If there’s one thing Doctor Who is thought for moreover time journey hijinks, sonic screwdrivers, and regeneration, it’s having a large catalog of memorable monsters. With a brand new season of Doctor Who upon us, we’re having a look again on the Doctor’s rogues gallery to spotlight probably the most vicious monsters our favourite Time Lord has run into.
Before we start, a few notes: We’ve left off villains that we don’t suppose qualify as “monsters” within the conventional sense, so don’t count on to see the Master on right here. Additionally, though a few of these creatures date again to the traditional present, each entry on this listing has made a minimum of one televised look for the reason that 2005 revival. We simply suppose the “trendy” monsters are usually more practical (and are extra in our wheelhouse anyway). With that settled, let’s get into it. Here are our high 20 Doctor Who monsters.
20. Macra
As all PlayStation followers know, few issues are as terrifying as a giant enemy crab. Doctor Who first launched the alien race generally known as the Macra through the Second Doctor’s period. Initially giant, clever crabs, that they had an interstellar empire and have been referred to by the Doctor because the “scourge of this galaxy.” Millions of years later, the Macra fell on exhausting instances and devolved into senseless beasts that survived on noxious gases and ate no matter fell by means of the cracks of the planet-wide gridlocked motorway of New Earth. They aren’t probably the most distinguished Doctor Who enemy, however would you wish to meet one in a darkish alley? I didn’t suppose so.
19. Clockwork Repair Droids
“The Girl within the Fireplace” is usually thought of one of many quintessential Steven Moffat-penned episodes, and as such includes a set of memorable antagonists. Those can be the Clockwork Repair Droids, a bunch of robots with a penchant for 18th century French vogue and stealing organs from human beings. They wish to snatch the mind of Jeanne Antoinette “Reinette” Poisson, also called Madame de Pompadour, to restore the pc of their 51st century starship. The audacity of their plan contrasts nicely with the tender romance between the Tenth Doctor and Reinette, making them the proper villains for this iconic episode.
18. Sontarans
The stocky, dome-headed race of cloned troopers generally known as the Sontarans are one of many Doctor’s most recurring foes. Bred for nothing however countless warfare, Sontaran tradition is centered purely on the glory of loss of life in fight. But regardless of their militaristic nature, the Sontarans lose some factors by not often coming off all that threatening due to their goofy look and simply outwitted schemes. All that stated, the Doctor considers them among the many “best troopers within the galaxy,” so they’re nonetheless value a spot on this listing. Plus, they gave us Strax, one of many funnier and extra attention-grabbing of the numerous aspect characters the Doctor has encountered.
17. Vashta Nerada
Why is each species within the universe afraid of the darkish? According to Doctor Who, it’s due to the Vashta Nerada, microscopic carnivores which can be basically piranhas residing in shadows. These invisible terrors encountered the Tenth Doctor on the Library, a planet that the Vashta Nerada had rendered devoid of life. While the sight of their skeletal victims trapped of their spacesuits is unquestionably spooky, the Vashta Nerada undergo a bit from how they really “work” not being as clear because it ought to. They principally kill every time the script desires them to, however the Doctor having no plan for them past “run” definitely makes them a reputable menace.
16. The Vespiform
In what different present may an episode be an Agatha Christie type homicide thriller that really consists of Agatha Christie as a personality, and likewise the assassin is an evil alien wasp in disguise? That’s precisely what Doctor Who gave us with “The Unicorn and the Wasp,” probably the most deliriously eccentric episodes of the Tenth Doctor’s tenure. The Vespiform, a large wasp that may shapeshift into human kind, performs the a part of a serial assassin at a Nineteen Twenties feast. We received’t spoil the id of the creature (it’s a thriller, in spite of everything), however as one-off Doctor Who villains go, the Vespiform is among the extra memorable for its genre-bending mischief.
15. Ice Warriors
Another longtime foe courting again to the unique present, the Ice Warriors are a race of armored reptilian humanoids native to Mars. Originally beginning off as enemies of the Second Doctor who wished to colonize Earth, the Ice Warriors finally modified their tune and have become an ally of the Third Doctor. They returned within the revival period within the episode “Cold War,” the place the Eleventh Doctor discovered himself trapped on a Soviet submarine with a single villainous Ice Warrior who hunts down the crew one after the other. They aren’t fairly among the many most iconic of Doctor Who monsters, however the Ice Warriors deserve credit score for his or her versatility and longevity.
