Editing Time Lord (section)

==Physical characteristics==
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Time Lords and human beings look alike,{{sfn|Donaghy|2014|p=12}}<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Beast Below |episode-link=The Beast Below |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Andrew (director) |last2=Gunn |author-link2=Andrew Gunn (director) |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=10 April 2010 |series-no=5 |number=2 }}</ref> however they differ in many respects. Physiological differences from humans include two [[heart]]s which normally beat at 170 beats per minute,<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[Inferno (Doctor Who)|Inferno]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Don (writer) |last=Houghton |author-link=Don Houghton |first2=Douglas (director) |last2=Camfield |author-link2=Douglas Camfield |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=9 May – 20 June 1970 <!-- unsupported parameter |season=7 --> }}</ref> and a "respiratory bypass system" that allows them to survive strangulation. The [[Twelfth Doctor]] was able to survive direct exposure to the vacuum of space in "[[Oxygen (Doctor Who)|Oxygen]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a827983/doctor-who-series-10-episode-5-theories-questions/|title=Doctor Who episode 5: 8 big questions after 'Oxygen'|last=Jeffery|first=Morgan|date=13 May 2017|website=Digital Spy|language=en-GB|access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref> Time Lords also seem to have an increased resilience to higher frequencies of sound, as seen in "[[The Christmas Invasion]]"<ref name="Christmas Invasion">{{Cite episode |title=The Christmas Invasion |episode-link=The Christmas Invasion |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=James (director)| last2=Hawes |author-link2=James Hawes |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=25 December 2005 }}</ref> and "[[Partners in Crime (Doctor Who)|Partners in Crime]]".<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Partners in Crime |episode-link=Partners in Crime (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=James (director) |last2=Strong |author-link2=James Strong (director) |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=5 April 2008 |series-no=4 |number=1 }}</ref> If severely injured, Time Lords can go into a healing coma which lowers their body temperature to below freezing which the Doctor did in ''[[Planet of the Daleks]]''. In the serial ''[[Destiny of the Daleks]]'',<ref name="destiny">{{cite serial |title=[[Destiny of the Daleks]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Terry (writer) |last=Nation |author-link=Terry Nation |first2=Ken (director) |last2=Grieve |author-link2=Ken Grieve |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=1–22 September 1979 }}</ref> [[Romana (Doctor Who)|Romana]] was able to voluntarily stop both of her hearts beating, to fool the Daleks into believing that she was dead. The Doctor also shows a greater tolerance to cold compared to humans in ''[[The Seeds of Doom]]''<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[The Seeds of Doom]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert Banks (writer) |last=Stewart |author-link=Robert Banks Stewart |first2=Douglas (director) |last2=Camfield |author-link2=Douglas Camfield |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=31 January – 6 March 1976 }}</ref> and "[[Planet of the Ood]]"<ref name="Planet of the Ood">{{Cite episode |title=Planet of the Ood |episode-link=Planet of the Ood |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Keith (writer) |last=Temple |author-link=Keith Temple |first2=Graeme (director) |last2=Harper |author-link2=Graeme Harper |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=19 April 2008 |series-no=4 |number=3 }}</ref> and even Romana in ''[[The Ribos Operation]]'',<ref name="ribos operation">{{cite serial |title=[[The Ribos Operation]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert (writer) |last=Holmes |author-link=Robert Holmes (scriptwriter) |first2=George (director) |last2=Spenton-Foster |author-link2=George Spenton-Foster |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=2–23 September 1978 }}</ref> and in "[[42 (Doctor Who)|42]]",<ref>{{Cite episode |title=42 |episode-link=42 (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Chris (writer) |last=Chibnall |author-link=Chris Chibnall |first2=Graeme (director) |last2=Harper |author-link2=Graeme Harper |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=19 May 2007 |series-no=3 |number=7 }}</ref> the [[Tenth Doctor]] states he is able to survive at absolute zero for a short period of time. In "[[World War Three (Doctor Who)|World War Three]]",<ref>{{Cite episode |title=World War Three |episode-link=World War Three (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Keith (director) |last2=Boak |author-link2=Keith Boak |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=23 April 2005 |series-no=1 }}</ref> the Doctor is able to shake off an [[electric shock|electrocution]] attempt which is fatal to a number of humans, and appears unaffected by the energy whip wielded by the [[List of Doctor Who monsters and aliens#Sycorax|Sycorax]] in "[[The Christmas Invasion]]".<ref name="Christmas Invasion"/> In "[[Smith and Jones (Doctor Who)|Smith and Jones]]" the Tenth Doctor says that the radiation given off by [[X-ray]]s pose no real threat to Time Lords, and proceeds to absorb an amount that would be lethal to a human, which he subsequently expels through his foot.<ref name="Smith and Jones">{{Cite episode |title=Smith and Jones |episode-link=Smith and Jones (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Charles (director) |last2=Palmer |author-link2=Charles Palmer (director) |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=31 March 2007 |series-no=3 |number=1 }}</ref> "The End of Time"<ref name="end of time two"/> shows the Tenth Doctor as being capable of surviving (for a short period) a massive burst of radiation that would have killed anything else instantly. However, the radiation burst caused enough damage to start a regeneration.

