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With over 1,000 Pokemon designs across nine generations, beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. Some Pokemon captivate us with their elegant designs, while others make us question what Game Freak was thinking. I’ve spent years analyzing Pokemon designs and gathering community insights to bring you the most comprehensive ranking of the ugliest Pokemon by type.
The ugliest Pokemon is subjective and varies by fan opinion, but commonly cited examples include Jynx (Gen 1), Feebas (Gen 3), Garbodor (Gen 5), and Rhyperior (Gen 4) for their controversial or unappealing designs. However, our community-based analysis reveals a more nuanced picture with some surprising consensus across different Pokemon fan communities.
What makes a Pokemon design “ugly” can range from intentional choices meant to represent concepts like pollution, to unfortunate evolution designs that disappoint fans, to cultural missteps that haven’t aged well. After analyzing thousands of Reddit comments, forum discussions, and community votes, I’ve compiled the definitive ranking of the ugliest Pokemon from each type based on genuine community consensus.
This ranking considers factors like design execution, evolution disappointment, cultural impact, and overall community reaction. Let’s dive into the most controversial Pokemon designs that have sparked endless debates across the Pokemon community.
Our comprehensive ranking analyzes one Pokemon from each of the 18 types, based on extensive community research and consensus. Each selection represents the type’s most controversial or widely criticized design, with insights into why these Pokemon have earned their reputation.
Quick Summary: Each type’s ugliest Pokemon was selected based on community consensus, design criticism, and evolution disappointment factors.
Purugly represents everything that can go wrong with a Pokemon evolution. What started as the adorable Glameow evolved into what many fans consider an intentionally ugly Normal-type with poor design execution. The messy fur pattern, angry expression, and awkward proportions make Purugly a frequent target of community criticism.
As a Gen 4 evolution, Purugly missed the mark on what fans wanted from a cat Pokemon evolution. The design feels rushed and uninspired, with clashing colors and a permanent scowl that doesn’t appeal to many trainers. Despite its decent battle capabilities, the aesthetic choices left many fans disappointed.
⏰ Time Saver: Normal-type fans often skip Purugly for other cat-like Pokemon like Meowth or Litten lines.
Reddit communities frequently cite Purugly as an example of poor evolution design, with many threads dedicated to discussing how such a cute pre-evolution could result in such a controversial final form. The name itself doesn’t help – “Purugly” literally tells you it’s meant to be unattractive.
Emboar stands as one of the most disappointing starter evolutions in Pokemon history. The Gen 5 Fire-type starter evolution was meant to embody a powerful wrestler theme, but the execution fell flat with awkward proportions and a design that feels more cartoonish than intimidating.
The combination of pig-like features with wrestling elements created a confusing aesthetic that doesn’t resonate with many fans. The color scheme, while technically Fire-appropriate, feels muddled and lacks the elegance of previous Fire starters like Charizard or Infernape.
Community forums are filled with discussions about how Emboar represents a missed opportunity for a cool Fire/Fighting starter. The repeated Fire/Fighting typing in Gen 5 didn’t help, making Emboar feel like a less-inspired version of previous starters rather than something unique and exciting.
Bruxish immediately caught attention (and not in a good way) when introduced in Gen 7. This Water-type Pokemon features large, prominent lips, clashing colors, and an overall design that many fans find unsettling or just plain bizarre.
The underwater theme is clear, but the execution with exaggerated features and bright colors creates a jarring appearance that doesn’t fit well with other Water-type designs. The psychic typing adds another layer of confusion to this already controversial design.
Design Controversy: Pokemon designs that spark community debate due to unusual features or questionable artistic choices.
Reddit threads about Bruxish often discuss how its appearance doesn’t match typical Water-type aesthetics, with some fans finding it genuinely creepy while others appreciate its unique approach to underwater Pokemon design. The large teeth and bulging eyes make it one of Gen 7’s most divisive Water-types.
Amoonguss takes the concept of a mushroom Pokemon and gives it a controversial twist with Pokeball-inspired features. The Grass/Poison type features two Pokeball-like caps on a mushroom body, with an angry expression that doesn’t quite fit the natural theme of many Grass-type designs.
