The BEST Episodes of Forged in Fire
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Sep 18, 2021
Network: History
Forged in Fire features world-class bladesmiths competing against each other to create some of the most iconic edged weapons from history. In each episode, four of the best bladesmiths in the country will come together to put both their skills and reputations on the line. Whether they are making a Japanese katana, a medieval broadsword, or an ancient throwing blade like the chakram, the weapons they forge will be fully functional and lethal works of art and war. The unique histories contained within each weapon will be creatively told during the forging process and the final weapons themselves will be assessed and ruthlessly tested by our panel of expert judges. These dynamic and explosive tests will be individually designed to push the weapons to their absolute limit. One by one, the bladesmiths will be eliminated until only one remains to be crowned the champion.
#1 - Tournament Championship (Nodachi)
Season 5 - Episode 34 - Aired Oct 31, 2018
In the final round of the Invitational Tournament, our winning Farrier, Armorer, Blacksmith and Modern Metal Worker face off to forge the longest round one weapon in Forged in Fire history: the Wakizashi. The smiths race to produce a damascus blade in three hours and must rely on their expertise to bring them one step closer to victory. The tough competition leaves no room for error. After a meticulous round of tests, only two smiths remain and return to their home forges to recreate one of the largest Japanese swords, the Nodachi.
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#2 - Armed Forces Tournament Finale
Season 8 - Episode 32 - Aired Aug 4, 2021
On the finale of the Armed Forces Tournament, the four surviving smiths will face off to determine who wins it all. In the first rounds, they're challenged to make military-style weapons out of an old bazooka. After a round of testing more intense than boot camp, the worthiest smiths return home to make the ultimate military weapon--the Ames Cavalry Sword. Which smith will take home the $10,000 and rise to the highest rank of Forged in Fire Armed Forces Tournament champion?
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#3 - Summer Forging Games Part 2
Season 7 - Episode 37 - Aired Aug 19, 2020
In the second half of the Forged in Fire Summer Games, three smiths remain, eager to win the Damascus metal and $15,000. However, the challenges are far from over as they must forge the Greek Xiphos Sword, from start to finish, in one round. After being ranked from first to last, all three enter the final event at their home forges, where they must choose to recreate one of four historical weapons, ranging in level of difficulty and point value. Which smith will return with a weapon worthy of being crowned the first Forged in Fire Summer Games champion and walk away with $15,000?
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#4 - Forge of Fear
Season 8 - Episode 27 - Aired Jun 30, 2021
It's a night of unhinged terror as four unwitting bladesmiths find themselves ensnared in a competition straight out of the scariest horror movie you can imagine. First, they'll craft murderous knives out of old, rusty torture devices, then fashion handles from vampire stakes. After a terrifying round of testing, two surviving smiths will be tasked with building a weapon known for its brutal slayings in horror movies--the Fireman's axe. Which bladesmith will endure to win the prize of $10,000 and the title of Forged in Fire Champion?
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#5 - WWE Edition
Season 8 - Episode 18 - Aired Apr 21, 2021
On this very special WWE edition of Forged in Fire, four smiths will go head-to-head in the ultimate forging battle. After an all out smackdown, the two surviving smiths will head back to their home forges to build the gruesome Bastard Sword. Two blades will face off in a final round of testing, but only one can rise to be the cream of the crop to claim victory, earning $10,000 and a WWE title from The Nature Boy himself, Ric Flair.
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#6 - The Deadly Vajra-Mushti
Season 8 - Episode 2 - Aired Nov 25, 2020
Four smiths get rolling when they are tasked with making cannister Damascus from tubes. After a couple of intense rounds in the forge, two competitors head back to their home forges to recreate a deadly and unique Indian weapon: the varja-mushti. Which smith will produce a weapon worthy of the Forged in Fire title and walk away with a check for $10,000?
