Dominating the Skies: What is Strong Against Aerodactyl in FireRed?
Aerodactyl, the prehistoric Pokémon, presents a formidable challenge in Pokémon FireRed. This Rock/Flying-type boasts impressive speed and attack power, making it crucial to understand its weaknesses to effectively counter it. In short, Aerodactyl is weak to Water, Electric, Ice, Rock, and Steel-type attacks. These types will deal super effective damage, meaning they will hit for twice the normal damage, potentially turning the tide of a battle.
Understanding Aerodactyl’s Typing
Before diving into specific counters, it’s important to understand why these types are effective against Aerodactyl. As a dual Rock/Flying-type, Aerodactyl inherits the vulnerabilities of both types:
- Rock-type weaknesses: Ground, Steel, Fighting, Water, and Grass
- Flying-type weaknesses: Electric, Ice, and Rock
However, a few of these weaknesses overlap, and one of Rock’s weaknesses, Grass, is nullified by Aerodactyl’s Flying-type. This leaves the five primary weaknesses: Water, Electric, Ice, Rock, and Steel. Let’s delve into why and how each of these types can exploit Aerodactyl’s vulnerabilities.
Water-Type Advantage
Water-type moves are incredibly effective against Aerodactyl due to their inherent advantage against Rock-types. Pokémon with powerful Water-type attacks, like Surf, Hydro Pump, or Waterfall, can inflict considerable damage. These attacks are particularly useful because they bypass Aerodactyl’s high Physical Defense by dealing damage based on its Special Defense, which is relatively lower. In FireRed, Water-type Pokémon are fairly common, making them accessible counters.
Electric-Type Offense
Electric-type attacks are another fantastic option against Aerodactyl because of their effectiveness against Flying-types. Moves such as Thunderbolt, Thunder, and Spark will deal significant damage. Electric-type Pokémon are widely available in FireRed, such as Zapdos, which can also come with a secondary Flying-type. If available in your team, they should be a go-to option against this prehistoric powerhouse.
Ice-Type Tactics
Ice-type moves capitalize on Aerodactyl’s vulnerability as a Flying-type Pokémon. Attacks such as Ice Beam, Blizzard, and Ice Punch can deliver a crucial blow. This can be tricky to use in FireRed, as Ice Pokémon are not as readily available, but finding a way to exploit this weakness is definitely worth the trouble.
Rock-Type Rebuttal
Counter-intuitively, Rock-type attacks are also effective against Aerodactyl. While it might seem like using Rock against a Rock-type is not ideal, remember Aerodactyl is also a Flying-type. This dual typing makes Rock-type attacks deal super effective damage. Moves like Rock Slide and Stone Edge are effective. This is good news for FireRed since Rock-type Pokemon are not as niche as Ice.
Steel-Type Edge
Finally, Steel-type attacks are also a solid counter to Aerodactyl as they hit Rock-types hard. Moves like Metal Claw and Steel Wing can inflict significant damage. However, Steel types can be hard to come by in FireRed, and so they may not always be the most convenient option.
Best Pokémon to Counter Aerodactyl
While knowing the types that are effective is crucial, having suitable Pokémon that can use these types is even more important. Some standout counters in FireRed include:
- Blastoise: A powerful Water-type starter with access to moves like Surf, a strong counter.
- Zapdos: A Legendary Electric/Flying-type that benefits from its typing advantage and powerful Electric attacks.
- Articuno: Another Legendary, this Ice/Flying-type has a unique niche as it can use powerful Ice-type moves to counter Aerodactyl.
- Omastar: The fossil Pokémon with Water/Rock typing, with a good special attack to use strong water moves.
- Kabutops: Another fossil Pokémon, Kabutops has a good attack stat, allowing it to hit hard with Rock-type moves.
- Swampert: Once transferred from Hoenn, Swampert is an excellent option with a Water/Ground typing, making it resist Electric attacks while still dealing super effective damage against Aerodactyl.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Aerodactyl weak to grass?
No, Aerodactyl is not weak to Grass-type moves. While Rock-types are generally weak to Grass, Aerodactyl’s Flying-type cancels this weakness out, making Grass-type attacks deal normal damage.
2. Is Aerodactyl immune to Earthquake?
Yes, Aerodactyl is immune to Ground-type moves like Earthquake because it is a Flying-type. Ground-type attacks have no effect on Flying-type Pokémon.
3. Is Aerodactyl immune to Electric?
No, Aerodactyl is not immune to Electric-type attacks. As a Flying-type Pokémon, it is vulnerable to Electric-type moves, meaning they deal double the normal damage.
4. What is Aerodactyl most weak to?
Aerodactyl is most vulnerable to Water, Electric, Ice, Rock, and Steel-type attacks. These types deal super effective damage against the Rock/Flying-type.
5. Is Aerodactyl worth it in Fire Red?
Yes, Aerodactyl is a strong Pokémon in FireRed. Its high speed and attack stat make it a formidable threat, allowing it to deliver quick KOs.
6. What do I do with the Old Amber in Fire Red?
The Old Amber, found in the Pewter City Museum, is used to revive Aerodactyl at the lab on Cinnabar Island. You need to bring the item to the lab to receive Aerodactyl.
7. How do you beat Dark Aerodactyl?
You beat a Dark Aerodactyl using the same strategies that you use against a normal one: using Water, Electric, Ice, Rock and Steel-type attacks. Fighting-type Pokémon can also be an additional help to your team.
8. Does Aerodactyl evolve in FireRed?
No, Aerodactyl does not evolve in FireRed. It is the final form of this Pokemon. It can only mega evolve if transfered to a later generation.
9. What is the best flyer in FireRed?
The best Flying-type Pokémon in FireRed varies based on your team composition. Zapdos and Articuno are powerful, but Aerodactyl’s speed is a big selling point, followed by Pidgeot.
10. Is Aerodactyl a Dragon-type?
No, Aerodactyl is not a Dragon-type. It is a Rock/Flying-type. Despite its appearance, it doesn’t have the Dragon typing.
11. How many people does it take to beat Aerodactyl in raids?
Aerodactyl can be defeated by 2 trainers in Pokemon GO. Due to its low defenses and availability of counters, it can be soloed, too.
12. Why is Aerodactyl so good?
Aerodactyl’s high speed and attack stats, along with a diverse movepool, make it very good. In higher generations, its Mega Evolution gives an additional boost to it.
13. Which fossil Pokémon is better in Fire Red?
Both fossil Pokémon are great for their own reasons: Kabutops has higher attack and speed, making it an offensive force, while Omastar has better special attack and defense, making it a more defensive special attacker. It really depends on your preference.
14. What is the strongest Pokémon in FireRed?
Mewtwo is considered the strongest due to its high base stats and powerful Psychic-type moves. Gengar is also a very powerful option due to its unique typing.
15. What is stronger: Mega Punch or Mega Kick?
In the games, Mega Kick is stronger than Mega Punch. Mega Kick has a higher base power. However, most physical attackers that use punches are more readily available for earlier levels than the few that use kicks.
By understanding Aerodactyl’s weaknesses and utilizing the right Pokémon and moves, you can effectively counter this prehistoric powerhouse in FireRed. Good luck, trainer!