Mega Aerodactyl is back in Pokémon GO’s Mega Raids from July 28 to August 4, 2025, and it remains a top Rock-type threat. If you’re aiming to beat it fast and farm Mega Energy or even catch a shiny, you’ll need the best counters, movesets, and raid prep. This guide covers everything you need to dominate the raid and get the most from this fossil Pokémon.
Mega Aerodactyl Stats, CP, and Raid Basics
Mega Aerodactyl is a Rock and Flying-type Pokémon. With a max CP of 4655 at level 50, it can hit hard and soak up damage during raids. It boasts a high Attack stat (292), making it a significant DPS threat, especially when paired with Rock-type moves like Rock Slide or Ancient Power.
Quick Stats:
- Type: Rock / Flying
- Max CP: 4655 (Level 50)
- Best Role: Top-tier Rock-type Raid Attacker
- First Mega Rock-type in Pokémon GO
- Weather Boosts: Windy & Partly Cloudy
CP Ranges:
- Level 20 (no weather boost): 1515–1590 CP
- Level 25 (Partly Cloudy/Windy boost): 1894–1988 CP
See also: Pokémon GO Hisuian Pokémon Guide: Complete List, Raids, Events & Shiny Forms
Weaknesses and Resistances
To build an effective raid team, it’s important to understand how Mega Aerodactyl’s typing affects its strengths and weaknesses.
Weaknesses (Use these types to deal super-effective damage):
- Water
- Electric
- Rock
- Steel
- Ice
Resistances (Avoid using these types):
- Fire
- Bug
- Normal
- Poison
- Flying
Note: Ground-type moves hit Mega Aerodactyl for neutral damage in Pokémon GO, unlike in mainline games where Flying-types are immune.
Best Counters for Mega Aerodactyl
To maximize efficiency in the raid, you’ll want to use Mega Evolutions, Legendaries, or Shadow Pokémon with moves from its key weakness types. Here are some of the top performers:
Steel-Type Powerhouses
| Pokémon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Zacian (Crowned Sword) | Metal Claw | Behemoth Blade |
| Zamazenta (Crowned Shield) | Metal Claw | Behemoth Bash |
| Dusk Mane Necrozma | Metal Claw | Sunsteel Strike |
| Dialga (Origin) | Metal Claw | Roar of Time |
| Shadow Metagross | Bullet Punch | Meteor Mash |
| Shadow Dialga | Metal Claw | Iron Head |
Water-Type Counters
| Pokémon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Primal Kyogre | Waterfall | Origin Pulse |
| Mega Swampert | Water Gun | Hydro Cannon |
| Mega Blastoise | Water Gun | Hydro Cannon |
| Quaquaval | Water Gun | Hydro Cannon |
| Shadow Empoleon | Metal Claw | Hydro Cannon |
See also: How to Get the Coin Bag in Pokémon GO and Catch Gimmighoul for Gholdengo
Electric & Ice Options
| Pokémon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Xurkitree | Thunder Shock | Discharge |
| Mega Manectric | Thunder Fang | Wild Charge |
| Thundurus (Therian) | Volt Switch | Wildbolt Storm |
| Zapdos (Shadow) | Thunder Shock | Thunderbolt |
| White Kyurem | Steel Wing | Ice Burn |
| Black Kyurem | Dragon Tail | Freeze Shock |
Moves marked with an asterisk require an Elite TM or were Community Day exclusives.
Shadow Pokémon hit harder due to their Shadow Bonus, making them excellent raid picks. Be sure to unlock a second Charged Move to replace Frustration with something useful.
