Dalek weaponry

Dalek weaponry was predictably (and regrettably) advanced and lethal. The Daleks appear to have used a number of different weapon systems in their shells, in addition to the vastly more powerful weapons mounted on their starships.

Main Weapon
The effect of the weapon mounted in the standard Dalek casing remained standard throughout most of the history of the race. It was a very lethal energy weapon with a discharge beam that appeared blue to any observer foolish enough not to be running in the opposite direction. This weapon had a non-lethal setting which paralysed the target. The Daleks said that repeated exposure to the paralysis effect would result in permanent neural damage. (DW: The Daleks)

The exact nature of this weapon is unknown. Early sources of information about the Daleks described being hit by the weapon as being akin to being struck by lightning, suggesting the energy involved was roughly analogous to an electric charge. During the massacre inside the GeoComTex Vault, the Dalek involved was able to use conductive substances such as metal and water to considerably extend the effect of its weapon, strongly suggesting this was the case here also. (The Dalek Book, DW: Dalek)

However, during the Shoreditch Incident the exact cause of death of someone killed by Dalek fire was given as massive internal disruption... his insides were scrambled which may suggest a different kind of weapon had been used on this occasion. The Dalek Factions present in the area at this time were using what appeared to be slightly different weapons, in that they fired bolts of energy rather than beams (and the weapons of the Imperial Daleks discharged yellow-orange rather than blue). (DW: Remembrance of the Daleks) A Human scientist observing the Daleks in action during the incident theorised that they might be using plasma weapons. (DW: Remembrance of the Daleks (Novelisation))

Secondary Weapons
The manipulator arm of the casing could also serve as a very effective short-range weapon, with the traction field it generated more than capable of crushing a human skull or ripping through sheet metal. (DW: Dalek, TDA: I Am a Dalek)

The arm could also be replaced by a pyro-flame, essentially a flame-thrower, although given that the main gun had a limited area effect anyway these seem mainly to have been used for defoliation. (DW: The Daleks' Master Plan)

With their main energy weapons rendered inoperative on the planet Exxilon, the Daleks replaced them with a projectile-firing percussion weapon. This weapon was effective against the primitive natives of the planet but less so against the sophisticated support and defence systems of the City of the Exxilons. (DW: Death to the Daleks)


 * This weapon is commonly referred to as a machine gun'' but its relatively slow rate of fire strongly indicates it was not in fact fully automatic.

The Daleks were quite expend their own lives for the advancement of the race, operating as suicide bombers if required. During the attempt to retrieve Davros in the Dalek-Movellan War, the Daleks improvised explosives using mining charges, strapping them about their casings. (DW: Destiny of the Daleks)

By the Last Great Time War, the Daleks had incorporated a very destructive set of explosives into the lower section of their casings, which could be used to self-destruct, utterly obliterating the Dalek. It is not not known if these charges could be used more offensively. (DW: Dalek)

Heavy Weapons
The Daleks routinely made little use of dedicated heavy weapons units, probably because the destructive power of a basic Dalek soldier made them unnecessary. However, during the Dalek Civil War, at least one Special Weapons Dalek was seen in action. This Dalek had no eyestalk or manipulator arm, and was equipped only with a vastly oversized and overpowered version of the standard casing weapon. (DW: Remembrance of the Daleks)

Dalek vessels mounted a varied armament, some of them simple energy weapons. However they were also equipped with missiles, many of which had specialised warheads. The Daleks appeared to favour bacteriological warfare and were prepared to use missiles to spread plague across planets they either wished to conquer or wanted to prevent others from visiting. During the Dalek Civil War the Imperial Daleks had planet-busting weapons mounted on their flagship. (DW: The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Death to the Daleks, Remembrance of the Daleks)