What is best counter against Cliff’s Aerodactyl?

If bite: Smackdown Tyranitar.

If else: Magnezone.

Aero with Bite is really nasty. You need to resist Dark AND use a high energy fast move with a low cost charged move to stun it as much as possible. Scrafty with PuP double-resists so is probably the best, Lucario with PuP second-best (and also resists the other possible moves), and I didn't have either of those as an option but managed to eke out a win with Poliwrath/PuP.

Metagross is a good strong option for the other two fast moves and Kyogre will work if it has Steel Wing.

There is a team that covers 20 of the 21 pokemon possible in all three leaders (stupid Scizor), the only issue is how you start.

• Lucario with Power-Up Punch and Shadow Ball

• Kyogre with Surf and Blizzard

• Giratina-O with Ominous Wind

If Cliff, switch into Lucario

If Arlo, start with Giratina-O

If Sierra, start with Lucario

My Lucario and Tina are 35, my Kyogre is 40, I've yet to see this team fail against any leader setup in ~35 runs. Scizor doesn't get a SE counter but Tina laughs it off anyway.

I'm running melmetal, bite hits hard but it manages to get both shields and, at least, most of aero health

Poliwrath is your friend.

Kyogre does great duty here

Idk about THE BEST but I used the Swampert approach since that's all I had on hand. See this bigger thread talking about it.

First used a Rhyperior that got nuked, then my second was a Swampert with water gun and hydrocanon. I'm a casual so idk about optimal movesets, this is what mine has and it worked first try.

You need to throw in Swampert second instead of leading with it since the few seconds bought by switching make a difference. Then hydrocanon fills up fast enough that you can stun Aerodactyl as well as chip through both of Cliff's shields.

I have a lvl 40 Mud Shot / Muddy Water Swampert and a lvl 40 PuP/SB Lucario. Whatever Cliff has you can win this without using a revive for max premier balls.

Get both of Aero's shields with MW, after the second shield, two Mud Shots then switch immediately to Lucario. Make sure you have energy stored when Aero goes down, no more than 2 Counters for a Shadow Ball. Then you can one-shot Gallade or Slowking and Tyranitar should not be a problem.

Doesn't have to be lvl 40 Swampert and Lucario, but lvl 30 might be tight.

Poliwrath resists all its Fasts and has Power-Up Punch.

This is a great question. There are three different cases:

1.) Rock Throw Aerodactyl

Use Lucario with Counter + Power-Up Punch. Then you can use Shadow Ball against Slowking or Gallade. If Cliff has Cradily, you should be able to take it out easily with boosted Counter + Power-Up Punch. This plan works well because Lucario has a double resistance against Rock-type moves such as Rock Throw. Here is an example.

2.) Steel Wing Aerodactyl

Use Magnezone with Spark + Mirror Shot. Because Magnezone is a Steel- and Electric-type Pokemon, it has a double resistance against Steel-type moves such as Steel Wing. Also Mirror Shot has a 30 % chance to lower your opponent's Attack. This means you have a 51 % chance to lower Aerodactyl's Attack (at least once) when you use Mirror Shot twice to take out Cliff's both shields. After the third Mirror Shot, you can just farm down Aerodactyl and then take out Gallade or Slowking with Wild Charge. If Cliff has Cradily, you can spam Mirror Shot. Here is an example.

3.) Bite Aerodactyl¹

First, try to weaken Aerodactyl with Smack Down Tyranitar/Terrakion. Use only Smack Down and then switch into Lucario. Even though Lucario resists Bite, I recommend weakening Aerodactyl first.

I have used Smack Down Tyranitar, Lucario, and Magnezone. So far, I have never lost with this team.

¹ Scrafty would be amazing in this case. However, I assume there are not many players with a high-level Scrafty (even though even a low-level Scrafty can do the job).

I have tried a number of different teams for Cliff.

Generally, my best results involve switching to something spammy, like HC!Swampert or XChop!Machamp or Seed Bomb!AEggy (super budget).

Electivire - Thunder Shock (Fast Move) + Wild Charge (Charge Move) Blastoise - Water Gun ( Fast Move) + Hydro Cannon (Charge Move) Raikou - Thunder Shock (Fast Move) + Wild Charge (Charge Move) Mamoswine - Powder Snow (Fast Move) + Avalanche (Charge Move) Kyogre - Waterfall (Fast Move) + Surf (Charge Move)

Magnezone or lucario

Lead with something strong against its backend. I use Giratina O. Then swap immediately into (depending on its moveset) - Swampert, Kyogre, Lucario

If bite - Lucario. Can spam PuP. Could bring 2 Lucario and have one for Tyranitar. But if he has Aero, Cradilly, and Tyranitar one Lucario can wipe his team.