Time Lords are extremely long-lived, routinely counting their ages in terms of centuries; the [[Second Doctor]] claimed in ''The War Games''<ref name="The War Games"/> that Time Lords could live "practically forever, barring accidents". The series has suggested that Time Lords have a different concept of ageing from humans. In "[[The Stolen Earth]]",<ref name="The Stolen Earth">{{Cite episode |title=The Stolen Earth |episode-link=The Stolen Earth |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Graeme (director) |last2=Harper |author-link2=Graeme Harper |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=28 June 2008 |series-no=4 |number=12 }}</ref> the Tenth Doctor refers to when who he thought was his [[First Doctor|original incarnation]] was a "kid" at 90 years old. However, within a specific incarnation, a Time Lord is able to age, albeit much more slowly than a human. The [[War Doctor]]<ref name="notd"/><ref name="dotd"/> and [[Eleventh Doctor]],<ref name="totd">{{Cite episode |title=The Time of the Doctor |episode-link=The Time of the Doctor |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Jamie (director) |last2=Payne |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=25 December 2013 }}</ref> over the course of the [[Time War (Doctor Who)|Last Great Time War]] and the [[The Time of the Doctor|Battle of Trenzalore]], respectively, are seen to age within their respective incarnations to what would appear to a human to be old age; both conflicts are suggested within the series to last hundreds if not thousands of Earth years.{{refn|group=note|A minimum of 300 years is confirmed by the [[Eleventh Doctor]] to have passed during one of the time skips on Trenzalore.<ref name="totd"/> In the episode before "[[The Time of the Doctor]]", "[[The Day of the Doctor]]", the Eleventh Doctor describes himself as "twelve hundred or something",<ref name="dotd"/> while in "[[Deep Breath (Doctor Who)|Deep Breath]]", which is set immediately after the end of the Battle of Trenzalore, the [[Twelfth Doctor]] says he's "over 2000 years old".<ref name="deep breath">{{Cite episode |title=Deep Breath |episode-link=Deep Breath (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Ben (director) |last2=Wheatley |author-link2=Ben Wheatley |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=23 August 2014 |series-no=8 |number=1 }}</ref>}}

In ''The Two Doctors'',<ref name="Two Doctors">{{cite serial |title=[[The Two Doctors]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert (writer) |last=Holmes |author-link=Robert Holmes (scriptwriter) |first2=Peter (director) |last2=Moffatt |author-link2=Peter Moffatt |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=16 February – 2 March 1985 }}</ref> the [[Second Doctor]] states that the "Rassilon Imprimatur" allows Time Lords to safely travel through time, becoming [[Symbiosis|symbionts]] with their TARDISes, and that the reason other species are incapable of developing time travel is that they lack the imprimatur. However, he implies later that he was lying about at least some of this information to mislead the [[Sontaran]]s. At the beginning of ''[[The Trial of a Time Lord]]'',<ref name="The Trial of a Time Lord">{{cite serial |title=[[The Trial of a Time Lord]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert |last=Holmes |author-link=Robert Holmes (scriptwriter) |first2=Philip |last2=Martin |author-link2=Philip Martin (screenwriter) |first3=Pip |last3=Baker |author-link3=Pip and Jane Baker |first4=Jane (writers) |last4=Baker |author-link4=Pip and Jane Baker |first5=Nicholas |last5=Mallett |author-link5=Nicholas Mallett |first6=Ron |last6=Jones |author-link6=Ron Jones (television director) |first7=Chris (directors) |last7=Clough |author-link7=Chris Clough |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=4 October – 6 December 1986 }}</ref> the [[Sixth Doctor]] suggests that a number of elder Time Lords were able to use their combined mental energy to summon his TARDIS against his will.

In the episode "[[Cold Blood (Doctor Who)|Cold Blood]]",<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Cold Blood |episode-link=Cold Blood (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Chris (writer) |last=Chibnall |author-link=Chris Chibnall |first2=Ashley (director) |last2=Way |author-link2=Ashley Way |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=29 May 2010 |series-no=5 |number=9 }}</ref> the Eleventh Doctor experiences excruciating pain when the Silurian attempts to decontaminate him of surface bacteria. The Doctor states this would kill him, most likely due to the scanners being programmed to "detox" humans and therefore being unaware of what elements the Doctor requires.

