Aerodactyl
Attack
Defense
Stamina
Best Movesets
Analysis
Aerodactyl's movepool in the main series Pokemon games has no shortage of STAB Flying and Rock-type moves. Unfortunately it didn't get a fast STAB move in Pokemon Go until 3 years after the game's release. Aerodactyl has decent stats and a very cool type combination, but it falls a bit behind other Rock Type attackers and has no other real niche.
Offense
- Rock Throw is Aerodactyl's only STAB option, which makes it the best.
- Steel Wing is slightly better than Bite; which one is better comes down to the target’s weaknesses and resistances.
- Rock Slide is overall Aerodactyl’s best charge move. Ancient Power performs a bit worse on offense.
- Steel Wing can be paired with Iron Head for meh Steel-type DPS.
- Hyper Beam is a weak pick, lacking any relevant coverage.
- Earth Power in an odd choice since it lacks STAB, but can pair with Steel Wing against Rock-type foes.
Defense
- Rock Throw has the best damage output partly thanks to STAB.
- Steel Wing is superior to Bite, having significantly higher base damage.
- Ancient Power can be used often on defense, but it is easily dodged.
- Iron Head does damage earlier, and Aerodactyl may still live long enough to use it.
- Hyper Beam is simply awful.
- Rock Slide has a much earlier damage window than Ancient Power and hits a little bit harder if not dodged.
- Earth Power can offer coverage against Aerodactyl's weaknesses to Electric, Rock, and Steel, but has a late damage window.
The addition of Rock Throw from the July 2019 move rebalance improves Aerodactyl's damage output as it's the only option that benefits from STAB. Bite is a very niche way to deal with the popular bulky Psychic and Ghost-types like Cresselia or Giratina, but this shouldn't be Aerodactyl's primary role.
Rock Slide is the best charge move for Aerodactyl, gets STAB, costs less energy compared to other options, and sees the most frequent use by a long shot. Earth Power can be used to cover Aerodactyl's vulnerabilities against Electric, Rock, and Steel-type foes, but costs more energy. The rest of Aerodactyl's charge moves are disappointingly bad.
Aerodactyl is one of the most unusual contenders in PvP, if it can even be considered a contender at all. With an offensive-based stat distribution that results in relatively low bulk, and a Rock/Flying typing which gives five weaknesses to common typings, Aerodactyl might just end up fainting faster than any meta pick in PvP. A cumbersome moveset also ruins Aerodactyl's dreams of soaring to new heights which is rather unfortunate. The only significant use so far has been the GBL Season 4 Flying Cup.
