Editing Cyberman (section)

=== Weaknesses ===
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The Cybermen have had a number of weaknesses since their introduction. The most notable weakness of the original Cybermen is the element [[gold]]. Their aversion to gold was not mentioned until they try to destroy the planetoid Voga (the so-called "Planet of Gold") in ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'' (1975). Initially, it was explained that, due to its non-corrodible nature, gold essentially [[asphyxiation|chokes]] their [[respiratory system]]s. For example, the glittergun{{Typo help inline|reason=Should this be a compound word or two separate words?  If correct, please put word in {{not a typo}} template for spell checking reasons.|date=February 2024}}, a weapon used during the Cyber-Wars in the future, fired gold dust at its targets. However, in later serials, gold appeared to affect them rather as silver affects [[werewolf|werewolves]], with gold coins or gold-tipped [[cartridge (firearms)|bullets]] fired at them having the same effect. The revived series's Cybermen have no such weakness, though the tie-in website for the episode mentions it.<ref>The [http://www.cybusindustries.net/lumic.htm Cybus Industries tie-in website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923001724/http://www.cybusindustries.net/lumic.htm |date=23 September 2012 }} refers to earlier prototypes having an "allergy" to gold, stating that this was eliminated after further improvements of the Cyberman body.</ref> Cybermen are also efficiently killed when shot with their own guns, or by a [[Daleks|Dalek]]. Other weaknesses from early stories include [[solvent]]s, [[gravity]] based technology, and excessive levels of [[radioactive contamination|radiation]]. In "The Age of Steel", an [[electromagnetic pulse|EMP]] grenade is shown to disable a Cyberman and shut down its emotional inhibitor. The vulnerability to gold is clearly not present in some early Cyberman types, for example the type seen in the 1968 serial ''The Invasion'' were unlikely to possess it, or perhaps more likely the weakness is not known, otherwise the Doctor/UNIT would simply have used it and not needed the elaborate plan involving the assistance of a [[Russia]]n missile base and the Cybermen's puppet ally, Tobias Vaughn. In "Nightmare in Silver", the Doctor uses gold to slow down though not destroy some circuitry of technologically advanced Cybermen in the distant future. It is unclear precisely how many of the different types, and which types, of Cyberman are vulnerable to gold.

Their armour is often depicted as flexible and resistant to bullets, but can be penetrated by gold arrows and projectiles made of gold. The Cybus Cybermen are bullet-proof and are very resilient, but are not indestructible – they are vulnerable to high explosives, electromagnetic pulses, specialised weaponry and [[Dalek]] energy weapons.

In "[[The Power of the Doctor]]" (2022), [[Tegan Jovanka]] and [[Ace (Doctor Who)|Ace]] fire gold bullets at a group of Cybermen only to be told that they have evolved beyond weakness to gold.