Doctor Who: EVERY Version Of The Daleks Explained

18. Skaro Daleks (First Appearance: 1963)

The earliest Daleks were native to Skaro, mutated from one of the planet's original indigenous species, the Kaleds, after a long and bitter war with fellow Skaro natives the Thals.

The whole purpose of the Dalek casing was to function as a life support and weapons system for these mutated Kaleds... but it also turned them into something far worse.

Initially confined to their city due to a reliance on static electricity, they gradually adapted themselves for travel further afield – first by adopting solar energy collection discs on their backs for their 22nd century invasion of Earth, and then by adding solar slats to their midsections (a feature that has remained ever since).

This enabled them to lead campaigns on various planets, including Earth (in both the 22nd and 40th centuries), Aridius, Spiridon, and Exxilon – almost always being foiled by the Doctor, who quickly became their most hated enemy.

Setting the template for most subsequent models, these Daleks typically sported a plunger and a gunstick. However, the plunger was occasionally swapped out for a more specialised appendage such as a cutting device or a flamethrower. This weapon variety even extended to some of these Daleks becoming full-on suicide bombers during one of the Daleks' many wars!

Eventually, these Daleks evolved into the Renegade faction, who opposed all Daleks who weren’t from Skaro and were loyal to the Supreme Dalek rather than their original creator, Davros.

Protecting the purity of the Dalek race has always been at the heart of the Dalek cause, and so for them to turn on fellow Daleks showed just how far they would go in that mission.