Physical
Sweeper
515High
130Very Fast
CTier

Aerodactyl outspeeds most of the metagame without even trying. And the offense backs it up — it's fast AND it hits hard. Ground moves can't touch it, which offsets the 5 weaknesses somewhat. Known as the Fossil Pokemon.

The stat budget goes to damage. Speed and Attack carry the offense, Sp. Atk doesn't even come close. A Fossil Pokemon on a slow 1.25M XP grind, worth 2 Speed EVs per KO.

Base Stats
515High
HP80
C
Attack105
B
Defense65
C
Sp. Atk60
C
Sp. Def75
C
Speed130
A
Total515
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Aerodactyl yields +2 Spe
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2
Details
Catch45Challenging•Slow1.25M XP•1.8m / 5'11"•59kg / 130.1 lbs•180Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It’s a Pokémon that roamed the skies in the dinosaur era. Its teeth are like saw blades.

Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl

Aerodactyl Weakness

Avg

Type-wise, Aerodactyl takes extra damage from Water, Electric, Ice, Rock, and Steel. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses.

4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
WaterElectricIceRockSteel
½xResisti
NormalFirePoisonFlyingBug
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
Ground
STAB (6)i
FireIceFlyingBugGrassFighting
5Weak
5Resist
1Immune
Scorei-2
Stealth Rock25% on switch
Abilities
Rock HeadProtects against recoil damage.
PressureIncreases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
UnnerveHAPrevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries.

Aerodactyl is what you get. No evolutions, but it breeds through one egg group with no compatible partners. Hatching is slow to hatch.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Aerodactyl
#142AerodactylDoes not evolve
Breeding
Challenging

Breed Aerodactyl (with patience) from the Flying egg group.

Egg Groups
Flying
Gender
♂87.5%♀12.5%
Hatch Time
35 cycles·8,995 steps
Slow~9 min with Flame Body

The Sash lets Aerodactyl ignore defensive shortcomings for one turn. Use that turn to get Stealth Rock up, and Rockhead squeezes extra value from the position. Max Attack and Speed EVs push damage output.

Best Build

Physical Stallbreaker
Ability
Rockhead
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Nature
Jolly+SPE
EVs

Best Aerodactyl Moveset

  • Stealth RockSTAB
  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • TauntUtility
  • Stone EdgeSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Greninja
GreninjaDecent
Dragonite
DragoniteDecent

Stall teams hate this. Aerodactyl can spread damage across 10 types, with Dark and Steel punishing common defensive pivots. STAB from Sky Attack and Meteor Beam keeps the pressure honest on everything else.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 1
Steel Wing
709025Steel
Lv 5
Supersonic
—5520Normal
Lv 10
Wing Attack
6010035Flying
Lv 15
Rock Blast
259010Rock
Lv 20
Rock Slide
759010Rock
Lv 25
Roar-6
——20Normal
Lv 30
Crunch
8010015Dark
Lv 35
Iron Head
8010015Steel
Lv 40
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 45
Stone Edge
100805Rock
Lv 55
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
Lv 60
Giga Impact
150905Normal

TM Moves

Src
TM47
Agility
——30Psychic
TM120
Ancient Power
601005Rock
TM25
Crunch
8010015Dark
TM02
Dragon Claw
8010015Dragon
TM75
Dragon Pulse
8510010Dragon
TM134
Dual Wingbeat
409010Flying
TM52
Earth Power
9010010Ground
TM69
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM35
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM109
Facade
7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
110855Fire
TM14
Fire Fang
659515Fire
TM62
Flamethrower
9010015Fire
TM43
Fly
909515Flying
TM55
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM68
Heat Wave
959010Fire
TM79
Hurricane
1107010Flying
TM44
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM15
Ice Fang
659515Ice
TM58
Iron Head
8010015Steel
TM87
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM156
Meteor Beam
1209010Rock
TM119
Ominous Wind
601005Ghost
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM124
Psychic Fangs
8510010Psychic
TM05
Roar-6
——20Normal
TM12
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM36
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM153
Sky Attack
140905Flying
TM37
Stealth Rock
——20Rock
TM65
Stone Edge
100805Rock
TM85
Substitute
——10Normal
TM139
Swagger
—8515Normal
TM27
Swift
60—20Normal
TM95
Taunt
—10020Dark
TM21
Thunder Fang
659515Electric
TM94
Whirlwind-6
——20Normal

Egg Moves

Aerodactyl doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Aerodactyl can't learn any Tutor moves

No wild encounters for Aerodactyl in Legends: Z-A. It's available in Red, Yellow, or Let's Go Pikachu and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.

Aerodactyl is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Also found in:

RedYellowGoldCrystalFireRedDiamond

  • We rate Aerodactyl C-Tier — a situational pick that fills a niche. At 515 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Base 130 Speed stands out.

  • Aerodactyl's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Raikou (Electric), and Lapras (Ice), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Rock and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.

  • Aerodactyl doesn't evolve and has no evolutionary line. It's a Rock/Flying-type Pokemon with strong stats at 515 BST — no evolution needed.

  • Rock Head is the go-to ability for Aerodactyl. It protects against recoil damage. Its hidden ability Unnerve can work in specific setups. Pressure is the other option — pick based on what your team needs.

  • Base 130 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Aerodactyl is a physical attacker with base 105 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.

  • Aerodactyl appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Aerodactyl has appeared in 20 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.