Aerodactyl

Aerodactyl is one of the premier leads in DPP OU in controlling the early entry hazard game, as it has access to Taunt and is the fastest Stealth Rock user in the tier outside of Choice Scarf Pokemon. These qualities make Aerodactyl a great candidate for hyper offensive teams, as it notably prevents fast leads such as Azelf and Choice Scarf Tyranitar from setting up Stealth Rock. This is critical for maximizing teammates weak to entry hazards including Gyarados and Dragonite, and also potentially enabling Focus Sash users outside of the lead slot, such as Heatran and Tyranitar. Alternatively, Aerodactyl can venture from the lead position by making use of its great Speed not only offensively but defensively as well. Offensive Aerodactyl outruns the majority of the metagame, including prominent set up sweepers such as Gyarados and Dragonite after a Dragon Dance. It can also use its fast Taunt, sand immunity, and recovery to take advantage of stall teams. Defensively, Aerodactyl can use the SubRoost strategy effectively to be a complete annoyance against any team, provided it has the correct support.

Aerodactyl is otherwise niche in DPP OU and must have a specific reason to be used. While it easily fulfills its niche of preventing set up and getting up Stealth Rock, it faces tough competition from Azelf. Other than Aerodactyl and Choice Scarf Tyranitar, Azelf is faster than almost all other leads, has access to Explosion, and is much more versatile. Aerodactyl's many common weaknesses and inability to boost its Attack make it struggle outside of the lead slot. Many of the common Steel-types of DPP OU, such as Jirachi, Metagross, Bronzong, and especially Scizor can stomach its attacks and remove Aerodactyl easily. Aerodactyl also struggles to break through bulky Pokemon resistant to Rock, such as Hippowdon, Swampert, and Breloom.