A Time Lord is able to conceal their Time Lord nature, and become a human, by using the Chameleon Arch – a device that stores their "essence" and memories in an innocuous device such as a [[fob watch]], and replaces them with false counterparts until the object is later re-opened. The process allows them to disguise themselves as humans physiologically and psychologically, meaning they only have one heart and are stripped of non-human powers, and of any memory of having been a Time Lord. This story element was notably featured in [[Doctor Who (series 3)|Series 3]]; the Doctor uses it to hide himself from the [[Jeremy Baines|Family of Blood]] and becomes a schoolteacher in [[Edwardian era|Edwardian]] England.<ref name="Human Nature">{{Cite episode |title=Human Nature |episode-link=Human Nature (Doctor Who episode) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Paul (writer) |last=Cornell |author-link=Paul Cornell |first2=Charles (director) |last2=Palmer |author-link2=Charles Palmer (director) |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]]|date=26 May 2007 |series-no=3 |number=8 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Family of Blood |episode-link=The Family of Blood |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Paul (writer) |last=Cornell |author-link=Paul Cornell |first2=Charles (director) |last2=Palmer |author-link2=Charles Palmer (director) |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=2 June 2007 |series-no=3 |number=9 }}</ref> His nemesis the Master used it to disguise himself as a human to escape the Time War.<ref name="Utopia">{{Cite episode |title=Utopia |episode-link=Utopia (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Graeme (director) |last2=Harper |author-link2=Graeme Harper |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=16 June 2007 |series-no=3 |number=11 }}</ref> The story element is later revisited in the [[Doctor Who (series 12)|Series 12]] episode "[[Fugitive of the Judoon]]" when a mysterious, unknown incarnation of the Doctor (played by [[Jo Martin]]), is revealed to have been hiding on Earth as a tour guide named “Ruth Clayton” using a Chameleon Arch.<ref name="Fugitive of the Judoon">{{Cite episode |title=Fugitive of the Judoon |episode-link=Fugitive of the Judoon |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Vinay (writer) |last=Patel |author-link=Vinay Patel |first2=Chris (writer) |last2=Chibnall |author-link2=Chris Chibnall |first3=Nida (director) |last3=Manzoor |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=26 January 2020 |series-no=12 |number=5 }}</ref>

===Mental powers===
Time Lords can communicate by [[telepathy]],{{sfn|Donaghy|2014|p=12}}<ref name="The Deadly Assassin">{{cite serial |title=[[The Deadly Assassin]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert (writer) |last=Holmes |author-link=Robert Holmes (scriptwriter) |first2=David (director) |last2=Maloney |author-link2=David Maloney |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=30 October – 20 November 1976 }}</ref> and can link their minds to share information and enhance their powers.<ref name="The Three Doctors">{{cite serial |title=[[The Three Doctors (Doctor Who)|The Three Doctors]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Bob |last=Baker |author-link=Bob Baker (scriptwriter) |first2=Dave (writers) |last2=Martin |author-link2=Dave Martin (screenwriter) |first3=Lennie (director) |last3=Mayne |author-link3=Lennie Mayne |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=30 December 1972 – 20 January 1973 }}</ref> In ''[[Castrovalva (Doctor Who)|Castrovalva]]'',<ref name="Castrovalva">{{cite serial |title=[[Castrovalva (Doctor Who)|Castrovalva]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Christopher H. (writer) |last=Bidmead |author-link=Christopher H. Bidmead |first2=Fiona (director) |last2=Cumming |author-link2=Fiona Cumming |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=4–12 January 1982 }}</ref> the Doctor activates the TARDIS' Zero Room mentally. Additionally, both the Doctor and the Master demonstrate significant [[The Master (Doctor Who)#Mental abilities|hypnotic abilities]] which may be supplemented by their telepathic abilities.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OXRBBAAAQBAJ&q=doctor+who+hypnotic+abilities&pg=PA91|title=Doctor Who: A History|last=Kistler|first=Alan|date=2013-10-01|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781493000166|language=en}}</ref>

These powers were elaborated upon from 2005. The [[Eleventh Doctor]] is seen using this method to query a cat about the goings-on of the flat in "[[The Lodger (Doctor Who)|The Lodger]]".<ref name="lodger">{{Cite episode |title=The Lodger |episode-link=The Lodger (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Gareth (writer) |last=Roberts |author-link=Gareth Roberts (writer) |first2=Catherine (director) |last2=Morshead |author-link2=Catherine Morshead |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=12 June 2010 |series-no=5 |number=11 }}</ref> In "[[A Good Man Goes to War]]" <ref name="a good man"/> and "[[Closing Time (Doctor Who)|Closing Time]]" <ref>{{Cite episode |title=Closing Time |episode-link=Closing Time (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Gareth (writer) |last=Roberts |author-link=Gareth Roberts (writer) |first2=Steve (director) |last2=Hughes |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=24 September 2011 |series-no=6 |number=12 }}</ref> he is apparently able to even understand babies, as well as horses in "[[A Town Called Mercy]]".<ref>{{Cite episode |title=A Town Called Mercy |episode-link=A Town Called Mercy |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Toby (writer) |last=Whithouse |author-link=Toby Whithouse |first2=Saul (director) |last2=Metzstein |author-link2=Saul Metzstein |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=15 September 2012 |series-no=7 |number=3 }}</ref> In "[[The Girl in the Fireplace]]",<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Girl in the Fireplace |episode-link=The Girl in the Fireplace |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Euros (director) |last2=Lyn |author-link2=Euros Lyn |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=6 May 2006 |series-no=2 |number=4 }}</ref> the [[Tenth Doctor]] reads the mind of [[Madame de Pompadour]]—and in the process, to his surprise, she is able to read his mind as well. In "[[The End of Time (Doctor Who)|The End of Time]]",<ref name="end of time one">{{cite serial |title=[[The End of Time (Doctor Who)|The End of Time]] |episode=Part One |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Euros (director) |last2=Lyn |author-link2=Euros Lyn |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=25 December 2009 }}</ref> the Master uses the same technique, allowing the Tenth Doctor to hear the drumming sound the Master constantly hears. The Doctor later displays his telepathic communion powers in "[[Fear Her]]" <ref>{{Cite episode |title=Fear Her |episode-link=Fear Her |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Matthew (writer) |last=Graham |author-link=Matthew Graham |first2=Euros (director) |last2=Lyn |author-link2=Euros Lyn |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=24 June 2006 |series-no=2 |number=11 }}</ref> and in "[[The Shakespeare Code]]",<ref name="shakespeare">{{Cite episode |title=The Shakespeare Code |episode-link=The Shakespeare Code |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Gareth (writer) |last=Roberts |author-link=Gareth Roberts (writer) |first2=Charles (director) |last2=Palmer |author-link2=Charles Palmer (director) |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=7 April 2007 |series-no=3 |number=2 }}</ref> where by using his mind melding technique he is partially able to relieve a man of his mental illness as he traces back through his memories. In "[[Planet of the Ood]]",<ref name="Planet of the Ood"/> the Tenth Doctor seems able to temporarily confer some degree of telepathy on his companion Donna Noble, so that she can hear the telepathic song of the Ood. When she is unable to bear the song, the Doctor removes the ability.