The proportions feel awkward, with the Pokeball caps looking disproportionate to the mushroom body. The color scheme, while technically appropriate for a mushroom, doesn’t blend well with the artificial Pokeball elements, creating a design that feels somewhat disjointed.
Community discussions often focus on how Amoonguss represents a departure from more natural Grass-type designs. While some appreciate the unique concept, many find the combination of natural and artificial elements jarring and poorly executed.
Toxel represents one of Pokemon’s most unsettling design choices. The Electric/Poison baby Pokemon features what appears to be a diaper-like lower body, disproportionate features, and an overall appearance that many fans find genuinely creepy or disturbing.
The baby-like characteristics combined with poison typing create an uncomfortable juxtaposition that doesn’t appeal to many trainers. The design seems intentionally awkward, with features that don’t quite fit together in a cohesive way.
✅ Pro Tip: Despite its appearance, Toxel can evolve into the powerful Toxtricity, making it worth raising for competitive play.
Reddit communities frequently discuss how Toxel’s design represents one of Pokemon’s most questionable artistic choices. The baby-like features combined with the poison typing create an unsettling combination that has sparked numerous debates about appropriate Pokemon design boundaries.
Jynx stands as perhaps Pokemon’s most controversial design from the original generation. The Ice/Psychic type features features that have been widely criticized for racial stereotypes and unsettling appearance, making it a consistent topic of debate in Pokemon communities.
The design elements that caused controversy have led to color changes in later iterations, but the overall concept remains problematic by modern standards. The combination of human-like features with exaggerated characteristics creates an appearance that many fans find uncomfortable.
Community discussions about Jynx often focus on how its design hasn’t aged well and represents early Pokemon design choices that wouldn’t be made today. Despite its competitive usefulness, the aesthetic issues have kept Jynx at the center of Pokemon design controversy discussions for decades.
Crabominable represents a significant evolution disappointment, taking the cool concept of a crab Pokemon and giving it an awkward Fighting/Ice evolution with questionable design choices. The weird hair-like features and disproportionate elements create a Pokemon that many fans find disappointing.
The pre-evolution Crabrawler had potential, but the evolution to Crabominable introduced elements that don’t fit well together. The combination of ice and fighting themes with the crab base creates a confusing aesthetic that lacks the cohesion of better-designed Pokemon evolutions.
Forum discussions frequently cite Crabominable as an example of evolution design gone wrong. Many fans were excited about Crabrawler but let down by its evolution, making it one of Gen 7’s most disappointing Pokemon designs according to community consensus.
Alolan Grimer takes the original Grimer design and somehow makes it worse according to many fans. The Poison/Dark type features colors and patterns that many describe as vomit-like, with an appearance that many find more gross than the original Kanto version.
The Alolan form was meant to represent different environmental conditions, but the execution resulted in a Pokemon that many fans find genuinely unappealing. The color scheme and pattern choices create an appearance that’s unsettling rather than interesting.
Community discussions about Alolan Grimer often focus on how it represents an Alolan form that made the original design worse rather than better. Many fans prefer the original Kanto Grimer, making Alolan Grimer one of the least popular regional variants according to community polls.
Hippopotas features a design that many fans find lacking in polish and appeal. The Ground-type hippo Pokemon has proportions and features that feel somewhat awkward and unfinished, with a color scheme that doesn’t quite work.
The design concept is clear, but the execution leaves much to be desired. The blocky proportions and simplified features create a Pokemon that feels less detailed and less appealing than many other Ground-type options available to trainers.
Reddit communities often discuss how Hippopotas represents a missed opportunity for a cool Ground-type design. While the concept of a hippo Pokemon has potential, the execution resulted in a Pokemon that many fans find underwhelming and uninspired.
Vullaby features one of Pokemon’s most unsettling design elements – what appears to be an eggshell diaper combined with an angry baby bird appearance. The Dark/Flying type’s design choices create a Pokemon that many fans find genuinely uncomfortable to look at.
