It can morph its arms into solid metal tools or bladed weapons, and flatten itself and imitate the pattern and texture of the ground to hide or to ambush targets.

However, its morphing abilities are limited by complexity, mass, and volume: it cannot transform into complex machines with mechanical moving parts or chemical fuels (such as guns or bombs), limiting it to stabbing weapons, and its volume prevents it from taking the form of a smaller object like a pack of cigarettes, although it is capable of impersonating larger people.

The T-1000's abilities are further explained in the prologue of the film's novelization; it states that the machine is a "nanomorph" created through nanotechnology, able to scan the molecular structure of whatever it is touching and visually mimic it.

[2] The T-1000's liquid metal allows the machine to recover quickly from damage, but is prone to malfunction after being frozen, as shown in the film's Special Edition DVD release.

The T-1000 is able to pass as human, possessing a larger repertoire of behavioral expression and interpersonal skills than earlier Terminator models.

[1][7] It is apparently capable of espionage and detective skills, as it often attempts to accomplish its goals by subterfuge instead of brute force and extreme violence like the T-800.

In Terminator 2, it primarily disguises itself as a police officer, allowing it to gain trust, access information, and provide a benign, friendly appearance.

In Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the T-1000 (portrayed by Robert Patrick) is sent back in time by Skynet, an artificial intelligence, to kill young John Connor (Edward Furlong).

At a mental hospital, the T-800 helps John rescue his institutionalized mother, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), before the T-1000 can copy and terminate her.

After tracking the Connors and the T-800 to Cyberdyne Systems headquarters, it gives chase and crashes a truck carrying liquid nitrogen into a steel mill.

The T-1000 is frozen solid by the leaking liquid nitrogen, allowing the T-800 to shatter it with a single pistol round, although the pieces are soon thawed by the heat of the steel mill.

In the simultaneously published Terminator 2: Judgment Day – Cybernetic Dawn, set just after the film, a female T-1000 and two T-800s come to the present to ensure Skynet's creation.

An early idea for the sequel would have Schwarzenegger portraying two different T-800s from the future, one sent by Skynet to kill John Connor and the other sent by the resistance to protect him.

[15][16] Describing his early vision of the sequel, Cameron referred to the T-1000 as an "experimental, one-off super weapon" that even Skynet is "terrified to use.

[21] At the time of his casting, Patrick had been privately battling a drug and alcohol addiction, which he gave up to prepare for the physically challenging role.

The films depict time travelers, including Terminators, as arriving from the future naked; the time-travel mechanics prevent clothes from going through.

[23] For a machine-like performance, Patrick had to learn how to fire a pistol without flinching or blinking, and run effortlessly without heavy breathing or signs of exhaustion.

[24] The T-1000's distinctive run,[25] developed by Patrick, shows the character with straight hands waving up and down, like blades preparing to strike a target.

McG, the director of the 2009 film Terminator Salvation, said it would be reintroduced in what was to be his concept for the next film: "I like the idea and the perspective for the next picture that you meet Robert Patrick the way he looks today, and he's a scientist that's working on, you know, improving cell replication so we can stay healthier and we can cure diabetes and do all these things that sound like good ideas, and to once again live as idealized expressions as ourselves.

"[27] Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) had previously worked on Cameron's 1989 film The Abyss, which had visual effects involving water, similar to the T-1000's liquid metal ability.

[15] For Terminator 2, ILM developed computer-generated imagery (CGI) to manipulate, re-create, and "morph" Patrick's image to produce the liquid metal effects.

[36] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "The transformation effects are spectacular, in part because there's real magic to them, a sense of technological wonder.

[38] Patrick was nominated for Best Villain at the 1992 MTV Movie Awards, but lost to Rebecca De Mornay for her role in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.

[39] Patrick was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 18th Saturn Awards, losing to William Sadler in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey.

[41] Ryan Lambie, writing for Den of Geek in 2011, said of Patrick's performance: "An amorphous embodiment of death, he brings an appropriately lizard-like sense of coldness to a role with minimal dialogue.

"[42] In 2018, Empire ranked the T-1000 at number 19 in its recounting of the best cinematic villains, writing that Patrick's performance "left an impact that helped push Terminator 2 beyond the original in terms of popularity.

Eric Goldman of IGN called him "very compelling as a new T-1000", going on to write, "In fact, some of the film's best action scenes involve the T-1000, who remains an inventive, threatening movie villain.

"[44] Julian Roman of MovieWeb found Lee's performance memorable and called his limited screen time "a total head scratcher.