14. The Veil
“Heaven Sent” is extensively thought of the most effective Doctor Who episodes of all time, and for good cause. The Twelfth Doctor is trapped in a confession dial, the place he spends 4.5 billion years looking for a option to escape and undo the loss of life of beloved companion Clara Oswald. All the whereas, he’s hunted by the Veil, a being with a burning contact that forces the Doctor to share his darkest secrets and techniques. The sluggish motion and omnipresent nature of the Veil makes it an unsettling presence, however the true star of the present is Peter Capaldi’s efficiency. Even so, the Veil earns a spot on this listing for being a giant a part of such a fantastic episode.
13. The Flood
A superb Doctor Who monster can take advantage of innocuous issues scary, and the most effective examples of that’s what the present did to water with the Flood. A virus trapped in a Martian glacier, it contaminated the water of the primary human colony on Mars, turning those that got here involved with it into horrific zombie-like creatures. Their cracked mouths and them continuously spilling water from their pores and skin made the Flood’s victims into the stuff of nightmares. They’ve solely had one televised look within the Tenth Doctor particular “The Waters of Mars,” however just about everybody who’s seen it might say the Flood made one hell of a primary impression.
12. The Silence
Steven Moffat launched a long-running mythology arc firstly of Season 6 with the Silence, who have been hyped up by the creators on the time because the scariest Doctor Who monster ever conceived. These swimsuit and tie sporting aliens had the facility to make folks overlook they existed every time they weren’t being noticed, making it tough to struggle again in opposition to the Silence’s machinations. What these machinations really have been and the way convoluted their subplot grew to become is why the Silence don’t make the highest 10 right here, however even then they’re nonetheless among the many most conceptually attention-grabbing and unnerving antagonists within the Doctor’s storied historical past.
11. The Ood
The Ood are distinctive on this listing as a result of they’re way more sympathetic than monstrous. A race of benign and simply manipulated creatures, the Ood have been enslaved by humanity however insisted they have been okay with it. However, their telepathic skills led them to turn into pawns of one other, extra highly effective villain (who we’ll get to later), turning them into red-eyed terrors able to seek out the Tenth Doctor and his allies. Thankfully, the Doctor escaped intact. The Doctor later returned alongside Donna Noble to assist the Ood in “Planet of the Ood,” the place the pair assisted the Ood Brain in liberating all Ood throughout the galaxy from their enslavement.
10. Autons
For most trendy followers of the present, the Autons are the primary Doctor Who monster they ever encountered. Resembling strolling mannequins, they have been animated by their grasp, the Nestene Consciousness, as plastic foot troopers in its try to beat Earth. The Autons began off as recurring enemies of the Third Doctor, who thwarted their schemes on two separate events. They returned once more in “Rose,” the pilot episode of the 2005 revival, the place the Ninth Doctor as soon as once more put down an invasion try. They would additionally issue into the two-part Season 5 finale, with companion Rory Williams being revived as an Auton.
9. The Foretold
The greatest one-off monster of the Twelfth Doctor’s tenure, the Foretold is the eponymous mummy in “Mummy on the Orient Express.” This eerie creature is barely able to being perceived by its supposed goal, who it kills after precisely 66 seconds, irrespective of how the sufferer tries to flee. Watching the Doctor and Clara Oswald strive to determine learn how to cease a monster they’ll’t see or hear because it picks off its prey makes for probably the most tense episodes of Capaldi’s period. Plus, when the Doctor lastly does see it, him determining what the Foretold really is and learn how to cease it through the time restrict makes for one of many Doctor’s best moments.
8. Sutekh
Most science fiction properties finally introduce a god-like antagonist, and the Doctor lastly obtained one with Sutekh. Originally an adversary of the Fourth Doctor, the evil Osiran was seemingly defeated in “The Pyramids of Mars,” solely to return again a long time later within the two-part finale of Season 14 because the chief of the Pantheon of Discord. Sutekh revealing himself to the Fifteenth Doctor and explaining how and why he’s survived turns him from a reasonably good one-off foe into one of many Doctor’s all-time biggest enemies. Plus, the Doctor even refers to Sutekh as “the best monster I’ve ever fought,” in order that’s acquired to rely for one thing.
