Dalek hierarchy

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Due to their highly militaristic culture, the Daleks operate under what is nominally a rigid hierarchy; there are often variations to it, however, depending on era and circumstance.

Overview

Command structure

Figurehead

Council

Commanders

Low Ranking Daleks

Non-Daleks - Servants, Mercenaries and Slaves

Visual distinctions

Daleks often showed their rank via colours. In one version, gold Daleks are the highest, followed by black, red, blue and grey. (EDA: War of the Daleks) The Dalek Tapes, a feature in the Genesis of the Daleks DVD, has golden Daleks as members of the Supreme Council, followed in rank by black (Dalek Supreme), partially black, silver (scientific corps), and grey.

For a time, the majority of Daleks were silvery with blue "bumps", with Saucer Commanders being partially black and Black Daleks/Dalek Supremes being full commanders. (DW: The Dalek Invasion of Earth)

During the Last Great Time War and in the New Dalek Empire, almost the entirety of Daleks shown were of the same colour; the Supreme Dalek in the latter was marked out by being red, while Dalek Sec of the Cult of Skaro was black.

The restored Daleks sported luridly bright colours, with each colouring showing their role: the Supreme was white, the strategists were blue, the scientists were orange, the soldiers were red. The yellow Dalek was an "Eternal". (DW: Victory of the Daleks, Doctor Who Confidential)


Purity

Daleks ranks have often been established by their genetic purity. In Parting of the Ways, the Dalek Emperor created his new army out of Human DNA, which caused them to not only obey but worship the Emporer as the only pure Dalek.

When the new Dalek Race was created from pure Dalek DNA found in the progenitor (DW: Victory of the Daleks) both them and the impure Daleks which created them believed the new race were superior due to their purity, and that any impure forms must be destroyed.

The New Dalek Race