Oxidation-resistant ferritic steel alloys for high temperature applications consist essentially of chromium (Cr) in an amount from about 18 to about 25 atom percent, tungsten (W) in an amount from about 0.5 to about 2 atom percent, manganese (Mn) in an amount less than about 0.8 atom percent, aluminum (Al) in an amount less than about 0.2 atom percent, silicon (Si) in an amount less than about 0.1 atom percent, and rare earth metals that includes neodymium (Nd) in an amount from about 0.002 to about 0.2 atom percent with the balance being iron (Fe). Also disclosed herein are solid oxide fuel cells that include separators formed for the oxidation resistant ferritic alloys.