Fire-type is arguably one of the most beloved types in the world of Pokémon. There’s something about the Fire-type that’s just so cool, and it comes with a vibe of power, strength, and vigor. The Fire-type starter Pokémon are always popular, and Fire-type legendaries are widely-praised.
But, not all Fire-type Pokémon are created equal. Some are actually kind of ugly, either because of a strange design choice or a bad color-scheme. While Pokémon like Vulpix, Litleo, and Fennekin are cute and some like Charizard, Arcanine, and Centiskorch look strong, some Fire-types just miss the mark. Here are the ugliest Fire-type Pokémon, ranked.
10 Combusken
There’s just something off about Combusken. The rest of its evolutionary family is great. Torchic is adorable, Blaziken is intense, but Combusken is just an awkward mid-point between the two of them. It’s like an uncomfortable teenager that hasn’t quite grown out of its young look or into its final form.
It doesn’t help that this line is based on fire-breathing chickens. It makes Torchic cute and Blaziken powerful, but Combusken just looks like that — a fire-breathing chicken, which is not cool when it’s so literal.
9 Turtonator
Generation VII introduced a pair of Dragon-type Pokémon that are often coupled together — Turtonator and Drampa. Both are honestly a bit weird-looking, but Turtonator is straight-up ugly. The Fire/Dragon-type is seemingly a combination of a turtle, a dragon, and a land mine.
The spiny shell on its back is an interesting design choice, but the weird squiggly tail seems unnecessary, the feet are weirdly blocky, and the top of its head is flat and bad. Furthermore, it’s always standing backward behind its shell, which is a bit put-offish.
8 Mega Camerupt
Many of the Pokémon who received Mega evolutions were vastly improved from their already-great designs. Lopunny, Mewtwo, Alakazam, and Gardevoir are great examples of this. Some, though, were actually made uglier. Camerupt is in the “worse” category.
Regular Camerupt is a great design. It resembles a camel with volcanic rocks for humps. It looks heavy, strong, and like it possesses a high defense stat. Mega Camerupt, on the other hand, just pushed these design choices too far. The rocks become a large volcano, and a large skirt adorns its entire torso, making it look like a blob. Also, the large “M” on its forehead is a bit literal and cheesy.
7 Larvesta
Volcarona is a great Pokémon and is widely-loved by fans. It’s a great design, combining a moth and its love for fire. Larvesta, which evolves into Volcarona (at a very, very high level) is like a moth’s larva in its design, which makes sense.
However, it’s ugly. The real-life larva is already kind of gross and ugly, so it’s fitting that a larva Pokémon would be, too. But, the pathetic little flames and stubby arms are sad, and the hairy face with mean eyes are not great either.
6 Galarian Darmanitan
Every now and then, Game Freak introduces a Pokémon that’s hard to look at. It’ll make you feel uncomfortable or creeped out, and you can’t help but turn your head and look away because it’s so unsettling. Perhaps the best example of this is the infamously-creepy Mr. Mime.
However, Generation VIII introduced another — Galarian Darmanitan. This Ice-type is weird and creepy, with its giant comical lips and soulless forward stare. But, the Zen Mode, which is also Fire-type, is just straight-up terrifying and hideous. Also, what’s with the hands?
5 Magmortar
Speaking of weird, humongous lips and a creepy stare — Magmortar. This evolution for Magmar was introduced in Generation IV and was semi-paired with Electivire, Electabuzz’s evolution. It’s an ugly Pokémon though, and much uglier than Magmar or its baby pre-evolution, Magby, which is actually kind of cute.
Magmar reduces Magmar’s beak to a weird creepy clown smile and expands its torso to be a large, round ball. Its eyes are definitely thinking something evil and unspeakable and its thighs seem like Play-doh balls that were attached as an after-thought.
4 Heatmor
Some Pokémon are ugly for reasons that can’t really be explained. Maybe it’s the coloring, maybe it’s the body shape, maybe it’s the overall vibe — or it’s a combination of all of these and more. Heatmor is an example of this.
There isn’t anything specifically-wrong with Heatmor, it’s just ugly. It could be the combination of red, orange, and brown, it could be the weird bottom-heavy proportions, or it could be the weird skinny arms with giant hands. It’s unclear why, but Heatmor is definitely ugly.
3 Carkol
Carkol is such an awkward Pokémon that it’s almost sad. It looks like it’s constantly thinking “please kill me and end my suffering.” It’s perhaps the ugliest Pokémon introduced in Generation VIII. Evolving from Rolycoly, this sad thing is like a minecart with a face. It’s almost like a Pokémon was punished by being turned into an inanimate object for some horrible crime.
Why is the mouth so cheesy and weird, also? Additionally, it rolls along minecart tracks but its legs aren’t even remotely round. How does that work? This poor creature is like a hell spawn that wasn’t meant for this world.
2 Blacephalon
Fan opinion seems to be split on this strange-looking Ultra Beast. Many people love it and think it’s hilarious, while others think it’s just hideous and unnecessary. Objectively, though, it’s kind of ugly. Much like the rest of the Ultra Beasts, this thing is extradimensional and looks like it is, too, looking like a weird alien that belongs in another plane of existence.
Clearly based on circus performers and juggling, this weird alien is awkwardly-proportioned and horrible to look at. It’s not made any better by the fact that it removes its head and uses it as a weapon.
1 Simisear
Ah, the elemental monkeys. They’re a widely-hated trio that is often held up as an example of the worst choices in Pokémon design. Simisear, Simisage, and Simipour, the evolutions, are not great Pokémon and many fans avidly despise them. They seem like one Pokémon with a color-swap to make three Pokémon.
Regardless of their allegedly-lazy design, they’re just not great Pokémon. The thematic motifs here are dull and uninspired, there are too many monkey Pokémon already, and none of these three are nice to look at. Simisear, the Fire-type of the trio, has a weird haircut and strange neck-adornment. The strange shape of its torso doesn’t help, either.
NEXT: Pokémon: Every Ice-Type Gym Leader, Ranked According To Difficulty
