Accelgor @ Focus Sash
Trait: Sticky Hold
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature
- Spikes
- Bug Buzz
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Fire] / Yawn / Focus Blast
Me and Groudon ex were experimenting with stuff one night, and came across this little gem. I'm aware that Accelgor does in fact have an OU analysis, but it's almost never used in practice. After testing it, I'm not really sure why - Accelgor has a serious niche that more HO teams need to utilise. It's in a similar boat to Scolipede in that it's a Spiker that beats Deoxys-D 1v1, but there are other exceptional qualities that make it worth using. Possessing Bug STAB in OU is fantastic for a Spiker, as it means Espeon won't be so tempted to switch in and bounce away your hazards, nor can Starmie come in to Rapid Spin with impunity. In the latter regard, Accelgor has a significant advantage over Scolipede in that it outspeeds Starmie, meaning it can OHKO it with Bug Buzz before it even gets the chance to Rapid Spin. This put you at a massive advantage vs. other offensive teams early on. Although Bug Buzz only 2HKOs 252/0 Deoxys-D, it still puts it in a tough spot where it has to choose between getting only one layer of hazards up, or stop Accelgor from setting up more than one layer.
What really makes this set work though, is U-turn. The offensive momentum you can get acquire using this move is insane. Tentacruel wants to come in and spin away your Spikes? U-turn out to Landorus. Tornadus-T thinks it can get a free Hurricane? Out pops Rotom-W. Ferrothorn laughs at you, laugh harder back when Breloom joins the party. I think you get the idea. No other fast hazard setter apart from Azelf can do this, which really sets Accelgor apart from the rest of the crowd.
The last move is quite changeable. I've slashed Focus Blast last as I've never found it particularly useful - the things that it hits I can switch out on thanks to U-turn anyway. HP [Fire] is a great secondary attack though - OHKOing Forretress and Scizor after Spikes damage in neutral weather. Yawn is a niche move that Accelgor can utilise to discourage things from setting up on it, and can help when it comes to keeping hazards up - Yawn the spinner as it comes in, switch to a Ghost as they Rapid Spin, then they fall asleep. As items are concerned, Focus Sash is the only viable one here as Accelgor has no bulk to speak of. It sort of works well paired with Sticky Hold too, though I doubt anyone would try to Trick Accelgor when they could just kill it anyway.
tl;dr use Accelgor. I had my doubts at first, but it's proved time and time again to be an amazing HO lead. Give it a shot.