The strain cyclic characteristics, ratcheting and failure behaviors of 25CDV4.11 steel and SS304 stainless steel were experimentally studied under uniaxial cyclic tests and at room temperature. The cyclic hardening/softening features of the materials were first observed under uniaxial strain cycling; and then the ratcheting and failure behaviors of the materials were researched in detail under cyclic stressing. The effects of stress amplitude and mean stress on the ratcheting and failure were discussed under uniaxial asymmetrical stress cycling. It is concluded that the ratcheting and failure behaviors of the materials depend greatly on the cyclic softening/hardening features of the materials and the stress values of cyclic loading. Some conclusions useful to understand the fatigue failure of the materials presented under asymmetrical cyclic stressing are obtained.