7. The Empty Child
Creepy youngsters are a staple of horror media, and Doctor Who turned in the most effective examples with the Empty Child. Originally a boy named Jamie who died throughout a WWII air raid on London, he was revived by way of extraterrestrial means and plagued the streets as a gasoline mask-wearing menace who turned anybody he touched into zombies much like him. He and all of his victims would chant “are you my mummy?” over and over. Luckily, the Ninth Doctor and his companion Rose Tyler have been ready to determine what prompted the Empty Child’s situation and reverse it, making for probably the most triumphant endings to a Doctor Who episode.
6. The Time Beetle
Season 4 of the revival period, the final season starring the Tenth Doctor, options two of the very best one-off monsters within the present’s historical past. First up is the Time Beetle from “Turn Left,” a sinister insect able to latching itself to a sufferer’s again and altering their private historical past by making a parallel timeline. This occurs to Donna Noble, who makes a vital alternative that stops her from ever assembly the Doctor, ensuing within the Doctor’s loss of life and quite a few cataclysms that he was supposed to stop. After it’s stopped, the Doctor acknowledges the beetle as being affiliated with the Trickster, a villain who must be acquainted to viewers of The Sarah Jane Adventures.
5. The Midnight Entity
Our second Season 4-exclusive monster is the Midnight Entity, maybe probably the most mysterious Doctor Who monster of all time. It’s by no means seen, named, or correctly understood; it merely is. While on a tour of the diamond planet Midnight, an unseen presence breaks into the tour bus and possesses one of many passengers, repeating each phrase stated to it with excellent accuracy. It finally takes management of the Doctor, stealing his voice and practically convincing his fellow passengers to jettison him from the automobile. Although the Doctor does survive the altercation, it’s nonetheless probably the most haunting encounters with the unknown within the present’s historical past.
4. The Beast
The two-part episode “The Impossible Planet” and “The Satan Pit” is arguably a greater area horror film than most precise area horror films. In this story, the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler wind up trapped on Krop Tor, a planet by some means orbiting a black gap, the place they arrive involved with a being generally known as the Beast. This demonic monstrosity is implied to be the literal Devil, or a minimum of the inspiration for such a creature in all of the mythologies within the universe. Given how a lot he terrorizes the Doctor and his allies, each by controlling the Ood and possessing Toby, one of many poor souls stranded with them, we’d say he’s greater than welcome to the title.
3. Cybermen
When it involves recurring monsters, there’s just one that may declare to have battled the Doctor extra usually than the Cybermen. Originally a bunch of cyborgs created from the our bodies of people native to Earth’s twin planet Mondas, additionally they developed in a parallel timeline as a part of a scheme by John Lumic, head of Cybus Industries. No matter their origin, the Cybermen search to “improve” different people into extra Cybermen, whether or not the victims wish to or not. They are scary not only for their relentlessness and lack of emotion, however as a result of it appears that evidently it doesn’t matter what universe the Doctor visits, the Cybermen will all the time stand up finally.
2. Weeping Angels
For probably the most terrifying Doctor Who monster of all time, there actually can’t be any reply however the Weeping Angels. These fearsome killers appear to be statues to the uninitiated, however that’s as a result of they’re quantum-locked whereas noticed, which means they solely transfer when nobody is taking a look at them. Turn your eyes away for a second, even by blinking, and people statues will probably be somewhat bit nearer. They kill by sending their victims again in time, which means in the event that they catch you, you’ll by no means see your family members once more. If you by some means haven’t seen their debut episode “Blink,” typically cited because the best Doctor Who episode of the revival period, you’re significantly lacking out.
1. Daleks
Did you actually suppose primary can be the rest? Of course it’s the Daleks, the Doctor’s most iconic and enduring foes. Not solely have they opposed the Doctor ever for the reason that First Doctor’s second story, they’re arguably simply as accountable because the Doctor for popularizing the franchise. These fascist alien mutants encased in steel shells exist for just one objective: to “exterminate!” They consider in Dalek supremacy above all else, and have sought common conquest time and time once more. Yet irrespective of what number of instances they battle their archnemesis, Doctor Who followers are all the time trying ahead to the following conflict between the Doctor and the Daleks. And that’s why they’ll all the time be the best Doctor Who monster of all time.
What’s your favourite Doctor Who monster? Vote in our ballot and let’s focus on within the feedback!
Carlos Morales writes novels, articles and Mass Effect essays. You can comply with his fixations on Twitter.
Note: This story was up to date to be a high 20 in April 2025. It initially ran as a high 10 in 2014.