If Steel Wing or Rock Throw - Lucario still works but I just swap to Swampert. He can get rid of those shields quickly. Kyogre at least resists steel wing and can do the same.

If you lead with a non-hard counter then swap, you get 2-3 free turns before the Aero attacks again. I bring Giratina-O to counter the possible Gallade in the 2nd slot.

I'm gonna get downvoted into oblivion, but I use Milotic into Kyogre

Melmetal = easy mode

The key is using Pokemon with a double resistance to Aerodactyl's fast move, rather than dealing super effective damage. My 3 suggestions can all handle Cliffs middle Pokemon too, so I'd definitely recommend making them if you haven't got them already. Aerodactyl has 3 different fast moves:

1. Bite - Scrafty is the best counter. It has to be powered up a fair bit, and you'll likely only use it against team rocket, but it's the GOAT. The double resistance to bite allows it to handle Aero with ease. Also, it has counter & power up punch, can ramp up the damage against Aero then hit any of Cliff's middle Pokemon for strong damage if you also run foul play.

2. Steel wing - Magnezone is the best counter. Spark & mirror shot charge up very fast, & mirror shot has a chance to debuff Aero's attack. Wild charge as a second move is amazing will, take out Slowking or Gallade in 2 moves & mirror shot still does well against Cradily.

3. Rock throw - Lucario is the best counter. Similar to Scrafty, it'll ramp up it's damage with counter & PuP. It's probably more necessary to switch in the Lucario rather than lead with it, as rock throw still chunks, even when double resisted, as Lucario has low defence. If you run shadow ball as the second move it'll be able to take out any of the 3 middle Pokemon as well.

melmetal

It is Rock/Flying, so weak against Electric, Ice, Water and Steel. But more importantly observe what fast attack it has.

If it uses Bite, use a dark, fighting or fairy type (Machamp).
If it has Rock Throw or Steel Wing, use a Steel type (Lucario, Melmetal, Metagross).

As always lead with your 2nd pokemon and immediately switch to your 1st pokemon.

Personally I instaswitch into lucario with pup

Metagross with bullet punch & meteor mash. I beat his whole lineup with him.

I change immediately to magnezone (L40) with wild charge and mirror shot. I throw two mirror shots for the shields then a wild charge if I manage, if not I send machamp second that usually manage to finish it

First I lead with Lv 40 Lucario, and then switch to Lv 42 Poliwrath (Mud Shot - PuP, ice punch)

after a lot of trial and error (and spending like 500k dust buffing some pokemons) what worked for me was kinda cheesing him with a roided melmetal and spaming Rock Slide

used togekiss and machamp for the the remaining gallade + tyranitar

Swampert, with mud shot, and muddy water and surf as charged. Quick to get the shields out of the way, and can do some good damage.

I used lucario with power up punch

I’ve been using my Cross Chop/Dynamic Punch Machamp for Aerodactyl. Then I throw in a Lucario if Machamp doesn’t take it out.

Anything Ice.

Why is Aerodactyl the focus here? Has anyone even battled against Skarmory? It should be called Immortalmory

I have a LVL 40 cp melmetal with thundershock and rockslide that stunlocks pretty much every rocket grunt/leader for months now. Nearly always 1v3s whatever team rocket has - including the new lineups.

im surprised noone ever gives genesect a try

I use Electivire and am able to get him down to 25% and use up both his shields before he kills my Electivire, my follow up pokemon (Metagross and Dragonite) will finish him off and kill the other 2.

I usually lead Metagross and hope for no Bite. If he starts Biting, I swap Machamp with Bullet Punch.

Led with level 36 Melmetal to burn Cliff's shields. Then after seeing what others he has lined up, finish off the rest. Also, consider getting best buddied for an extra boost if you have the time.

Bullet Punch/Meteor Mash Metagross works if Aero does not have Bite.

Smackdown/Stone Edge or Smackdown/Crunch Tytar works if Aero doesn't have Steel Wing.

Waterfall/Surf Kyogre works if Aero has Steel Wing.

Swamper with Mud shot and Hydrocannon

If you’re against Steel Wing Aero, a double moved Magnezone is an absolute beast because you can not only burn both shields with Mirror Shot but also farm a lot of energy off of it so you’re basically guaranteed to beat whatever his second Pokémon is with either double Wild Charge or Mirror Shot spam. Can also do work against Rock Throw too, just not as well.

