Pokémon of all shapes and sizes find an audience and a fandom that absolutely adore them. It’s a reason why the Pokémon franchise as a whole has seen the longevity and exponential growth it has. For every kid obsessed with Water-types, there’s another who can’t stop researching Steel-type Pokémon and their connection to metal. It may be a newer type, but by now there’s enough to start ranking which Steel-types rise above the rest. Let’s now look at the 5 ugliest and 5 cutest Steel-type Pokémon, through Pokémon Sword & Shield.
10 Cute: Magnemite
When people talk about the cutest things they own, they rarely mention magnets, nuts, or screws. Somehow the Electric and Steel-type from Kanto known as Magnemite happens to mix all of these things into a cute package. It has one eye in the center of its body which features the tiniest pupil you could imagine. Humans love creatures that look helpless and love caring for them. Magnemite’s lack of size probably plays a role in making the amalgamation of metal parts and tools feel adorable in its own way.
9 Ugly: Ferrothorn
The Grass-type and Steel-type seem to be opposites of one another and a dual-type including both seem impossible. Well, it isn’t and the result is an abomination known as Ferrothorn. Now, not only is Ferrothorn a weird spiky acorn with vine arms, it hunts in a way that is much more terrifying than its looks. This thing is known to sit and wait in treetops and drop on unsuspecting prey. Humans aren’t immune to this, so imagine walking in the park only to be dropped on by a 250 pound bulbous mass of steel and grass.
8 Cute: Aron
Aron is the base form of Aggron, the pseudo-legendary Steel-type fans across the globe love. This little Rock and Steel-type creature manage to take the concept of an armored mammal and make it endearing somehow.
It likely has to do with its legs being short and stubby on such a tiny body. Aron also has these piercing blue eyes that make anyone who makes direct eye contact with them want to cherish and care for it until it grows and flourishes as the powerhouse it was always destined to become.
7 Ugly: Skarmory
Skarmory’s design overall is what you’d likely expect when you hear about a Pokémon being a Flying and Steel-type. Overall its wings and body are pretty neat, but its head is where the designers decided to make Skarmory hideous. Not only does it have these off-putting yellow eyes, but its mouth is comprised of these tiny sharp teeth that are hidden under its beak. Its beak alone doesn’t do it any favors as the disproportionate top makes it read more like a large nose and less like the beak of a bird.
6 Cute: Meltan
Pokémon fans have mixed feelings about Meltan considering it’s still only catchable in Pokémon GO, which is a bummer. Designers managed to take a metal bolt and liquid steel and turn it into a cute little Steel-type creature.
Its lack of overall body shape and overall size likely contribute to it coming off as much more cute than creepy. Once again, though, most Pokémon fans won’t get to experience it first-hand unless they download the mobile game and catch one when they get the chance.
5 Ugly: Probopass
One look at Probopass would have you assuming it was labeled as the Groucho Marx Pokémon, but it is actually labeled as the Compass Pokémon. That seems like a missed opportunity considering it’s clearly designed after the famous comedian’s iconic eyebrows and mustache. The weirdest part about Probopass’s design is that the appendages on each side of its body look like bird heads. Not only is it ugly, but its magnetic forces will make your electrical appliances in your home stop working.
4 Cute: Togedemaru
Togedemaru at its base is nothing more than the Pikachu clone of the Alolan Islands. Every generation since the initial one set in Kanto has tried to recapture the magic of that electrified mouse. It isn’t a straight clone though as the added second typing of the Steel-type gives it a bit more uniqueness and flexibility. This round ball of fur is called the Roly-Poly Pokémon, which seems quite fitting given its body shape. At the end of the day Togedemaru likely just wants to be cuddled and loved by its trainer.
3 Ugly: Bastiodon
Normally, if a Pokémon happens to be dinosaur inspired then chances are it looks pretty cool. In the case of a Steel-type bruiser named Bastiodon, that isn’t true in the slightest as it looks hideous and its head is made up of so many elements it’s hard not to get lost in the thick of it all. Its head is meant to resemble a shield, but pairing that with the numerous teeth and horns makes it all look like a mess. It stays true to its title as the Shield Pokémon, though, considering it has one of the best physical defense base stats in the franchise.
2 Cute: Cufant
It’s been a while since Pokémon introduced a new elephant-inspired Pokémon, which happened all the way back in the second generation in Johto with Phanpy. Cufant was a welcome addition to Pokémon Sword & Shield and the franchise as a whole considering fans have wanted more elephant-like critters.
Cufant is easily the cutest Steel-type yet and manages to display everything that makes baby elephants so adorable. It’s hard to be a cute animal if it weighs over 300 pounds, but Cufant does it quite easily.
1 Ugly: Forretress
Forretress may not come in first when listed in many Pokémon-related contests, but it does win this one. Without a doubt, the Bagworm Pokémon is the ugliest Steel-type Pokémon in the entire franchise. It seems to take the design styling of Cloyster from the Kanto region and make it worse in almost every possible way. The flesh-like covering of its outer shell and its deadpan eyes devoid of any and all emotions make it come across as something terrifying you can come across at the bottom of the ocean floor.
NEXT: Pokémon: The Best Steel-Type Pokémon Of Every Generation, Ranked
