If there’s one thing the Terminator franchise is known for (besides one-liners, explosions, and its increasingly convoluted timeline), it’s the killer robots. From the original T-800 that terrified Sarah Connor to the more recent shape-shifting models sent by Skynet—or Legion—keep getting more advanced, harder to kill, and sometimes more confusing. Time travel will do that.

So, after four (okay, technically more) movies in the Terminator saga, it’s hard to keep track of which killbot is the ultimate machine. Who can blame you? These films jumped from straight-up metal skeletons to morphing liquid metal, to onboard weaponry, and then to, well, whatever Terminator: Dark Fate threw at us.

Let’s see if we can come to a consensus as to which Terminator models really deserve the title of “ultimate Terminator.” And yes, we’ll keep the time-travel headaches out of it.

The OG: T-800 (1984)

The one that started it all: the T-800. Portrayed by the one and only Arnold Schwarzenegger. When the Terminator hit theaters in 1984, the T-800 was the ultimate killing machine. With a hyper-alloy combat chassis and living tissue over its metal endoskeleton, this model was tough. It wasn’t the fastest or the most flexible, but man, was it relentless.

The T-800 was an infiltration unit, designed to blend into human society (or at least, into a world where people didn’t notice a 6-foot-tall muscle-bound cyborg with a monotone voice and a heavy accent). It didn’t have fancy morphing abilities, nor could it regenerate or heal itself. Once you damaged it, the scars stuck around. But what it lacked in flashy powers, it made up for in sheer brute strength and an unyielding, singular mission: eliminate the target.

However, in terms of “advancement,” the T-800 is pretty basic compared to what came later. It’s like the Nokia brick phone of Terminators: solid, reliable, but definitely not as advanced as a smartphone.

T-1000: The liquid metal nightmare (1991)

Enter the T-1000 from Terminator 2: Judgment Day. This model made the T-800 look like a dinosaur. The T-1000 was made of liquid metal, or “mimetic polyalloy” if you want to get technical. Unlike the T-800, the T-1000 didn’t need an endoskeleton or living tissue to blend in. It could morph into anyone it touched, turn its limbs into stabbing weapons, and slip through tight spaces like an inhumanly deadly puddle.

On paper, the T-1000 seemed like the pinnacle of Terminator technology. However, the T-1000 wasn’t perfect. It had weaknesses, particularly extreme temperatures, and it couldn’t transform into complex machines or weapons like guns. Still, its ability to regenerate from almost any injury gave it an edge over the bulkier, slower T-800.

T-X: The Terminatrix (2003)

Then came the T-X, or the “Terminatrix,” introduced in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. If the T-1000 was a pure evolution from the T-800, the T-X tried to be a hybrid of both. It had a liquid metal outer shell, like the T-1000, which allowed it to morph and regenerate. But it also had an endoskeleton underneath, giving it a bit of extra durability. In a sense, it combined the best of both worlds.

But that wasn’t all. The T-X came packed with onboard weapons. From a plasma cannon in its arm to the ability to control other machines. This Terminator was all about versatility. It could take on multiple forms, blast through obstacles, and hack into systems. It was like the Swiss Army knife of Terminators.

The T-X was definitely a step up in terms of weaponry and combat ability, but some fans argue that the combination of liquid metal and a solid endoskeleton didn’t quite work. The T-1000’s liquid metal allowed it to heal rapidly, while the T-X’s reliance on its skeletal structure made it less fluid and a bit more vulnerable. Still, it could regenerate, making it a formidable opponent.

T-3000: The Genisys enigma (2015)

Terminator: Genisys took the franchise into some wild, convoluted territory, introducing the T-3000. This one was a whole new beast: a human-cyborg hybrid created when John Connor himself was infected with machine-phase matter. Yeah, we know. Time travel gets weird.

The T-3000 had some serious advantages over its predecessors. Like the T-1000, it could regenerate from injuries and reshape its body. However, it was made from millions of nanomachines rather than liquid metal, giving it even more flexibility and resilience. It could disperse into individual nanites and reassemble, making it nearly impossible to destroy.

Unlike the T-X, the T-3000 didn’t have onboard weapons, but it didn’t need them. Its nanotech body allowed it to manipulate its surroundings, but it had its weaknesses. Its molecular structure made it vulnerable to magnetic fields.

Rev-9: The dark fate dual threat (2019)

Finally, we have the Rev-9 from Terminator: Dark Fate. If the T-X was a hybrid, then the Rev-9 took that concept and cranked it up to 11. This Terminator could split into two distinct units: a solid endoskeleton and a liquid metal exterior, each capable of functioning independently.

The Rev-9 was fast, agile, and could perform the same liquid metal tricks as the T-1000, like morphing into other people and creating stabbing weapons. But with its ability to divide itself, it became a two-for-one deal. Even if you managed to damage one part of it, the other could keep fighting, making it harder to stop than any of its predecessors.

However, like the T-1000, the Rev-9 didn’t have onboard weapons, relying instead on its morphing capabilities and the ability to manipulate its form into sharp, deadly objects.

So, which one’s the most advanced?

If we’re talking pure technological advancement, the Rev-9 from Dark Fate probably takes the crown. Its ability to split into two independent units, combined with its liquid metal exterior and tough endoskeleton, gives it a unique edge over the others.

That said, each Terminator has its own strengths. The T-800 remains iconic for its sheer brute force. The T-1000 is still a fan favorite for its liquid metal. The T-X had onboard weapons, making it a more versatile combat machine. And the T-3000 introduced the idea of nanotech.

If you’re looking for the Terminator that fuses all the best traits from its predecessors—morphing, adaptability, resilience, and the ability to wage war on two fronts—then the Rev-9 is hands down the most advanced killing machine Skynet (or Legion) has ever sent back through time.

However, while the Rev-9 can divide and conquer, the T-X brings its own lethal edge to the table. With an onboard arsenal that includes a sweet energy weapon, a flamethrower, other deadly projectile weapons, and the ability to hack machines, the T-X doesn’t just terminate—it dominates. When you factor in its versatility and firepower, it’s hard to deny the T-X  as the ultimate Terminator.