Cyber-conversion

Cyber-conversion was the physical and mental re-engineering of victims that were often near-human, into Cybermen. In an alternate universe, this was referred to as Upgrading.

Cybermen of Mondas
Cyber-conversion into Mondas Cybermen involved the replacement of body parts (including limbs, organs, and vital systems) with artificial components. (DW: Attack of the Cybermen) Partial conversion, with the victim retaining autonomy and a human identity and body parts, was possible. (DW: The Invasion)

The Cybermen would traverse the universe to find beings to convert, adding to their forces. (DW: Attack of the Cybermen) The Cybermen relied on tubing to keep the body operating, but over time the amount needed decreased. (DW: The Tenth Planet onwards)

Cybermen of Pete's World
The Cybermen of Pete's World, instead of replacing body parts, transplanted living brains into metal exoskeletons sustained in a cradle of chemicals and threaded together by an artificial nervous system. The process was extremely painful and took place in a booth where the subject was surgically mutilated by a robotic machine that used knives, lasers and syringes to remove the brain before encasing it in an empty cybernetic helmet. This was the most efficient way of conversion. They also had an Emotional inhibitor placed within them to suppress their humanity because, as the Tenth Doctor put it;

"It's still got a human brain... imagine its reaction if it could see itself. Realise itself inside this thing. They'd go insane...."

- The Doctor

During the Battle of Canary Wharf, the Cybermen, badly needing reinforcements, quickly converted Humans into Cybermen using a different method instead of just transplanting brains. They encased Humans in cybernetic shells by constructing the suit of armour around their body, as with Lisa Hallett. Hallett would have died if her lover, Ianto Jones, had not managed to retrofit a cyber-conversion unit into life support for her. (TW: Cyberwoman)


 * It may be that the reason why certain converts with exceptionally strong willpower like Yvonne Hartman could overcome their programming was because this form of conversion was less precise and more rushed.

The Cybermen also employed a very primitive type of conversion in 1851 when they created the Cybershades using scrap metal and Victorian era human technology. They also invented a way of converting humans into command units for CyberKings by fitting them with a headset that could take control of their brains. The CyberKing was intended as a mass conversion unit, but the command unit Miss Hartigan, aided by the Tenth Doctor, destroyed it before it was put to use. (DW: The Next Doctor)

A Cyberman's exo-skeleton in 102 Stonehenge displayed the ability to upgrade humans without any external machinery, merely needing to restrain the victim while the Cyberman's faceplate split open at the middle and enveloped the victim's head. The process from here on is unknown, as the only seen victim of this process was Amy Pond, who escaped before the process was completed. (DW: The Pandorica Opens) The human that was previously converted seemed to have a similar upgade like that during the Battle of Canary Wharf, due to the fact that the Canary Wharf upgrade involved concealing the body inside the suit, (TW: Cyberwoman) while this Cyberman had a severed head concealed in its helmet. (DW: The Pandorica Opens)

Cybermen found in the Arctic
What method these Cybermen used to convert people is unknown, but in one case in the Arctic circle, Cybermats were used to infect humans with a nano-virus which would slowly turn them into Cyberslaves. Parts of the infected individual's body would turn into metal before being fully converted. However, it was possible to produce an antidote to stop this virus, as the Doctor succeeded in using one to cure Chisholm. (VG: Blood of the Cybermen)

Cybermen of the Cyber Legions
A damaged group of six Cybermen attempted to convert Craig Owens into a Cyber-Controller. Craig, fully clothed, was placed into what appeared to be a standard Cybersuit rather than that of a Cyber-Controller. The full conversion process is unknown, but it is known that the first stage is purging of emotion, which could be fought if one was strong enough emotionally. Craig managed to stop this conversion before any physical or mental alterations could take place by focusing on his love for baby son. Aside from halting the conversion, this also destroyed all six Cybermen by overloading their emotional inhibitors. It is unknown if any physical alterations would have been made, as the Cybermen stated that the conversion was complete.

It appeared that at least these Cybermen couldn't convert Time Lords, as the Doctor described himself as "not exactly compatible", however they later stated that other parts of the Doctor's body could be useful, it is unknown what for. (DW: Closing Time)

Due to the conditions these Cybermen were in, it is possible that this wasn't the custom conversion technique used by Cybermen of this type.

Cybermen of Mondas

 * Toberman- Partial cyber-conversion on Telos, regained his humanity and attacked the Cyber-Controller. Sacrificed his life to close doors of the Cybermen's tombs (DW: The Tomb of the Cybermen)
 * Bates and Stratton - Cyber-conversion process failed at an early stage after their limbs had been replaced by mechanical equivalents. Put to work on the surface of Telos with similar such failures. (DW: Attack of the Cybermen)
 * Lytton - Partial cyber-conversion on Telos, cyber-conversion incomplete at the time of his death (DW: Attack of the Cybermen)
 * Bill and David were converted. (DW: Attack of the Cybermen)
 * Evelyn Smythe (divergent timeline) (WC: Real Time, BFA: Real Time)
 * Nicola Savage, Ricky Allen, Ryan Carey and David Isherwood (partially converted) (WC: Real Time, BFA: Real Time)
 * Reece Goddard (skin drone; divergent timeline) (WC: Real Time, BFA: Real Time)
 * Tobias Vaughn - Partial cyber-conversion, retained head and therefore his own thoughts. (DW: The Invasion)

Cybermen of Pete's World

 * John Lumic - Converted into Cyber-Controller (DW: The Age of Steel)
 * Sally Phelan (DW: The Age of Steel)
 * Jackie Tyler of an alternative universe - Alternate counterpart of Jackie Tyler (DW: The Age of Steel)
 * Yvonne Hartman - Torchwood Institute administrator (DW: Doomsday)
 * Lisa Hallett - Torchwood employee and lover of Ianto Jones, partial cyber-conversion (TW: Cyberwoman)
 * Mercy Hartigan - CyberKing command unit. Miss Hartigan refused to be converted to a standard Cyberman and took control of the Cybermen which landed in 1851. The Cybermen, however, had slowly set a plan in motion that would eventually make Miss Hartigan both a convert and a leader. (DW: The Next Doctor)
 * Valerie Brannigan (WC: In-Flight Entertainment)

Cybermen found in the Arctic

 * Alan Watts - Fully converted into a Cyberslave. (VG: Blood of the Cybermen)
 * Elizabeth Meadows - Partially converted into a Cyberslave and mentally converted as well. (VG: Blood of the Cybermen)
 * Chisholm - Partially converted into a Cyberslave and retained humanity long enough to be cured by an antidote to the Cybermat nano-virus by the Doctor. (VG: Blood of the Cybermen)

Cybermen of the Cyber Legion

 * Craig Owens - Almost converted into a Cyber-Controller but held off the first stage of converstion (purging of emotion) by focusing on his love for his son. (DW: Closing Time)