Which Is The BEST Cybermen Design? Cyberman DOCTOR WHO Tier List! (1966-2020) 

I feel like The Next Doctor really missed a trick by not having an alternate, industrial revolution, bronze looking design for the cybermen. It would have been more expensive for a one off episode but would have left such an impression

Until 2006, I thought the "Tenth Planet" Cybermen looked, well, embarrassing, particularly the "ski mask" instead of the rigid helmets of later designs. That is...until someone at one of the dedicated DW discussion sites of the time posted two seemingly innocuous words... "Surgical gauze" Suddenly, I saw these creatures from a totally different perspective! I pictured a patient reclined upon the table of an advanced operating theater. His head is bandaged, his circulatory and respiratory systems bypassed with a compact heart/lung machine upon a nearby table. His body temperature is regulated by a "suit" "threaded" with a "webbing" of tubes filled with fluid. Instead of gaseous anesthesia, a "cap" with electrodes piercing his brain block his pain receptors. Suddenly, the patient's eyes snap open and he rises from the table. He seizes the internally powered heart/lung device and clutches it close to his chest as he staggers from the theater, the medical team too shocked and dumbfounded to try detaining him. Amazing how those two simple words suddenly made the original Mondasian Cybermen far more disturbing than any design to follow. Since reading that friendly rebuttal in 2006, they have become my favorite design!

As fond of the Daleks as I am & they are rightfully the Doctor arch-enemies, the Cyberman are my favourite DW monster particularly the Moonbase & Earthshock designs, you can't really redesign the Daleks too much as their look is too iconic for that but with the Cybermen, it's almost a tradition that they get a redesign in almost every story they're in, particularly during the classic series... something new-Who seemed to have forgotten for a long while... not a complaint exactly but I kind of wish the chat wasn't up on the screen like it was, it was a bit distracting.

Ranking the Cyberwoman and the Cyber Masters above the Moffat Cybies?! *PAIN. PAIN. PAIN.*

I think the idea of a cyber fat controller has the potential to be great - why not? It’s a Cyberman, there’s organic material underneath, and it’s bloated and putrid and the character can be intimidating a la the Baron in Dune

As for the spikes on the Warriors, I'd say it's fitting. These Cybermen are part galaxy-marching armies who will come across many, many different cultures. Spikes are a universal indication of danger, perhaps less so for a civilised society but if they landed on a planet that hasn't had their industrial revolution, the spikes would be intimidating.

I think the ever changing design of the Cybermen over time does have deeper meanings. From an in-universe perspective, it is a natural progression. They start off with many human parts left, but over time they gradually replace more and more of their human parts with cybernetic components. First completely encase the head.....then streamline the chest units for practicality, progressing from chest units (60s-70s) to chest panels (80s), and then eventually to total integration within the unit itself. As the Cybermen constantly evolve and adapt, they find themselves moving away from the flexible suits to a more robust metal armoured design. Given how many battles and wars these dudes keep finding themselves in, it seems a pretty logical step. With the most recent adaptations, it seems only logical that they'd be looking to increase their durability and fighting capabilities. Let's not forget that their primary purpose is to survive, and in order to do that, they need to constantly make themselves stronger and more robust. I think also that as the Cybermen evolved their technology and made it smaller (just as humans have done with technology), they likely also replaced more and more internal body components - the modern cybermen leave little flesh behind at all besides the brain. With less flesh material in the way there is more space inside the unit to house the technology that was previously bolted to the chest. From an out-of-universe, production perspective, I think the evolution also represents how we as humans view technology. Back in 1966, computers were still in their relative infancy and mobile phones (as we know them) didn't exist. The Cybermen of the 60s are a glimpse of what the designers of the time thought a Cyborg from the future could look like based on how they saw technology. The Cybermen of today look the way they do, because the designers of 2006 lived in a world of laptops, cellphones and the internet. A world where technology could be streamlined and compact, and didn't have to be big and bulky. We live in a world where a computer used to take up an entire room, but now most of us have one in our pocket. It seems natural that that Cybermen would follow a similar course of progression, from bulky, exposed and delicate to streamlined, solid and strong. Once upon a time, a computer used to take up an whole room, now many of us have on in our pocket or bag. For an average person in 1966, it was fairly reasonable to think that a life support system attached to the cyberman would be a big bulky machine, where is in the 21st Century world with microchips and flat-screens, the idea of being able to encase it within the body shell is more believable.