In "[[The Lodger (Doctor Who)|The Lodger]]",<ref name="lodger"/> the Eleventh Doctor (pressed for time and needing to convey a great deal of information to someone) smashed his forehead into another person's forehead, causing a massive instantaneous transfer of information.

The Doctor also contacts the Time Lords by going into a trance and creating an assembling box in ''The War Games''.<ref name="The War Games"/> In ''[[The Two Doctors]]'',<ref name="Two Doctors"/> the Doctor engages in [[astral projection]], but warns that if he is disturbed while doing so, his mind could become severed from his body and he could die. In "[[Last of the Time Lords]]", the Doctor telepathically interfaces with a network tapped into the [[human population]] who collectively chant his name. The focus of psychic energy granted the Doctor the ability to de-age himself, float through the air, deflect shots from the Master's laser screwdriver, and telekinetically disarm the Master.<ref name="Last of the Time Lords">{{Cite episode |title=Last of the Time Lords |episode-link=Last of the Time Lords |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Colin (director) |last2=Teague |author-link2=Colin Teague |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=30 June 2007 |series-no=3 |number=13 }}</ref>

In addition, Time Lords may be [[clairvoyance|clairvoyant]], or have additional time-related senses. In ''[[The Time Monster]]'',<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[The Time Monster]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert (writer) |last=Sloman |author-link=Robert Sloman |first2=Paul (director) |last2=Bernard |author-link2=Paul Bernard (director) |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=20 May – 24 June 1972 }}</ref> and ''[[Invasion of the Dinosaurs]]'',<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[Invasion of the Dinosaurs]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Malcolm (writer) |last=Hulke |author-link=Malcolm Hulke |first2=Paddy (director) |last2=Russell |author-link2=Paddy Russell |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=12 January – 16 February 1974 }}</ref> the [[Third Doctor]] is able to resist fields of slow time, being able to move through them even though others are [[paralysis|paralysed]]. In ''[[City of Death]]'',<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[City of Death]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=David (writer) |last=Agnew |author-link=David Agnew |first2=Michael (director) |last2=Hayes |author-link2=Michael Hayes (director) |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]]  |date=29 September – 20 October 1979 }}</ref> both the [[Fourth Doctor]] and Romana notice distortions and jumps in time that no one else does.

In the [[Doctor Who (series 1)|2005 series]], the [[Ninth Doctor]] claims that he can sense the movement of the Earth through space<ref name="rose">{{Cite episode |title=Rose |episode-link=Rose (Doctor Who episode) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Keith (director) |last2=Boak |author-link2=Keith Boak |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=26 March 2005 |series-no=1 |number=1 }}</ref> as well as being able to perceive the past and all possible futures.<ref name = "potw">{{Cite episode |title=The Parting of the Ways |episode-link=The Parting of the Ways |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Joe (director) |last2=Ahearne |author-link2=Joe Ahearne |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=18 June 2005 |series-no=1 |number=13 }}</ref> He is also able to concentrate and time his motions well enough to step safely through the blades of a rapidly spinning fan,<ref name="the end of the world"/> and later claims that if any Time Lords still existed, he would be able to sense them.<ref name="Sound of Drums"/> As the Tenth Doctor he repeats this assertion, adding also that he is somehow innately able to sense which events in time are 'fixed' and which are in 'flux'.<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Fires of Pompeii|episode-link=The Fires of Pompeii|series=Doctor Who|series-link=Doctor Who| first=James (writer) |last=Moran |author-link=James Moran (writer) |first2=Colin (director) |last2=Teague |author-link2=Colin Teague |series-no=4 |number=2 |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=12 April 2008 }}</ref> The Eleventh Doctor slightly amends what was said earlier in "[[The Doctor's Wife]]",<ref name="doctors wife"/> saying that he could only sense if there were other Time Lords in this universe. In the original series episode ''[[Warriors' Gate]]'', Romana is called a 'time-sensitive' by a marauding slaver and, though she seems to deny this, is able to interface with his spaceship in ways that only a 'time-sensitive' is supposed to be able to.<ref name="warriors">{{cite serial |title=[[Warriors' Gate]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Stephen (writer) |last=Gallagher |author-link=Stephen Gallagher |first2=Paul (director) |last2=Joyce |author-link2=Paul Joyce |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=3–24 January 1981 }}</ref> In "[[Utopia (Doctor Who)|Utopia]]",<ref name="Utopia"/> the Tenth Doctor states that he finds it difficult to look at Captain [[Jack Harkness]] because Jack's existence has become fixed in time and space.