Unfortunately there really isn’t a be all counter to every fast move combination. The closest you’ll get is swapping a Lucario in immediately to get in a few extra fast moves, or a Melmetal. I prefer to just scout the fast move ahead of time because it usually saves me the hassle of possibly losing to whatever he has in the back anyway after taking a ton of damage from Aero.

Insta switch into Power up Punch Lucario is a pretty safe strat. Lucario resists all of Aero’s fast moves and gets through it burning shields and leaving the matchup with something like 40 energy

I've always just used the switch delay to take him down. My team for all three leaders is Lucario (Ctr, PUP, AS), Kyogre (Wtf, Srf, Blzd), and Dialga (DB, IH, Thn). Starting with Lucario, I immediately switch into Kyogre to get the fast move delay. Then use a surf to invoke the fast move delay again, and then it's dead. Everything else is easy.

My vaporeon made quick work of that dactyl

I use a combination of Tyranitar with SmackDown if bite and Metagross if any other.

I use hydro cannon swampert and did it easily

Vaporeon

Saw a video earlier today of someone using a Melmetal to take Cliff down.

I threw waterfall kyogre at it with Surfs

Swampert. Start off with another pokemon to get a few hits first.

Best counter is to run away and fight arlo.

I use my level 40 best buddy 4* melmetal.

I run a Mud Shot/Muddy Water/Hydro Cannon Swampert as my Rocket Leader shield-breaker. The Mud Shots might not do much, but the water moves wreck it.

What level are Cliff's Pokemon. I used Kyogre, Magnezone, Metagross and Tyranitar, and he destroyed all of them before I could get a single charge move off. All my Pokemon were level 35.

Melmetal can take it with any move combination, and get rid of both shields. There are better options for each fast move but I like that I can go in blind and not have to worry about it.

Spam rock slide. With melmetal & Tangrowth

He was tough. I got past him leading with my level 40 Garchomp using outrage to bait both shields. Then had a level 40 Dialga to finish off Aerodactyl, and take on Slowking. Finished off Tyranitar then with a Machamp.

I use Rhyperior and Swampert. I start with Rhyperior and even if it's the high damage attack, I can usually get off 1 charged attack before I go into red HP, then before he dies, I swap to Swampert. That usually does it in before Swampert gets to yellow HP.

Is it the best suggestion here? Hell no! Does it work for me? Absolutely! I have defeated Cliff 5 times now since Aerodactyl swap. First time was annoying af, then when I did this idea, it worked and it's worked since.

On the weaker quick attack, rhyperior does the job 100%.

I use Surf Kyogre

Melmetal is great

kyogre eats it for breakfast

Normally I read most of the replies but I'm drunk 🤷‍♂️

If it hasn't already been said- I swear by duel melmetal and legacy groudon.

There is literally no leaders I can't beat with this. I like to switch lock them for the 3 free hits out the gates. 90% of anything the leaders have take somewhere from moderate damage to "eat $#IT" level from either r.s. or super.pwr and you farm both rock slide and superpower so fast they usually get at best 2 hits before you are stalling them with either of your charged (no matter what double rock slide on their 2 shields first to not lose att/def)

if you get a mon weak to fighting you 2x slide then 2x superpower (energy is farmed while they are locked) then switch in to other melmetal and superpower to end him.

Fire punch also hits so fast you can farm it and take 1-2attacks before you are at another charge. I think I've subbed in mewtwo before too but honestly just exploiting the fast charge+free strikes you can farm anything down.

I use Jolteon to charge up and switch to umbreon to burn both shields and finish it with third charge attack..then use the charged Jolteon move thunderbolt to drain max out of second Pokemon and then use kyogre for tyranitor at the end

also did he revert to Omanyte or he still has Aero?

Just run triple swampert for everything. Stun lock op

If u have terrackion with smackdown

Ive had good success with Melmetal. TS and RS

Tyranitar with Smack Down and Crunch has been my winner. SD hurts the pokemon and crunch drains the shields quick.

If not my GF has been using Alola form Gollum to great effect.

My Machamp Counter/DynamicPunch sweeps it pretty easily. Machamp has enough bulk to withstand his attacks

Excadrill

Swampert

Melmetal w/ Superpower. Spam fast move until you’ve charged up two superpowers, pop those back to back to burn Cliff’s two shields, then you should be able to get Aerodactyl down before Melmetal faints, or at least very close.

Does fighting with GL or UL teams matter or is that only relevant if you don’t have the right ML mons?