If the Tenth Planet Cybermen had the voices from the Moonbase, they'd be my favourite. Imagine that metallic grating voice coming out of that blank emotionless static face, it would be terrifyingly excellent, but as far as design-wise I really love the look of the Tenth Planet Cybermen

We really need more cyberman stories with half-conversions. Also, it'd be cool to see a companion get half-converted, and be forced to actually live with that.

My head canon for the cyber woman is that some part like the heels were added on parts

Excellent list. Can we see a Dalek list next?

I agree that the Mondasian Cybermen are super creepy and I love that, but my absolute favorite design is the Moonbase/Tomb Cybermen.

The Cybermen voices in “The Invasion” sound similar to the voices used for, “Rise of the Cybermen”, “Age of Steel”, “Army of Ghosts”, “Doomsday”, “The Next Doctor”, “The Pandorica Opens”, “A Good Man Goes to War”, and “Closing Time”.

Have to agree that the Mondas design rules them all, based purely on design I’d probably put Ashad and the warriors next. Also would love to see one of these for dalek designs

My favourite head design is one of the 2005 concept art ones. Its one that looks relatively classic, has a flat face and a red light and the artwork shows it in the rain. Its such a cool and creepy design But in canon I really like the new cyber warriors

The Invasion Cyberman design is by far the best for me. Not least because it was the one that I grew up with and because it was on the cover of the only Dr Who novel I ever read as a child!

"The Next Doctor" Senior Cyberleader (rank seen in "Revenge of the Cybermen") is the best design of Cyberleader. The John Lumic Cyber Controller is also brilliant.

I would actually love to see Kroton the cyberman companion brought into the modern series in some way, even if they had to rewrite his story to fit modern cannon and continuity whilst keeping the key parts of his story intact. (Edit: Just had an idea, Ashad vs Kroton story)

As I've said elsewhere, the Nightmare in Silver design and story would have been better served as the Nu Who Raston Warrior Robots. But... I did prefer the head redesign to the Cybus-men one.

Hey Mr. Tardis. Love your videos. To anyone interested, I would highly recommend the Big Finish 9th Doctor story “Monsters in Metropolis”, part of the “Lost Warriors”, it is legitimate art and a super beautiful story, while also providing a window into how disturbing the Cybermen are.

I've never seen you mention it, so I'm wondering if you're aware of David Bank's incredible audio production The ArcHive Tapes (based on his Cybermen book), which endeavours to provide a complete history of the classic Cybermen which explains all the different appearances. It's brilliant work and shows him to be a very skilled world builder.

They need to find a way to incorporate the flesh/organic parts of the early Cybermen designs with the more armored looks of the modern ones. I can see a metal helmet, like the Cybus or Cybermaster ones being put over a cloth mask (with the iconic teardrops added) where you can see the eyes. Maybe you have the arms unarmored and you can see the laser stitched into the flesh.

More Tier Lists please! Maybe you could rank the episodes in a season, or the seasons themselves? How about companion Tier List? Recurring vilains? Doctors is a bit obvious, but I would prefer it then a regular ranking. Christmas/New year specials?

I think they were my favourite monsters for a good while but sort of post 2010 they’ve not really had great stories/have been used poorly and have gone down in my estimation.

The cloth cybermen are iconic although I do like the futuristic nightmare in silver ones minus the arc reactors

Managed to grab The Tenth Planet on DVD a few days ago, can’t wait to watch the first ever appearance of these iconic Doctor Who antagonists 😁

The Nightmare in Silver Cybermen remind me too much of the Borg. Now, I like the Borg, but while the Borg share some similarities with the Cybermen, yet giving the Cybermen the ability to just….adapt and upgrade on the fly just doesn’t fit them at all

I agree that the Wheel in Space cybermen were directed poorly and don't get much to do but I find them the most visually intimidating. I understand that the famous photo of them attacking Zoe never actually happens?