If You Don’t Have Top Counters, Use These Pokémon
If you don’t have access to top-tier Legendaries or Megas, try these solid picks that still exploit Mega Aerodactyl’s weaknesses:
- Glaceon (Ice Shard + Avalanche)
- Jolteon (Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt)
- Samurott (Waterfall + Hydro Cannon)
- Kingler or Clawitzer (Bubble + Crabhammer)
- Luxray (Spark + Wild Charge)
- Genesect (Metal Claw + Magnet Bomb)
- Excadrill (Metal Claw + Iron Head)
Note: Avoid moves like Psychic Fangs on Luxray, which don’t benefit this matchup.
Moveset Analysis: What to Watch For
Mega Aerodactyl typically runs one of the following moves:
- Fast Moves: Bite (Dark), Rock Throw, Steel Wing
- Charged Moves: Rock Slide, Iron Head, Ancient Power
These moves give it wide coverage:
- Bite threatens Ghost and Psychic types.
- Steel Wing punishes Fairy, Ice, and Rock-type counters.
- Rock Slide and Ancient Power hit most neutral targets very hard.
Avoid bringing Pokémon that are weak to Rock or Steel, such as Ice-types without resistance coverage.
See also: How to Catch Cresselia in Pokémon GO Raids: Best Tips and Strategies
Strategy Tips for the Raid
- Raid in a Group: Mega Aerodactyl’s bulk and damage output make it unsuitable for solo play. Bring at least 4–5 high-level trainers with optimized teams.
- Weather Boosts Help: Rain boosts Electric and Water types, while Snow boosts Ice and Steel. Use this to your advantage.
- Elite TMs Matter: Many optimal counters require exclusive moves—consider investing Elite TMs into your top attackers if you raid frequently.
Rewards and How to Get Mega Aerodactyl
After defeating Mega Aerodactyl, you’ll encounter a regular Aerodactyl, not its Mega form. Use this opportunity to hunt for a shiny or high IV version to evolve later.
Post-Raid Rewards:
- Aerodactyl Encounter (shiny chance included)
- Mega Energy:
- First clear: 200 Mega Energy
- Repeat raids: 40 Mega Energy
To evolve your own Aerodactyl:
- Use 200 Mega Energy for the first evolution.
- Future evolutions require 40 Mega Energy, or none at all after the cooldown.
Once Mega Aerodactyl has been evolved, you can evolve it again for free after a cooldown period. This cooldown gets shorter as its Mega Level increases.
See also: How to Catch Mega Garchomp in Pokémon GO Raids: Best Tips and Strategies
Additionally, you’ll earn 5 Mega Energy per Candy while walking Aerodactyl as your Buddy—after it’s been registered in your Mega Dex.
Can Mega Aerodactyl Be Shiny?
Yes, and Mega Raids offer a boosted shiny rate (approx. 1 in 64). Catching a shiny Aerodactyl is one of the best rewards of completing this raid.
Where to Use Mega Aerodactyl
As a Rock-type powerhouse, Mega Aerodactyl is especially useful in raids against:
- Moltres, Ho-Oh, Charizard (Flying/Fire)
- Zapdos, Articuno (Legendary Birds)
- Yanmega, Gyarados, Talonflame, Tornadus
Any Pokémon weak to Rock moves will crumble under its high DPS.
Related Guides You Might Like:
- Pokémon GO Origin Forme Palkia Raid Guide: Everything You Need to Know
- How to Catch Chatot and Shiny Chatot in Pokemon GO Tour: Sinnoh Global Event
- How to Catch Cresselia in Pokémon Go from Sinnoh Region: Can It Be Shiny?
- Pokémon Go Glimmers of Gratitude Quest: How to Get Shiny Shaymin
Mega Aerodactyl may not be the newest raid boss in town, but it’s still one of the best Rock-type attackers available.
In the current raid meta, Mega Aerodactyl is the strongest Rock-type attacker available, outperforming many others in damage output. It’s especially useful against bosses weak to Rock—such as Fire, Ice, Bug, and Flying-types.
With smart counter choices, strong moves, and a coordinated team, you can farm Mega Energy, grab a powerful Aerodactyl, and maybe even score a shiny along the way.
