyl (M) @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Unnerve
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aqua Tail
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake

Now time for the moves I use!
Honestly, Aerodactyl is decently frail, as it's typing is Rock-Flying, both types notorious for multiple type weaknesses. Thankfully, Aereodactyl has a good movepool, and has good Attack and Crazy speed, meaning that you can sweep teams especially if you're planning on going down the flinch path. I use this moveset, and it's moves are somewhat interchangeable.

Aqua Tail: I use this to surprise other Pokemon, as most people don't expect this move on Aerodactyl.
Iron Head: Ah yes, the flinch path.
Rock Slide: Same reason as why I use Iron Head.
Earthquake: To keep those pesky Electric types in hand.

There are other interchangeable moves you can use, such as Dragon Claw, Stone Edge, Crunch, Aerial Ace, or one of the Fang moves.

Answer 18

A Fast UU Sweeper.

Aerodactyl @ Aerodacylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Fire Fang
- Aerial Ace
- Tailwind

Rock Slide (it is weak, I know, but after STAB it gets a nice power, accuracy is not bad, and it can flinch the target, which is good with you freaking 438 Speed).

Fire Fang (covers both Ice and Steel weakness and offers some extra coverage against bug and grass ((however this won't be anything)). is just a nice ability-boosted coverage move).

Aerial Ace (STAB ability-boosted Move which always hits. no need to say more anything).

Tailwind (makes aerodactyl EVEN FASTER and makes the rest of your team extremely sweeper too ((if aerodactyl dies/you switch out)). is always nice to have a support move even at your Mega Pokémon).

Explained?

Answer 19

Aerodactyl @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Thunder Fang
- Stone Edge
- Fly
- Aqua Tail

Comments

Why fly?

Answer 20

Aerodactyl @ King's Rock / Aerodactylite
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Crunch

Roost heals up Aerodactyl, also getting rid of its electric and Ice type weakness, but adds the grass weakness, Crunch gives a nice 20% defense drop, which will make Aerodactyl's moves stronger, Earthquake covers Electric type threats, and to make full use of Aerodactyl's speed (which is literally faster than Dragapult), Rock Slide will usually go first and have a high chance of Flinching, also, other electric threats like Zapdos will also be covered.

Comments

king's rock doesn't increase the flinch chance of moves that already flinch, so you should just go with mega

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Okay, but if Aerodactyl comes out in the Crown Tundra, they cant mega evolve.

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"Fire Fang covers the grass weakness that it gets while executing roost(although roost only stays for one turn)"

It provides coverage against Steel but Earthquake does this as well, and Corviknight / Skarmory probably aren't going to fall to a Fire Fang so it doesn't provde very necessary coverage.

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I'll edit my answer then

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Crunch really won’t be that good ngl