So I used Accelgor and Poliwrath on the same team. As the ladder was ran over by Serperior this week, I caved and joined the snake hype.
Started out with a Life Orb set for Accelgor, yet ended up with the more common Focus Sash lead. Its speed, Unburder ability, plus access to Encore allows you to ensure hazards on the other side of the field even at times when your opponent tries his best to stop you from doing that. As for Poliwrath, I previously had experiences with its Rain Sweeper set, but right now I believe its defensive set has the most viability. Fully investing in its 90/95 bulk helped me the most, being able to stop boosting Gatrs in their pats and phaze out the recently more common Bouffalants trying to take advantage of Serperior teams. Phazing in Circle throw helps out a lot in general, but more so in my case where phazing for hazard damage was the main way to ensure a sweep.
Now individually, Accelgor is as good as a hazard setter as ever. I felt that, especially now with Serperior running around, Accelgor was able to put on more pressure with Bug Buzz besides the other common utility moves- being able to outspeed and KO Serperior that managed to put up a substitute. For times when the snake will be gone, Accelgor has the movepool to aid any team that doesn't need Bug Buzz. Make use of it before the RU people steal it from us.
As it was expected, Accelgor did its job impeccably, but Poliwrath was the one that amazed me the most. I had previously used this exact same set, but pairing it up now with a hazard setter as proficient as Accelgor made its ability to phaze with a STAB Fighting move shine a lot. Besides Circle Throw that was arguably the most commonly used move, having full recovery in RestTalk and being able to fish for burns with Scald made it quite a problem for a bunch of teams I faced.
The team I ended up with:
Poliwrath (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Circle Throw
- Scald
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Serperior (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Substitute
- Synthesis
Accelgor (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Spikes
- Encore
- Bug Buzz
- Final Gambit
Typhlosion (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Eruption
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Extrasensory
Steelix (M) @ Steelixite
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Heavy Slam
- Stealth Rock
- Dragon Tail
Bouffalant (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 156 HP / 252 Atk / 100 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Head Charge
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Swords Dance
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Circle Throw
- Scald
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Serperior (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Substitute
- Synthesis
Accelgor (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Spikes
- Encore
- Bug Buzz
- Final Gambit
Typhlosion (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Eruption
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Extrasensory
Steelix (M) @ Steelixite
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Heavy Slam
- Stealth Rock
- Dragon Tail
Bouffalant (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 156 HP / 252 Atk / 100 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Head Charge
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Swords Dance
As I previously mentioned, I decided to use a phazing team. I wouldn't call it hazard stacking, as I didn't try to prevent hazard control on the opposite side of the field, but rather pressure my opponent into wasting turns by trying to clear the field- I had this pleasure of getting Contrary Serp into Defogs. Accelgor acted as the main hazard setter and most of the time it was the go-to lead. Many teams barely have any way to stop you from getting up Spikes. I started off with a team that only showed off my anxiety against Serperior at first, but then realized that Poliwrath alone was not enough of a phazer, so I changed it up a bit and added Mega-Steelix with SR and Dragon Tail for extra hazards and phazing opportunities. The team worked well, but this week sure wasn't a fun one, as Serperior was a thing and teambuilding was quite hindered if you wanted to not lose to mindless Leaf Storm spam-hence the Bouffalant- so I don't think it's worth trying to explain it more, given that it will be quite useless when the snake goes.
Here are some replays where Accelgor and Poliwrath managed to help out.
These replays are of the team I used when I started off;
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/nu-201021166
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/nu-201294030
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/nu-201371018
And here is the team I ended up with:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/nu-202685164