Okay, I have previously done some really bad posts on Machamp and Vaporeon (When I just started smogon) So this is technically my first actual post for Viability Ranking! Today I will be discussing my opinions and reasoning to have Accelgor enter C-rank! I hope you enjoy reading this! Lets Begin!!!!
ACCELGOR FOR C RANK!!!
Okay, In my opinion, Accelgor is heavily underused and should be used more often, as a spikes lead, and a great fast special attacker.
Lets take a look as these base stats. Okay, Accelgor is obviously really frail, which is why it is almost always ran with a focus sash. But its Special Attack and Speed are very good especially its speed. Which outspeeds the entire UU metagame except Mega Aerodactyl. Since Accelgor plays more of a supportive role, it basically has a prankster ability! Because no one outspeeds it, and allows Accelgor to do a number of things, including set up spikes(Most notable purpose), Potentially take out a mon with Final Gambit for a guaranteed OHKO, maybe put up a rain dance, or something else. This gives Accelgor a great lead spot on any team. Accelgor usually runs spike support with encore and other support moves which is very effective. With a focus sash, It is almost guaranteed to get 2 layers of spikes up, a big help to your team. Now, Accelgor obviously faces stiff competition with Froslass as a spiker. I will admit, Froslass is probably a better spiker for most teams, but that doesnt mean Accelgor doesnt deserve to be unranked, as it has some advantages over Froslass as a spiker....
Okay here I will be going over some of the pros and cons of using Accelgor as a lead spiker over Froslass
. Here we go. For one! Accelgor has a much higher speed than Froslass, meaning it can set up spikes more efficiently, and almost guarantee one layer. This massive speed stat also gives Accelgor another advantage over Froslass as it is much less likely to get TAUNTED. Taunt shuts Froslass down, and it happens a lot, because it is outsped by common taunters, such as Mega Houndoom
(Probably not a lead but still), Aerodactyl
, Crobat
, Azelf
, Tornadus
(By 1 point lol), and even Taunt Whimsicott
. That is a lot of outspeeds. Azelf is such a common lead as it is, and Accelgors Bug Buzz can take it out easily, or bring it down to its sash. Another advantage with Accelgor over Froslass is its special attack, allowing it do still deal a good amount of damage with taunt, or with magic bounce pokemon... Bug Buzz is super effective against Espeon
and OHKO it, if you run full special Accelgor as a lead (Without Final Gambit)
252 SpA Accelgor Bug Buzz vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Espeon: 258-306 (95.2 - 112.9%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
Now, Froslass is admittively a better lead spiker, due to it having a great ability in Cursed Body, having destiny bond, and usually also carrying taunt. It also blocks rapid spin, a huge counter to accelgor, but that is why it is smart to carry a good spin blocker with Accelgor such as Chandelure, with by the way has great synergy with Accelgor.
Lastly, I want to look at some viable sets for Accelgor and some niches and such it has in the current metagame for UU.
Of course he mostly runs the common spikes lead set, which in itself is very effective.
Accelgor @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Spikes
- Final Gambit/Focus Blast
- Encore
- Bug Buzz
This is the standard set, and it works very effectively. Accelgor will almost always get spikes up, and then can either final gambit the opponett for a suicude OHKO, or maybe encore the opponett into setting up hazards, or getting some good damage off with Bug Buzz. It is a very nice set. You can even run Focus Blast over Final Gambit for more coverage and damage ouutput, if you did that you would then want to go max special attack and possibly modest depending on your teams needs. This set also utilizes his Unburden ability, which makes him even faster! Literally outspeeding almost every single mon, except maybe Agility Mega Aerodactyl (Which you will never see haha).... Not much else to say as the set is self explanitory.
Another set Accelgor uses VERY well is his Offensive set, with life orb, or even specs if you got gonads.
Accelgor @ Life Orb/ Specs (If you got balls haha)
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature or Modest Nature.
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power Ground/ Hidden Power Fire
- Focus Blast
- Giga Drain/ Sludge Bomb
This is one of my favorite sets, as it catches foes off guard, and can really do some nice wallbreaking as well. This set really does hit hard and always has momentum going with it with an amazing 145 base speed stat and a respectable base 100 special attack. These moves have almost PERFECT coverage. Bug Buzz is its main stab and it a great move overall, it allows for a possible Sp.Def drop, and bypasses substitutes, making some threats' substitutes useless. Focus Blast is for some insane damage output and to hit those pesky steel and rock types which resist bug, as well hitting ice, dark, and normal types very well too. Giga drain can be used for some health back, and can be used against some counters like Swampert
and Jellicent
(Who walls Accelgor's movepool). Sludge Bomb can be used over giga drain for some more damage and a nice poison chance, but also for coverage against fairies, who resist Bug and Fighting. This is why Sludge bomb is usually better. Lastly, we have Hp Ground. This is mainly for rock and steel types and notably Doublade
, which resists all stabs like a boss. Hp Fire can be used for Forretress
, who you will be commonly seeing as a lead against you, which ca be really beneficial, and hp fire is for more coverage and for Trevenant
, which all moves are nuetral or dont affect it. Onto the last viable set, and the one that a pretty nice niche.
Rain Dance lead Accelgor.
Accelgor @ Damp Rock
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Rain Dance
- Spikes
- Encore/U-turn
- Bug Buzz
Rain dance lead Accelgor is the only mon in UU that can effectively set up rain and spikes, and is used well on offensive Rain teams. Now, Tornadus and Azelf have their own roles on rain dance leads, and do very well in that respect, but Accelgor is obviously the best Rain Dance Spikes lead. This set is great in that is also utilizes his most unused ability, Hydration, which means it can get rid of a paralysis, which cripples Accelgor, or even get rid of a Toxic if they want to break your sash. Encore is for the added utility and trapping of foes giving your rain team some needed momentum, or U-turn for some momentum. Even though Accelgor aint physical, it can still do some decent damage with stab. This is a very good utility mon for rain teams, and can actually deserves a spot on rain teams!
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Okay, now that I am dome with that, I want to point out some other niches and moves Accelgor can use well, or nichely in some situations.
First! Accelgor weak to priority? It can learn Quick Attack and Feint, Feint can be used for a niche moment against Beedrill, while quick attack is for some low hp situations.
Second! Accelgor learns many good utility moves, and can use them with a good purpose in some other not very popular sets. These moves include Guard Split! Which can be used against tanks to make Accelgor surprisingly bulky! Another move is Yawn, which is a great move in itself, It pressures a switch, or makes the opponet stay in for a sleep. Another move he can use well is baton pass! He can baton pass so it doesnt get pursuit trapped, and it can even pass an Acid Armor! Very niche but worth mentioning! Lastly for creative moves he can use Venoshock on a spike stacking team... Lead with a toxic spikes setter like Dragalge, Nidoqueen, or Forretress, switch out, and start Venoshocking for some insane damage!
Thirdly and Lastly! we have a move that I have used a couple of times on Accelgor... and that is Me First! This only works if the pokemon is faster and who is faster than Accelgor? Me First can be used in very niche moments to KO the opponett with their own move! Such as a draco metoer Salamence or shadow ball Azelf! Who knows!
Thank you for taking the time to read this INSANELY long post, as it shows my passion for Accelgor and how good of a mon it is. Phew, that did take a while lol. I hope you loved my entry into the Viability Rankings and I hope you agree with my statement about
ACCELGOR TO C RANK!!!!!!
Thank you so much! ~
LRXC