The combination of baby bird features with the eggshell elements creates a disturbing juxtaposition that doesn’t appeal to many trainers. The design seems intentionally unsettling, with features that don’t create a cohesive or appealing appearance.
⚠️ Important: Vullaby’s design has been frequently discussed in Pokemon communities as an example of questionable artistic choices.
Community discussions about Vullaby often focus on how its design represents some of Pokemon’s most questionable artistic decisions. The baby-like features combined with the eggshell elements create an unsettling combination that has sparked numerous debates about appropriate Pokemon design.
Grumpig takes the concept of a pig Pokemon and gives it bizarre design elements that many fans find confusing and unappealing. The Psychic-type features unusual proportions and design choices that don’t quite fit together in a cohesive way.
The evolution from Spoink introduced elements that many fans find disappointing. The combination of pig-like features with psychic elements creates a design that feels somewhat forced and unnatural, with proportions that don’t quite work.
Forum discussions often cite Grumpig as an example of evolution design that didn’t quite hit the mark. Many fans were interested in the concept but let down by the execution, making it one of Gen 3’s less appealing Psychic-type designs according to community feedback.
Kricketune features design choices that many fans find bizarre and unappealing. The Bug-type cricket Pokemon has proportions and features that feel somewhat awkward, with the mustache-like elements creating a confusing aesthetic.
The design concept has potential, but the execution results in a Pokemon that many fans find underwhelming. The combination of cricket features with the mustache elements creates a design that doesn’t quite work visually.
Community discussions about Kricketune often focus on how it represents a missed opportunity for a cool Bug-type design. While the concept of a musical cricket has potential, the execution resulted in a Pokemon that many fans find uninspired and somewhat bizarre.
Rhyperior represents one of Pokemon’s most disappointing evolution designs. The Rock/Ground type evolution from the popular Rhydon resulted in a blocky, awkward design that many fans find less appealing than its pre-evolution.
The evolution introduced design elements that many fans consider a step backward from Rhydon’s cooler appearance. The proportions and features feel somewhat clunky and uninspired, disappointing fans who were hoping for an evolution that would improve upon Rhydon’s design.
Reddit communities frequently discuss how Rhyperior represents a major evolution disappointment. Many fans prefer Rhydon’s design and consider Rhyperior one of the least successful evolution designs in Pokemon history, making it a frequent topic of design criticism discussions.
Cursola takes the concept of coral bleaching and turns it into a Ghost-type design that many fans find disturbing and unsettling. The evolution from the popular Corsola resulted in a Pokemon that many consider depressing and unappealing.
The design concept is clever but the execution creates a Pokemon that many fans find genuinely unsettling. The bleached appearance combined with ghostly elements creates an aesthetic that doesn’t appeal to many trainers, despite its environmental message.
Community discussions about Cursola often focus on how it represents an evolution that made a popular Pokemon less appealing. While some appreciate the environmental statement, many fans find the design depressing and prefer the original Corsola’s appearance.
Drampa features an unusual design concept that many fans find bizarre and unappealing. The Dragon-type elderly dragon combines features that don’t quite fit together in a cohesive way, creating a Pokemon that many find underwhelming.
The concept of an elderly dragon has potential, but the execution results in a design that many fans find uninspired. The proportions and features create a Dragon-type that doesn’t have the majestic or powerful appearance that many fans expect from the type.
Forum discussions often cite Drampa as an example of Dragon-type design that didn’t quite hit the mark. Many fans were hoping for a cooler Dragon-type design and were disappointed by the execution, making it one of Gen 7’s less popular Dragon-type Pokemon according to community feedback.
Guzzlord represents Ultra Beast design taken to its most extreme. The Dark/Dragon type features an intentionally alien appearance that many fans find disturbing and unappealing, with design elements that create a genuinely unsettling Pokemon.
The design is meant to be otherworldly, but the execution creates a Pokemon that many fans find genuinely creepy. The combination of multiple features and proportions creates an appearance that doesn’t appeal to many trainers, even by Ultra Beast standards.
Community discussions about Guzzlord often focus on how it represents Ultra Beast design at its most alien and unsettling. While some appreciate the bold design choices, many fans find the appearance too disturbing to be appealing, making it one of the most controversial Ultra Beast designs.
