Doctor Who is chock full of monsters, aliens, robots, and all sorts of bizarre creatures. Some are creepy, some are silly, and others are just overall cool. They all add their own flair to the long-running science fiction series, so here’s a list of the best monsters featured in Doctor Who.

10) Judoon

The Judoon are rhino creatures who are essentially space cops. They’re one of the few neutrally-aligned aliens in Doctor Who, arresting anyone who has broken laws whether that be the Doctor or actual villains. They are perhaps a little too strict with their judgment, though. They may not be as terrifying or as fun as other monsters, but they have a really cool design, and the Doctor trying to avoid them without eliminating a helpful force in the galaxy proves to be an intriguing challenge.

9) Silurians

The Silurians are a prehistoric reptilian humanoid species from Earth. They predate the dawn of man, but went into hibernation deep within the Earth long ago until they were reawoken by humanity. They’ve had a handful of designs over the years, but all of them have been awesome. Lizard-folk with incredible combat skills whose existence is solid commentary on various issues with humanity is hard not to love. The main reoccurring Silurian character in recent years is Madame Vastra, who has become a fan-favorite of the series. 

8) Zygons

Zygons are shape-shifting aliens who kind of resemble bipedal tongues in their base form. Their shape-shifting abilities allow for some fun mind-bending stories and conflicts. They’ve been a part of the series for a very long time and made a triumphant return during the 50th anniversary special. They’re a simple idea for an alien threat, but one that can work for a wide variety of stories. 

7) Vashta Nerada

The name “Vashta Nerada” translates to “the shadows that melt flesh,” which frankly says it all. The Vashta Nerada is absolutely terrifying. The embodiment of it used in the “Silence in the Library” episode has them controlling fleshless corpses in space suits which is both scary and iconic. This horrifying entity has made the phrase “who turned out the lights” absolutely horrifying. 

6) The Silence

The Silence are creepy and come with a unique storytelling mechanic. Once someone has seen them, they forget them immediately. This leads to a spine-tingling tone along with an interesting challenge for the Doctor and his allies to overcome. Let’s not forget they look positively dapper in their suits that make them look like Slenderman. They had such a massive impact on the series and its fandom that fans were drawing tally marks on themselves for cosplay. 

5) The Midnight Entity

This one is so mysterious it doesn’t even have a known name. It’s an unknown lifeform that lives on the planet Midnight. It’s one of the few beings that the Doctor has no knowledge of at all. We never even see what it looks like since it possesses people. It transfers from host to host by mimicking it’s next victim so perfectly that it can copy what they’re saying at the exact moment they say it. Even though it’s never seen or named, this entity is downright scary and leaves a massive impression. The episode that features it is easily one of the best in the entire series. 

4) Sontarans

The Sontarans are a militant species known for their ruthlessness and fearlessness of death.  If you’re going to war, they’re the ones you want on your side. What makes them truly interesting, though, is that they’re extraordinarily dumb when it comes to anything that isn’t war. This leads to hilarious dialogue, making them fantastic comic relief while also proving to be genuine threats. These “potato men” are always a lot of fun, especially Strax of the Paternoster Gang. 

3) Weeping Angels

Every episode featuring the Weeping Angels feels like a horror movie. They’re easily the scariest monster in all of Doctor Who. They may just seem like inanimate stone angel statues, but they’re actually terrifying aliens set on draining the lifesource of others. When no one is looking at them, they can move incredibly fast and their true faces are revealed. As long as someone is watching them, they cannot move, so remember: don’t blink. The Weeping Angels have been used for several fan-favorite stories and have become a recurring staple of the series. The only thing holding them back from being even better is that certain rules of how they work don’t seem consistent. 

2) Cybermen

The Cybermen have been a mainstay of the series since the 60s, and for good reason. They are cyborgs who force humans to be converted into new Cybermen so they can populate their ranks in their universal conquest. They also strip the humans (and other similar species) of all emotion and personality in the process. They’ve been redesigned several times over the years, and each design looks incredible in their own way. Some are scarier while others are just plain cool looking. They’re lasers and flight, along with their sheer numbers, make them one of the biggest threats in the entire series. The Cybermen have been used for countless fantastic stories, and fans definitely have not seen the last of them.

1) Daleks

The Daleks are essentially the main antagonist of Doctor Who. They’re only goal is to exterminate all inferior lifeforms from the galaxy, which is every lifeform in their minds. They’re a disgusting squid-like creature who are always in their external tank-like casings. Their exterior has become symbolic of the series itself. They’re casing is almost impossible to penetrate, and they’re weapons can wipe out just about any foe. They’ve done battle with the Time Lords during the Time War, and they always come back after they’ve been defeated. They were introduced in the 60s and have seen the most spotlight out of any other Doctor Who baddie. What makes them really stand out, though, is that the Doctor is always fearful whenever they cross paths with them.

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