In the [[Doctor Who (series 4)|Series 4]] episode "[[Journey's End (Doctor Who)|Journey's End]]",<ref name="journeys"/>{{sfn|Donaghy|2014|p=31}} the Tenth Doctor was shown to use his telepathic abilities to wipe Donna Noble's mind of certain memories, specifically the memories of her travels in the TARDIS and to 'implant' a defence mechanism which is activated in "[[The End of Time (Doctor Who)|The End of Time]]".<ref name="end of time two"/> ''[[The War Games]]'' <ref name="The War Games"/> showed that other Time Lords are also able to erase people's memories, as in that story, [[Jamie McCrimmon|Jamie]] and [[Zoe Heriot|Zoe]]'s travels with the Doctor were erased from their memory, and the council of Time Lords also put a memory block on the Doctor so he could not pilot the TARDIS. In the [[Doctor Who (series 5)|Series 5]] episode "[[The Big Bang (Doctor Who)|The Big Bang]]" <ref name="big bang">{{Cite episode |title=The Big Bang |episode-link=The Big Bang (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Toby (director) |last2=Haynes |author-link2=Toby Haynes |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=26 June 2010 |series-no=5 |number=13 }}</ref> the Doctor telepathically left a message in [[Amy Pond]]'s head before sealing her into the [[Pandorica]] so that she would know what was happening when she woke up.

===Regeneration===
[[File:Regeneration 4-5.gif|thumb|right|The Fourth Doctor regenerates into the Fifth Doctor (from ''[[Logopolis]]'', 1981).]]

Time Lords also have the ability to regenerate their bodies when their current body is mortally wounded. This process results in their body undergoing a transformation, gaining a new physical form and a new personality.

Regenerations can be traumatic. In ''[[Castrovalva (Doctor Who)|Castrovalva]]'', the [[Fifth Doctor]] requires the use of a Zero Room, a chamber shielded from the outside universe that provides an area of calm for him to recuperate. The Time Lord's personality also sometimes goes through a period of instability following a regeneration, such as in ''[[The Christmas Invasion]]''.

It was first stated in ''[[The Deadly Assassin]]'' that a Time Lord can regenerate twelve times (thirteen incarnations in all).<ref name="The Deadly Assassin"/> There were exceptions to this rule, however: when the Master reached the end of his regenerative cycle, he took possession of the body of another person to continue living.<ref name="traken">{{cite serial |title=[[The Keeper of Traken]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Johnny (writer) |last=Byrne |author-link=Johnny Byrne (writer) |first2=John (director) |last2=Black |author-link2=John Black (director) |station=[[BBC]] |location=[[BBC1]] |date=31 January – 21 February 1981 }}</ref> In "[[The Five Doctors]]", the Master was offered a new cycle of regenerations by the High Council to save the Doctor from the Death Zone, which may indicate that there are methods to circumvent the twelve regeneration limit. The Master says in "[[The Sound of Drums]]" <ref name="Sound of Drums"/> that the Time Lords "resurrected" him to fight in the [[Time War (Doctor Who)|Time War]]. It was revealed in ''[[The Brain of Morbius]]'' <ref name="The Brain of Morbius">{{cite serial |title=[[The Brain of Morbius]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robin (writer) |last=Bland |author-link=Robin Bland |first2=Christopher (director) |last2=Barry |author-link2=Christopher Barry |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=3–24 January 1976 }}</ref> that the Time Lords also use the Elixir of Life in extreme cases, where regeneration is not possible. It is confirmed in "[[The Time of the Doctor]]" <ref name="totd"/> that a Time Lord can normally regenerate only twelve times but that the Time Lords have the ability to grant more regenerations: at the behest of [[Clara Oswald]] they granted the Doctor himself a new cycle when he was at the point of death from old age, having used up his entire cycle.

Regeneration, regardless of how many regenerations the individual Time Lord has already undergone, is a conditional and non-inevitable phenomenon. This is stated in "[[The End of Time (Doctor Who)|The End of Time]]" when the Tenth Doctor explains to [[Wilfred Mott]] that a Time Lord can die before they have a chance to regenerate, in which case they die outright.<ref name="end of time one"/> In ''The Deadly Assassin'' at least one of the murders was carried out with a 'staser', possibly a weapon designed to both kill and prevent regeneration (stasers are also stated to have little effect on non-living tissue).<ref name="The Deadly Assassin"/> In the Series 4 episode "[[Turn Left (Doctor Who)|Turn Left]]",<ref name="Turn Left">{{Cite episode |title=Turn Left |episode-link=Turn Left (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Graeme (director) |last2=Harper |author-link2=Graeme Harper |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=21 June 2008 |series-no=4 |number=11 }}</ref> the Tenth Doctor's body is shown on a stretcher following the parallel events of "[[The Runaway Bride (Doctor Who)|The Runaway Bride]]". A [[UNIT]] officer states that the Doctor's death must have been too quick to allow for regeneration.