The Cybus Cyberman is my favourite character design of all time. It just can't be topped for me

One of the reasons why the original Mondasian Cybermen from the Tenth Planet are considered the best is because you can actually see the actor’s eyes within the black circles which describes how the Cybermen are actual human converted cyborgs who are desperate for the survival of their race and Mondas.

Love the cybers with the perforated plastic balls on their joints, classic. Let's give a mention to Graham Coles being in the Earthsock cybermen.

The human hands for the 1st cybermen wasn't intentional btw, someone had forgot the gloves.

Great list! I too think that Cybermen were best served by their designs in classic Doctor Who. Especially in black and white, they felt more cobbled together and slapdash (because they were!) which really works for the concept.

honestly nothing will ever beat the mondasian design for me. when i was younger, i definitely did look at them and scoff, calling them obviously bad and such. but now that i understand the point is the body horror and such. they are my favourite designs, and i think the technological and budget limitations of the time honestly made them better

I'm glad you used that particular clip from "Cyberwoman" because it perfectly encapsulates why I *dislike* the design. The line "I'm disgusting" doesn't really have much weight behind it when the person saying it is essentially a conventionally attractive woman in a metal bikini. The line, and indeed the episode, would have been so much more powerful if she actually *looked* disgusting, disfigured, and beyond redemption.

My favorite cybermen design from the classic era is the moonbase cybermen and my favorite cybermen design from the revival Era is the cybus cybermen

When looking at the Cyber Controller, although he had not much to do in Attack of the Cybermen, Michael Kilgariff is still a giant (6ft 5)

I can remember watching cyber woman on tv with my brother back in the day. I think the story explained what the cybermen are perfectly. I understand the design team was inspired by female cyborgs

This might be weird to say, but I actually really like the Nightmare in Silver designs and voices since they were the first ones I encountered when I played Lego Dimensions as a kid and before I never really heard a robotic voice that sounded like that so at the time it sounded rather unique to me. Now in comparison to the human horror elements of the Mondasian designs they do not stand up in terms of their appearance, but I can’t really look at the design in the face and say everything was done wrong, especially when looking at the origins behind why they were done this way.

I like the earthshock/the five doctors/attack cybermen

Great fun, Mr. Tardis! I don't absolutely agree, but who does in this day and age, eh? Overall, you nailed this...we do line up pretty closely, especially on the ones that others might find awful. There were three moments where the Cybusmen shine especially brightly: Loomic's last scene before his conversion was ghoulish funny...totally taken down by his own privilege. The scene with the recently converted bride who said it was bad luck for her groom to see her in her outfit before the wedding was terribly poignant. The converted Yvonne Hartman's last stand "for king and Country" was breathtaking. I

I like the wheel in space design.

The stealth cyber men should return in series 14 instead of the cyber lords.

I quite like the "Revenge" design, but I'm not a fan of the helmet-mounted guns, as they have to incline their heads (and sometimes their bodies) at awkward angles to take aim... and then have to press a button on their stomachs to fire :) Doesn't seem a particularly efficient design to me.

I had someone recently tell me the Cyberman concept is ableist. I'd say it's about transhumanism - and to some extent conformity.

The 80 Cybermen design was the best especially from earthshock.

Hey MrTardis, could you do another Tier list for the Dalek designs next time?

16:02 william moffat one handed streaming

I`m glad to see you rate the originals as excellent, they are my favourites too. Please, please what does "cannon" mean in this context? I hear the word a lot but I`m at a loss.

5:34 that sounds like Warspernator

The entire H0rny Jail/Bonks sequence in this video is gold! 🤣

Cool, a remake of your most viewed Doctor Who video on this channel. ;)

if the dark dimension was cannon where would you put it also my 3 favourite designs are the warrior ashad and thee invasion cybermen

Oh god the comment about Apple building Cybermen with the Apple logo briefly brought my mind into some nightmarish entirely possible future where Elon Musk develops Cybermen and mass produces them, saying its to 'survive climate change' or something, and before you know it humanity has its head plugged into Twitter for all eternity as we all have to suffer Elon Musk's rather terrifying version of what he considers 'free speech' AKA whatever Musk says, goes. Elon Musk really is some kind of modern day supervillain

The Daleks are the most terrifying.

weird. I actually just made my own tier list of this exact same list.

