Is Aerodactyl viable in Gen 3 OU?

Aerodactyl is ranked #16 in Gen 3 OU with 17.95% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Aerodactyl in Gen 3 OU?

Metagross has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 67.6% of 23.349686616914518 relevant encounters. Standard error is 9.7 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Aerodactyl matchup checks ranked in Gen 3 OU?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Aerodactyl was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Aerodactyl counters

Gen 3 OU · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0142 Aerodactyl

RockFlying

USAGE 18.0% #16

ABILITYRock Head

BASE STATS

HP 80

ATK 105

DEF 65

SPA 60

SPD 75

SPE 130

BST515

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

WaterElectricIceRockSteel

½×

NormalFirePoisonFlyingBug

0×

Ground

Moves

Rock Slide 99.4% Earthquake 99.2% Double-Edge 89.1% Hidden Power Flying 46.3% Hidden Power Bug 32.9% Substitute 22.3% Protect 3.0% Hidden Power Fighting 2.2%

Items

Choice Band 74.6% Liechi Berry 19.2% Leftovers 3.3% Salac Berry 1.3% Silk Scarf 1.2% Lum Berry 0.2% White Herb 0.1% Hard Stone 0.1%

Abilities

Rock Head93.7%Pressure6.3%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 3 OU teams using Aerodactyl →

Explore Aerodactyl + Metagross teams 29 score Explore Aerodactyl + Swampert teams 20 score Explore Aerodactyl + Aerodactyl teams 5 score Explore Aerodactyl + Tyranitar teams 3 score Explore Aerodactyl + Salamence teams -2 score Explore Aerodactyl + Skarmory teams -5 score

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Aerodactyl + Tyranitar 75.7% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Metagross

SteelPsychic DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

23.35

28.8

67.6% Standard error 9.69 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Aerodactyl Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Metagross: 187-220 (51.3 - 60.4%) -- 91.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Metagross counters → Teams with Metagross →

Swampert

WaterGround OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

42.646

19.6

61.6% Standard error 10.50 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Swampert Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Aerodactyl: 280-330 (76.9 - 90.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Swampert counters → Teams with Swampert →

Aerodactyl

RockFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

21.739

4.6

47.5% Standard error 10.71 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Aerodactyl Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aerodactyl: 494-582 (135.7 - 159.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Aerodactyl counters → Teams with Aerodactyl →

Tyranitar

RockDark SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.435

2.7

43.6% Standard error 10.24 points

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ Atk Tyranitar Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aerodactyl: 392-462 (107.6 - 126.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Tyranitar counters → Teams with Tyranitar →

Salamence

DragonFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

25.873

-2.0

35.7% Standard error 9.42 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Salamence Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aerodactyl: 263-310 (72.2 - 85.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Salamence counters → Teams with Salamence →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

24.574

-4.8

33.2% Standard error 9.50 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Hidden Power Steel vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aerodactyl: 260-306 (71.4 - 84%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Skarmory counters → Teams with Skarmory →

Ranked #16 with 17.95% usage. Sorted by conservative score.