In ''[[Destiny of the Daleks]]'',<ref name="destiny"/> Romana showed the ability to rapidly change form several times in a row during her first regeneration, and apparently had the ability to change into whatever appearance she desired. When the Doctor remarks upon her ability, she comments that he should have stayed in university. However, despite showing several appearances, Romana regenerated only once on that occasion.

In "[[Utopia (Doctor Who)|Utopia]]",<ref name="Utopia"/> the Master, just before regeneration, claimed that he would become "young and strong", implying that he could choose the form of his new body. The human-Time Lord hybrid River Song in "[[Let's Kill Hitler]]" claimed she was "focusing on a dress size", but subsequently weighed herself, seeming unsure of how her new body had truly developed.<ref name="hitler">{{Cite episode |title=Let's Kill Hitler |episode-link=Let's Kill Hitler |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Richard (director) |last2=Senior |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=27 August 2011 |series-no=6 |number=8 }}</ref> The Doctor said on several occasions he wished he was "ginger", which he has seemed unable to control in previous regenerations.<ref name="end of time two"/><ref name="Christmas Invasion"/> In "[[Last of the Time Lords]]",<ref name="Last of the Time Lords"/> when the Master is fatally wounded, he chooses not to regenerate, essentially committing suicide rather than regenerate and be kept prisoner by the Doctor forever. This again implies that regeneration is not inevitable and can indeed be refused.

Upon encountering the remains of fellow Time Lord the Corsair in "[[The Doctor's Wife (Doctor Who)|The Doctor's Wife]]", the Doctor refers to the Corsair as both male and female, hinting that Time Lords can switch genders upon their regenerations;<ref name="doctors wife"/> this is confirmed in "[[Dark Water (Doctor Who)|Dark Water]]", in which [[The Master (Doctor Who)|the Master]], previously seen in various male incarnations for over forty years, returned as a female. The  Doctor also regenerated as a woman in "[[Twice Upon a Time (Doctor Who)|Twice Upon A Time]]", as the [[Thirteenth Doctor]]. Though the possibility of Time Lords changing sex at regeneration was not explored directly in the classic series, ''[[The Hand of Fear]]'' depicts the Kastrian Eldrad going from female to male which he compared to Time Lord regeneration, implying the process could produce a change in sex.

