Throughout the illustrious history of <em>Doctor Who</em>, there have been 14 canonical incarnations of the Doctor, each confronting their very first and last villains. The most captivating narratives of Doctor Who showcase the titular Time Lord engaging with a diverse array of antagonists, often facing them multiple times throughout their journeys. Every version of the Doctor exhibited remarkable bravery while battling these villains, although there were moments when these encounters proved fatal, leading to their regeneration into a new form.

Whether featured in a festive Doctor Who Christmas or New Year’s special, or simply a standard episode, the Doctor frequently embarked on encounters with villains unaware that they would be their final adversary before their transformation. The first and last villains faced by each incarnation of the Doctor often reflected the unique character arcs of their respective Doctors. Over the past 61 years, the Time Lord has heroically saved the universe from some of the most formidable villains ever encountered.

14

First Doctor: The Daleks and the Cybermen

Experience the First Doctor’s Epic Battles Against the Daleks & The Cybermen

The First Doctor’s introductory serial, “An Unearthly Child,” did not feature a traditional villain. Instead, Team TARDIS faced challenges posed by a Stone Age tribe, with the Doctor only confronting his first genuine foes in his subsequent serial, “The Daleks.” As one of the most iconic villains in the Doctor Who universe, it was fitting that the Daleks were the first extraterrestrial adversaries encountered by the First Doctor.

The First Doctor bid farewell to his initial body after a fateful encounter with the Cybermen in “The Tenth Planet.” While the Cybermen did not directly cause the Doctor’s regeneration, his struggle against them in the Antarctic Snowcap Station and his efforts to save Ben and Polly from their clutches served as a crucial tipping point, ultimately leading to the demise of his incarnation.

13

Second Doctor: The Daleks and The War Lord

Explore the Second Doctor’s Confrontations with The Daleks & The War Lord

Immediately after his regeneration, the Second Doctor confronted the Daleks once again in the serial “The Power of the Daleks.” This six-part adventure is now considered a part of the collection of missing Doctor Who episodes, with a few images having been recovered. Nevertheless, “The Power of the Daleks” was later remade in animated form, showcasing the Second Doctor’s encounters with the Daleks, who were serving as minions on the planet Vulcan.

The Second Doctor met his fate in the Doctor Who serial “The War Games,” after a fierce confrontation with the War Lord, a mysterious figure who kidnapped soldiers from Earth’s history and forced them into combat scenarios for entertainment. While the War Lord’s army consisted of various alien villains, it was the War Lord himself who orchestrated the chaos. He played a pivotal role in the Doctor’s exile to Earth, a consequence of his time-traveling escapades.

12

Third Doctor: The Nestene Consciousness/Autons and The Great One

Uncover the Third Doctor’s Battles with the Nestene Consciousness, Autons & The Great One

The first significant adversary the Third Doctor faced was the Autons in the serial “Spearhead from Space.” Although the Time Lord had previously encountered these plastic figures in his former incarnation, their return was marked by the chilling scene of window dummies armed with weapons attacking unsuspecting civilians, creating widespread panic and fear among audiences, leading to hesitation about shopping.

In “Planet of the Spiders,” the Doctor and Sarah Jane visited a Tibetan monastery, where they encountered a race of mutated alien spiders known as the Eight-Legs. However, the real threat stemmed from their leader, The Great One. This massive Eight-Legs goddess utilized Metebelis crystals to amplify her intellectual abilities; however, her acquisition of the Doctor’s crystal led to her demise from radiation exposure, which ultimately triggered the Doctor’s regeneration.

11

Fourth Doctor: Hilda Winters and The Master

Delve into the Fourth Doctor’s Encounters with Hilda Winters & The Master