Putting the Cyberwoman in the great category is probably the most outrageous take on this channel.

Watching the video: Fair enough, fair enough… *Cyberwoman appears* WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK

I changed my mind now I think that the revenge of the cybermen design is best.

Even tho Dark Dimensions Cybermen would be unbelievably scary if we ever actually got to see them !

My favorite voices are the Tenth Planet ones. It still sounds human but off. My favorite look is the Earthshock

I think there is a clip somewhere of Toyah Wilcox being interviewed about Doctor Who and I seem to remember she said she thought the Invasion era Cybermen were 'sexy' because of their tight outfits 😂 can't say I've ever found Cybermen to be sexy but whatever floats your boat Toyah

gonna be honest, i don't get the hate torwards the post-cybus war cybermen from nightmare in silver. they're my favorite design lol

Dalek converted to Cyberman.

Cyber Lords and Warriors are S Tier design but they need a good story.

The Cybs are the best incarnation of the cybermen ever

Love cybermen when done right, especially during the Troughton era !

Nice name

Top 3 3 Silver Turk 2 Spare Parts 1 WEAT

We will survive

The Mondas design is my favourite

How did cyberdrone end up in good

As a viewer *who* started with the 9th, I have a heavy dislike for the cybermen with the weird white mask thingies. Might just be because I started with full metal cybermen though

I think they revenge of the cybermen cybermen just look bad. Granted they do have one one cool function which is when the leader presses his chest unit to summon one of his henchmen. The Afrakaners accent is just distracting

The first/ original design is the best. I wish the new designs had not been in the doctor falls

I liked the Cybermen designs from the Tenth Planet the Moonbase Tomb of the Cybermen the Invasion and also Earthshock . I cannot say I liked the Invasion very much and the Cybermen in the Invasion are poorly utilised they do not speak much and the Invasion as a story is too fckg long in episode length and really this story was originally intended to be six episodes long but was lengthened owing to other script that were intended for season six falling through and also the Invasion would have worked millions and billions of times better with either 6 episodes or even 5 episodes but nt fckg eight episodes which seriously is really too fckg long even the Dalek Masterplan was to fckg long with twelve episodes but originally Dalek Masterplan was intended to be six episodes long but it was lengthened to 12 by the decision of the then bbc one controller Hew Wheldon and the then Dr Who production team were absolutely fckd off about the decision and then then producer and his script editor once the overlong story with the Daleks wa sover they hoped that dreaded Daleks would be permannetly retired from Dr Who

I think the tenth planet design is the best cybermen design ever.

The Cyber Warrior design was great shame the episodes surrounding the design were pretty poor.

Earth shock leader is very handsome

Danny Pink in not canon?

Tier List? More like Drive me to tears list ecks dee

2:30 glad I didn't have to unsub there

ilove the cybermen

Here’s hoping the cybermasters come back

I stopped watching after series 11. Can someone tell me how the master managed to overpower all of the time lords and convert them into cybermen?

Steven moffat turned both his black protagonists onto cybermen

I think David Banks as the Cyberleader is the worst design ever, it's a bad version of Ashad from Jodie Whittikars era, at least Ashad was established to be without an emotional inhibitor which made him make total sense and made him such a brilliant Cyber villain, the Banks Cyberman was in total contradiction to what the Cybermen are

I'd bump the wooden one up to Average. The colour scheme doesn't really work, as the silver would have looked SO MUCH better in the lighting of Time of the Doctor. But the sound design of the suit is really good, and the conceit of it being built for the specific purpose of getting past the shield means that it doesn't have to look human.

The iron man chest light is wayyy too much

"why is chat so horny" you literally just called the Cyberwoman a great design???????

Whoever made this list has no idea what a new design is some of these look nearly identical to some of them, also why is the cyber head a different design and why are cyber brig and Danny counted as a different design!?

Hard disagree on the Cyber Lords, I know this is more about the designs but I just can't get away from the reason for their existence and it bothers me greatly. I would put them in average only because I think a lot of effort did go into the design, but for everything else it's F tier, BAD, they are too tainted.