Whether or not Time Lords can recognise each other across regenerations is not made entirely clear:
* In ''[[The War Games]]'',<ref name="The War Games"/> the [[The War Chief|War Chief]] recognises the [[Second Doctor]] from a previous (offscreen) encounter prior to his regeneration. However, his comments make it unclear whether he has merely deduced the Doctor's identity based on the circumstances of the TARDIS's theft and the Doctor's ability to pilot it.
* In ''[[The Three Doctors (Doctor Who)|The Three Doctors]]'',<ref name="The Three Doctors"/> the [[Second Doctor]] recognises the [[Third Doctor]] immediately, despite the fact that the Third Doctor is a future incarnation of himself. Omega is similarly able to recognise the two Doctors as the same man.
* In ''[[Terror of the Autons]]'',<ref name="terror of the autons">{{cite serial |title=[[Terror of the Autons]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert (writer) |last=Holmes |author-link=Robert Holmes (scriptwriter) |first2=Barry (producer) |last2=Letts |author-link2=Barry Letts |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=2–23 January 1971 }}</ref> the [[Third Doctor]] fails to recognise [[The Master (Doctor Who)|The Master]]'s voice, when the Master speaks to him on a telephone.
* In ''[[Planet of the Spiders]]'',<ref name="Planet of the Spiders">{{cite serial |title=[[Planet of the Spiders]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert (writer) |last=Sloman |author-link=Robert Sloman |first2=Barry (director) |last2=Letts |author-link2=Barry Letts |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=4 May – 8 June 1974 }}</ref> the [[Third Doctor]] has trouble recognising his former mentor.
* In ''[[The Deadly Assassin]]'',<ref name="The Deadly Assassin"/> Announcer Runcible, an old classmate, recognises the [[Fourth Doctor]] despite his changes in appearance and mentions that the Doctor appears to have had a "face lift" since they last met.
* In ''[[The Armageddon Factor]]'',<ref name="The Armageddon Factor">{{cite serial |title=[[The Armageddon Factor]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Bob |last=Baker |author-link=Bob Baker (scriptwriter) |first2=Dave (writers) |last2=Martin |author-link2=Dave Martin (screenwriter) |first3=Michael (director) |last3=Hayes |author-link3=Michael Hayes (director) |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=20 January – 24 February 1979 }}</ref> Drax, another alumnus immediately recognises the Fourth Doctor, though the Doctor does not recognise him.
* In "[[The Five Doctors]]",<ref name="The Five Doctors">
{{cite serial | title = [[The Five Doctors]] | series = Doctor Who | series-link = Doctor Who |first=Terrance (writer) |last=Dicks |author-link=Terrance Dicks |first2=Peter (director) |last2=Moffatt |author-link2=Peter Moffatt | network = [[PBS]] | date=23 November 1983}}</ref> the First Doctor does not recognise the Fifth Doctor as himself and needs to be introduced. Likewise, the Third Doctor is unable to initially recognise the Master in his non-Gallifreyan body.
* In ''[[The Twin Dilemma]]'',<ref name="The Twin Dilemma">{{cite serial |title=[[The Twin Dilemma]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Anthony (writer) |last=Steven |author-link=Anthony Steven |first2=Peter (director) |last2=Moffatt |author-link2=Peter Moffatt |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=22–30 March 1984 }}</ref> the Doctor's old friend Azmael fails to recognise him, as the Doctor has regenerated twice since their last encounter.
* In ''[[The Two Doctors]]'',<ref name="Two Doctors"/> when the [[Sixth Doctor]] and [[Second Doctor]] first meet, they are initially quiet until they face each other and simultaneously yell at each other, each recognising immediately the other.
* In ''[[Survival (Doctor Who)|Survival]]'', the Master recognises the [[Seventh Doctor]] on sight.<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[Survival (Doctor Who)|Survival]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Rona (writer) |last=Munro |author-link=Rona Munro |first2=Alan (director) |last2=Wareing |author-link2=Alan Wareing |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=22 November – 6 December 1989 }}</ref>
* In ''[[Doctor Who (film)|Doctor Who]]'' (1996), the [[Eighth Doctor]] is unable to recognise the Master while he possesses a human body, only recognising the Master when he corrects Grace's grammar.<ref name="tv movie"/>
* In "[[Utopia (Doctor Who)|Utopia]]",<ref name="Utopia"/> the [[Tenth Doctor]] does not recognise the human form of the Master, although the Doctor did recognise him, and name him "Master", as soon as he recovered his Time Lord physiology and mind.
* In "[[The Sound of Drums]]",<ref name="Sound of Drums"/> the Doctor states that Time Lords can "always" recognise each other, although, while on Earth, the Master used satellites with a telepathic network to mask his presence from the Doctor. The Doctor in this circumstance appears to only be referring to recognition of the individual as a Time Lord, not necessarily the specific identity. However, when he sees the Master on television, he recognises him.<ref name="Sound of Drums"/>
* In "[[Time Crash]]",<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Time Crash |episode-link=Time Crash |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Graeme (director) |last2=Harper |author-link2=Graeme Harper |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=17 November 2007 }}</ref> the [[Fifth Doctor]] could not instinctively recognise that the Tenth Doctor was a Time Lord, much less one of his own later incarnations.
* In "[[The Next Doctor]]",<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Next Doctor |episode-link=The Next Doctor |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Andy (director) |last2=Goddard |author-link2=Andy Goddard |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=25 December 2008 }}</ref> the Tenth Doctor initially seems unable to detect that the human [[Jackson Lake (Doctor Who)|Jackson Lake]], who identifies himself as the Doctor, is not actually his regenerated future self.
* In "[[The End of Time (Doctor Who)|The End of Time]]",<ref name="end of time two"/> the Doctor immediately recognises an unidentified elderly female Time Lord on sight, and also refers to the lead Time Lord by the name Rassilon (an earlier incarnation of Rassilon had appeared in "[[The Five Doctors]]"). In the context of the story, however, he may have encountered both during the Time War, though he himself has regenerated since they last saw him. Rassilon and the woman recognised the Doctor on sight as well, but the Doctor's presence, regardless of incarnation, was expected.
* In "[[The Day of the Doctor]]",<ref name="dotd"/> the [[Tenth Doctor]] appears to sceptically recognise [[Eleventh Doctor|his successor]], yet he appears to be fully convinced only after both compare their sonic screwdrivers. The [[War Doctor]], on the other hand, is initially oblivious to meet his future incarnations and mistaking them for future [[Companion (Doctor Who)|companions]] (but is later convinced otherwise after comparing their sonic screwdrivers).
* In "[[Dark Water (Doctor Who)|Dark Water]]",<ref name="dark water">{{Cite episode |title=Dark Water |episode-link=Dark Water (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Rachel (director) |last2=Talalay |author-link2=Rachel Talalay |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=1 November 2014 |series-no=8 |number=11 }}</ref> the [[Twelfth Doctor]] is unable to recognise the Master until she reveals her identity.
* In "[[Twice Upon a Time (Doctor Who)|Twice Upon A Time]]",<ref name="twice upon a time">{{Cite episode |title=Twice Upon a Time |episode-link=Twice Upon a Time (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Rachel (director) |last2=Talalay |author-link2=Rachel Talalay |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=25 December 2017 |series-no=10 |number=Special }}</ref> the [[First Doctor]] sees the [[Twelfth Doctor]] as another Time Lord come to take back his TARDIS and requires convincing as to otherwise.
*In "[[Spyfall (Doctor Who)|Spyfall]]",<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC One - Doctor Who, Series 12, Spyfall, Part 1 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000cs1y |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] is unable to recognize the Master until he reveals his identity.

