Pokémon designs have always divided the fanbase. Some players enjoy how Pokémon can resemble objects; others believe Pokémon should be based on living things, like plants and animals. The truth is, Pokémon have been inspired by objects since the very beginning.
From the original 151, there are Magnemite, Exeggecute, and Voltorb. Then in Generation IV, they debuted Rotom, the possessor of electronics, and it has become an unofficial mascot for the series. Most recently, they revealed Sinistea and Polteageist and the pair have quickly become fan-favorites. Unfortunately, not all Pokémon based on objects are cool. All of these ones are objectively bad.
10 Xurkitree
This Pokémon's a real live wire. Xurkitree is the unlikely combination of a Christmas tree and long industrial cabling. Since its release in Sun and Moon, the Ultra Beasts were an excuse for Pokémon designs to get weird, and weird they got.
This Pokémon would have a tough time getting along with other Pokémon; it's very tall, imposing, and loves doing jazz hands with its wiry fingers. Where did this inter-dimensional Pokémon learn dance moves? Why does it have so many zip-ties? None of it makes sense.
9 Blacephelon
Do you know what Pokémon didn't need? A clown Pokémon with an exploding head. Blacephalon looks like a children's birthday party Regigigas, or given the success of It, perhaps it was influenced by Stephen King's Pennywise. That could explain the Ghost-typing.
It's officially known as the Fireworks Pokémon. But instead of invoking celebrations and good times, Blacephelon sets off explosions to steal the lifeforce of its enemies. They should've kept this one sealed away in Ultra Space.
8 Galarian Stunfisk
Stunfisk is an okay design. It's based on a known fish, the flatfish, and has an interesting typing and move distribution. But its Galarian form adds the Steel-type and becomes worse because of it. This species has sharp teeth on its fins which snap shut on unsuspecting Pokémon and trainers. But because it's more bear trap than fish, it's ugly to look at.
Unfortunately, this variant has an uninteresting dual-typing and disguises itself as a Pokéball like Amoongus does. For these reasons, Galarian Stunfisk is a lazy and hastily repackaged Pokémon.
7 Comfey
If there were a contest, Comfey would be the winner for the Pokémon with the most obvious design for Alola. As if the palm tree Exeggutor, Hawaiian Deity, and Toucan Pokémon weren't enough of a giveaway, this region is based on Hawaii.
Comfey is based on a lei, a flower wreath that airport staff members give to Hawaiian tourists as they step off the plane which usually end up trampled in the sand, or thrown in the garbage. And that's exactly where this Pokémon belongs too. Its stats are baffling, considering its size and weight. How a little lei fairy can have the same stats as a beastly Druddigon is beyond us.
6 Klefki
Klefki doesn't have a reason for collecting keys; it just does. Aside from this Pokémon being a chronic key stealer, why does it exist? It sets a benchmark for Fairy-types as if the franchise was saying, "here is the lowest common denominator." Logic would dictate it should be a Ghost-type, yet another a wayward spirit that possessed an object, but it's not. It's a keyring with a consciousness.
Like Comfey, Klefki is a small Fairy-type with strong base stats that belongs to the super small subcategory of wearable Pokémon. It's a shame this subcategory isn't any smaller.
5 Trubbish/Garbodor
Both Trubbish and Garbador belong to the trash heap of history. Let's start with Trubbish's goofy face. It has two staring white eyes and an overbite with three large fangs. Its body is a full green garbage bag, and its arms are made out of leaking filth. When it evolves into Garbodor, it just becomes a larger, angrier mass of trash.
What self-respecting trainer wants to recruit a living trashbag to battle on their team? The only appropriate part about either Pokémon is their Poison-typing, as both designs are straight poison.
4 Vanillite
Vanillite is known as the Fresh Snow Pokémon. But why not call a spade a spade? Vanillite is based on an ice cream cone, even with the multiple icicles jutting out from it every which way. As it evolves, its cone body changes shape; Vanillite's body is based around the cup cone, Vannillish's body around a waffle cone, and Vanilluxe on the double waffle cone.
Considering the prevalence of Fairy-types based on food, it's surprising that Vanillite doesn't share the typing. But even if they did modify its typing, Vanillite still wouldn't make sense.
3 Carkol
First, it looks like a bad minecart. There is no conceivable way for coal not to fall off its back. Secondly, whose idea was it to give this thing legs instead of wheels? And yet somehow it's supposed to move at 30 mph.
There is nothing that points to this Pokémon being good at transporting coal. Finally, Carkol may be the worst pun name in the history of the Pokémon series. We see what they did there, but they really shouldn't have.
2 Galarian Darmanitan Zen Mode
Just to be clear, Galarian Darmanitan in standard form is a good Pokémon design. It's a large imposing snow monkey with a funny-looking globe of snow on its head that bears a striking resemblance to a Russian cossack hat.
But its Zen form is a true low point in Pokémon design. Whereas fans like the original form because it looks like a daruma doll, this version looks like a snowman that's gone berserk. What's Zen about that? It's just a confusing mess. Sometimes regional variants are cool; sometimes they should leave well enough alone.
1 Milcery
Milcery is just a blob of floating cream with eyes. Whereas most Pokémon fall under elemental categories like rock, fire, ice, and water, Milcery is composed of dessert matter. How does a Pokémon made of cream even exist? Is the Fairy-type just synonymous with magical, meaning that Milcery is just an enchanted dessert? Possibly, as its evolution's name is a pun on alchemy, and may refer to its mystical existence.
The designers must have been hungry when they were coming up with this Pokémon. Let its existence be a lesson to all: never submit new Pokémon on an empty stomach.