Strongest Terminators, Ranked

The recent release of Netflix's Terminator Zero has prompted renewed interest in the iconic and long-running Terminator franchise. The dark, action-packed anime series focuses on a rival AI program to Skynet developed in Japan back in the mid-to-late '90s.

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By  David Heath

While the series' lead Terminator is a classic T-800, a new entry in the franchise will no doubt have longtime fans once again debating just which model is the strongest of the many Terminators seen so far. The many new timelines and reboots that the films have seen this millennium have provided viewers with a wave of innovative and scarily powerful Terminators that have taken the action and stakes in many different directions. However, of the many elite-level cybernetic assassins causing trouble in the series, a select few stand out for causing more mayhem than the rest.

5 T-1000

A Classic Villain That Began The Shapeshifting Trend In The Series

• Abilities: Liquid metal, shape-shifting, near-indestructible.

The legendary liquid Terminator was a showcase of elite-level CGI by the standard of the time Judgment Day was released. Masquerading as a police officer, Judgment Day sees the T-1000 being sent back to the early ‘90s to execute an adolescent John Connor.

With the ability to shapeshift, the T-1000 was deceptively dangerous, even taking the form of John Connor’s mother Sarah at one point. Its liquid metal abilities also allowed it to turn its appendages into deadly weapons, making it one of the more unpredictable antagonists of the film series. While it could survive being frozen, heat ultimately proved to be the T-1000’s undoing, with it being soundly defeated by the T-800 despite having the upper hand in all of their encounters throughout the film.

4 Rev-9

A Powerful Liquid Assassin Who Can Split In Two

• Abilities: Liquid metal, shapeshifting, able to split itself into two entities, near-indestructible.

The shocking death of a young John Connor is just the beginning of a very different timeline in which Legion, an AI warfare program, takes the fight to humanity instead of Skynet. Now, with Connor out of the picture, Dani Ramos is revealed to be the new future leader of the human resistance.

The Rev-9 is sent back in time to take Ramos out, butting heads with the cybernetically upgraded human resistance fighter Grace. In battle, the Rev-9 is shown to be ferocious and largely invulnerable. In a bizarre twist, it is also able to split itself into two entities, leading to double trouble for those unlucky enough to have to take it on. Played with a suitably icy, emotionless contempt by Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'S Gabriel Luna, the Rev-9 provides plenty of unsettling entertainment as a ruthlessly efficient killing machine. While the film itself went on to be incredibly polarizing among fans for its changes to the series' mythology, the Rev-9 proved to be a scene-stealing update on many of the concepts put forward with the T-1000 in Judgment Day.

3 T-X

A Scarily Overpowered Terminator That Often Got The Better Of The T-800

• Abilities: Endo-bone structure with liquid metal sheath, advanced weaponry, nanotechnology.

After more than a decade of waiting, fans were finally treated to a third chapter in the Terminator film franchise back in 2003. This time, Schwarzenegger’s T-800 had to collide with the brand-new and improved T-X model.

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By  Kristy Ambrose

The devastating T-X sported an endo-bone structure with a liquid metal sheath, making her absurdly invulnerable to physical damage. On top of that, she sported a variety of advanced weaponry features that ensured that the heroic titular Terminator was horrendously outmatched in physical combat. Along with her various offensive strengths, the T-X was also able to hack the T-800 and take control of his functions, making her one of the most all-round dangerous machines in the entire franchise.

2 T-3000

John Connor's Shocking Reinvention As A Terminator Caused All Kinds Of Trouble

• Abilities: Various nanotech powers, invulnerability.

In one of the more bizarre plot twists the long-running franchise has offered fans, John Connor became everything he hated in Genisys. Altered by the deceptive Alex, Connor travels to the past to stop his parents from potentially saving the day.

The plot twist sees Connor become an especially deadly Terminator. Along with the superior strength and reflexes expected of a Terminator, Connor possesses nano morph technology, allowing him to take on a variety of shapes and handle situations far more fluidly than a standard Terminator. While the plot twist was unsurprisingly greeted with a polarized reception from fans, what is undeniable is the scary level of power and efficiency the Terminator rendition of Connor possessed during his time on screen.

1 T-5000

This Deadly Nanotech Terminator Provided Viewers With An Incredibly Shocking Twist

• Appearances: Terminator Genisys
• Abilities: Viral nanotech powers, able to possess and control humans.

While appearing only briefly in the film, Alex manages to cause a whole new wave of major trouble. Disguised as a member of the Resistance, the T-5000 gets his hands on John Connor, leading to the infamous Connor Terminator.

A nanotech-focused machine, the T-5000 is able to use his advanced technology to fully take control of and possess humans. This ability makes the deceptive machine one of the most unpredictable Terminators in the series, as anyone can become a surprise victim of his machinations. As the film revealed, even the likes of John Connor were powerless against his technology, becoming deadly threats to humanity in the process. Played with suitably sinister precision by Matt Smith, the T-5000's brief appearances in the film leave a long-lasting impression.

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