In "[[The Impossible Astronaut]]",<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Impossible Astronaut |episode-link=The Impossible Astronaut |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Toby (director) |last2=Haynes |author-link2=Toby Haynes |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=23 April 2011 |series-no=6 |number=1 }}</ref> a future version of the Eleventh Doctor is shot, causing him to begin his regeneration cycle. He is shot again before the regeneration completes, causing him to die instantly. However, in "[[The Wedding of River Song]]",<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Wedding of River Song |episode-link=The Wedding of River Song |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Jeremy (director) |last2=Webb |author-link2=Jeremy Webb |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=1 October 2011 |series-no=6 |number=13 }}</ref> it is revealed this was a shape shifting android the Doctor used to fake his death, making this questionable.
{{cquote| It's a bit dodgy, this process, you never know what you're gonna end up with. |30px|30px| The Ninth Doctor in "[[The Parting of the Ways]]".<ref name="potw"/>}}

In cases of non-fatal injury, Time Lords who have recently regenerated can use left over cellular energy to heal and even regrow severed limbs, as seen in "[[The Christmas Invasion]]" where the Tenth Doctor regrows a hand.<ref name="Christmas Invasion"/> Also seen in "[[Journey's End (Doctor Who)|Journey's End]]", is the apparent ability to siphon off regeneration energy in order to cancel the effect of changing appearance; which requires them to have a "bio-matching receptacle" (in this case the Doctor's severed hand), which is usually impractical.<ref name="journeys"/> However, this "non-regeneration" was revealed as "counting" towards the Doctor's twelve possible regenerations during the events of "[[The Time of the Doctor]]".<ref name="totd"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/11/answers-on-regeneration-steven-moffat-drops-a-bomb-about-the-doctor-who-christmas-special |title=Answers on Regeneration: Steven Moffat Drops A Bomb About the Doctor Who Christmas Special |author=Stubby the Rocket |publisher=tor.com |date=25 November 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228032935/http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/11/answers-on-regeneration-steven-moffat-drops-a-bomb-about-the-doctor-who-christmas-special |archive-date=28 December 2013  }}</ref>

In "The End of Time", the [[Tenth Doctor]] was able to postpone his regeneration long enough so that he could travel in time and space to see his past companions for one last time before he regenerated. The [[Fifth Doctor]] had also shown a similar ability in ''[[The Caves of Androzani]]'', fighting off the effects of an impending regeneration so he can return to Androzani Minor to save his companion Peri.

Time Lords appear to have the ability to stay conscious for moments after events that would outright kill other lifeforms instantly, giving them the opportunity to regenerate. This is seen in ''[[Logopolis]]'' (fall from a great height), and ''The Caves of Androzani'' (fatal disease). In both "[[The Stolen Earth]]" and "[[The Big Bang (Doctor Who)|The Big Bang]]", the Doctor is shot by a Dalek's energy weapon, which has almost always been shown to instantly kill any other lifeform, yet is still conscious and able to return to return to the TARDIS and Pandorica respectively.

In ''[[Death of the Doctor]]'', the Eleventh Doctor responds to a question from [[Clyde Langer]] by saying he can regenerate "507" times.<ref name="NotSerious" /> Early news reports, before the episode was broadcast, suggested he would say there is no limit to the number of regenerations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/oct/12/doctor-who-immortal-reveals-bbc |title=Doctor Who is now immortal, reveals the BBC |author=Emily Barr |newspaper=The Guardian |date=13 October 2010 |access-date=13 October 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805113305/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/oct/12/doctor-who-immortal-reveals-bbc |archive-date=5 August 2013  }}</ref> Writer [[Russell T Davies]] stated in an interview with ''[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]'' that the line was not intended to be taken seriously and is instead a commentary. He said that the "thirteen lives" rule was too deeply entrenched in the viewer consciousness for his throwaway line to affect it.<ref name="NotSerious">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/10/26/interview-russell-t-davies-talks-about-that-sarah-jane-adventures-line/ |title=INTERVIEW Russell T Davies talks about THAT Sarah Jane Adventures line |work=SFX |date=26 October 2010 |access-date=17 September 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927082428/http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/10/26/interview-russell-t-davies-talks-about-that-sarah-jane-adventures-line/ |archive-date=27 September 2013  }}</ref>

It is revealed in "[[The Time of the Doctor]]" that this was in fact false and that due to his various regenerations, the [[Eleventh Doctor]] was in fact his last incarnation. However, the Time Lords intervened through a crack in time to grant him a full new regeneration cycle. The revelation in 2020's "[[The Timeless Children]]" that The Doctor is, in fact, not Gallifreyan and instead had their DNA used to give Gallifreyans the ability to regenerate, calls into doubt whether or not the Doctor does in fact have a limit to their regenerations, or if they merely believed they did due to all other Time Lords being limited.

In "[[The Giggle]]", the Fourteenth Doctor, after being mortally wounded with a laser cannon by the Toymaker, undergoes 'bi-generation', a process that causes his next incarnation to split off into a separate entity, the Fifteenth Doctor, while healing the Fourteenth Doctor's injuries. This process is witnessed again in "[[The Interstellar Song Contest]]" when Mrs Flood, revealed to be The Rani, undergoes bi-generation after being revived.