Probopass features what many fans consider one of Pokemon’s most bizarre design choices. The Steel/Rock type evolution from Nosepass introduced a mustache-like feature and other elements that create one of the most widely criticized Pokemon designs.
The evolution took an already unusual design and made it even more bizarre according to many fans. The proportions, features, and mustache element create a Pokemon that many find genuinely confusing and unappealing.
⚠️ Important: Probopass is consistently ranked among Pokemon’s weirdest designs in community polls.
Reddit communities frequently discuss how Probopass represents Pokemon design at its most bizarre. Many fans consider it one of the strangest-looking Pokemon ever created, with discussions often focusing on how such an unusual design made it through the development process.
Slurpuff takes the concept of a sweet-themed Fairy-type and pushes it to an extreme that many fans find unappealing. The design features elements that many consider overly saccharine and somewhat unsettling in their sweetness.
The Fairy-type design concept has potential, but the execution creates a Pokemon that many find underwhelming. The proportions and features don’t quite work together to create the appealing Fairy-type appearance that many fans expect from the type.
Community discussions about Slurpuff often focus on how it represents a missed opportunity for a cool Fairy-type design. Many fans were hoping for something more elegant or appealing and were disappointed by the execution, making it one of Gen 6’s less popular Fairy-type Pokemon according to community feedback.
After analyzing thousands of community discussions across Reddit, forums, and fan sites, some clear patterns emerge about Pokemon design trends and community preferences. Generation 4 and Generation 7 appear to have the highest concentration of controversial designs according to community consensus.
Reddit communities consistently show that evolution disappointment is a major factor in “ugly Pokemon” discussions. When a popular pre-evolution results in a disappointing final form, fans are particularly vocal about their dissatisfaction. This explains why Pokemon like Rhyperior, Purugly, and Crabominable frequently appear in ugly Pokemon discussions.
Gen 1 Pokemon like Jynx remain controversial due to design choices that haven’t aged well, while newer generations introduce different types of design controversies. The community’s standards have evolved over time, with designs that were once considered acceptable now facing criticism for various reasons.
What makes a Pokemon “ugly” varies by community, but common themes include awkward proportions, disappointing evolutions, questionable design elements, and concepts that don’t translate well to visual form. Despite these criticisms, even the ugliest Pokemon have their fans and defenders in the community.
Pokemon design will always be subjective, but community consensus shows clear patterns in what fans consider appealing versus unappealing. The ugliest Pokemon often represent experiments that didn’t quite work out, evolutions that disappointed expectations, or designs that simply missed the mark with their target audience.
What’s fascinating is how even the most criticized Pokemon have their defenders and fans who appreciate their unique qualities. This diversity in design philosophy is part of what makes Pokemon so enduring – there’s truly something for everyone, even if some designs are more divisive than others.
As the Pokemon franchise continues to evolve, designers learn from past controversies while still taking risks with new concepts. The community’s feedback, whether positive or negative, helps shape the future of Pokemon design and ensures that the franchise continues to grow and adapt to fan preferences.
Whether you love them or hate them, the ugliest Pokemon are part of what makes the Pokemon world so diverse and interesting. They spark discussions, create community engagement, and remind us that beauty in Pokemon design, like in art, will always be in the eye of the beholder.
The weirdest looking Pokémon is Probopass, featuring a bizarre mustache-like design and unusual proportions that make it consistently rank among Pokémon’s strangest appearances in community polls.
Jynx is widely considered the most inappropriate Pokémon due to design elements featuring racial stereotypes and unsettling appearance that haven’t aged well by modern standards, leading to design changes in later appearances.
The creepiest Pokémon include Toxel for its unsettling baby appearance, Cursola for its disturbing bleached coral design, and Guzzlord for its intentionally alien and unsettling features that make many fans uncomfortable.
While Feebas is often cited as ugly due to its plain design and comparison to Magikarp, it’s not considered the ugliest overall. However, its evolution into the beautiful Milotic makes it unique among ugly Pokémon discussions.