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#7 - Headhunters Revenge
Season 8 - Episode 10 - Aired Feb 17, 2021
Four smiths get to choose their forging method and materials. But there's a catch. Each technique comes with its own clock for the round. Will the smiths opt for the most difficult cannister damascus and the four hour clock? Or the easiest ball bearing with only one hour? After a brutal round of testing, the two surviving smiths are tasked with creating the Headhunter Axe in only 3 days. Which smith will stand the test of time to become Forged in Fire Champion and win the $10,000 prize?
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#8 - Tournament Round 4 (Modern Metalworkers) - The Flamberge Rapier
Season 5 - Episode 33 - Aired Oct 24, 2018
In the fourth round of the Forged in Fire Invitational Tournament, four modern metal workers must harvest materials from a metal sculpture to forge a needle point Damascus blade. Will they find allies in these alloys, or will someone experience a metal meltdown? When time’s up, an especially harsh round of testing leaves only two metal workers standing. These smiths return to their own home forges to recreate an extravagant sword from the elite classes of Renaissance Europe: the duel-ready Flamberge Rapier. Which smith will earn the spot at the metal worker’s anvil, and the chance to win $50,000 and be crowned Tournament Champion?
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#9 - The Massive Maguro Bocho
Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired Jan 6, 2021
Four bladesmiths get cooking when they are tasked with forging a cleaver using only the steel from meat hooks. After two rounds of slicing and dicing, two smiths head back to their home forges to create the Maguro Bocho, a massive tuna knife.
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#10 - Second Chance Tournament: Part 1
Season 8 - Episode 14 - Aired Mar 24, 2021
For the first time, eight former competitors will head back into the arena for an epic tournament. However, before making it to the main event they will have to go head to head against another smith. Up first, two smiths who suffered catastrophic failures face off. Then, two smiths who failed to turn in weapons in time get another shot to beat the clock. Which smiths will seize the moment and advance to the final round of our Second Chance Tournament for the ultimate title of Forged in Fire Champion?
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#11 - Tournament Round 3 (Blacksmiths) - The Knightly Pole Axe
Season 5 - Episode 32 - Aired Oct 17, 2018
In Round Three of the first ever Forged in Fire Invitational Tournament, four blacksmiths must forge a signature Damascus blade using steel they must harvest from a stockpile of varied tools. In an ultimate test of their blade-making skills, these smiths persevere through missteps that chisel away at their resolve. The smiths that survive two brutal rounds of testing return to their home forges to recreate a multipurpose Medieval weapon of war – the Knightly Poleaxe. Which smith will advance to the coveted spot at the blacksmith’s anvil, and earn the chance to be crowned Tournament Champion and win the biggest Forged in Fire prize ever: $50,000?
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#12 - Second Chance Tournament: Part 2
Season 8 - Episode 15 - Aired Mar 31, 2021
The Second Chance Tournament continues with two final duels. Up first, two runner-ups compete to prove they have what it takes to be in the number one spot. Then, two smiths whose blades failed to make it to testing will go head to head. Which smiths will advance to the final round of our Second Chance Tournament to prove they have what it takes to become the next Forged in Fire Champion and finally take home the $10,000 prize?
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#13 - The Falcata
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired Sep 13, 2016
Four bladesmiths must create a blade out of high carbon steel while also forging the hammer they'll use to make it. After an extraordinary round of testing, only two move on to the final round where they'll have just five days to create a weapon known for its deadly prowess against armored soldiers--the Falcata. Will the blade's unique handle shape leave them open to a devastating blow, or will one smith be able to slice their way to the $10,000?
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#14 - Long Road to Redemption Part 2
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired Feb 13, 2019
In the second half of the Road to Redemption competition four former smiths remain, each competing for a second chance to become a Forged in Fire Champion. There’s no slowing down for these bladesmiths as they’re tasked with crafting a Jambiya, an elegant and deadly Yemeni dagger. The intricacies of the dagger prove too much for one smith, and an intense round of testing eliminates a second. For the first time ever, the two finalists must choose their weapon which they will create at their home forges. Which smith has the knowledge, skills, and craftsmanship to outlast the others, win $20,000, and earn the most elusive prize of all: redemption?
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#15 - Champion Edition / Scottish Claymore
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired Aug 23, 2016
Four Forged in Fire champions return for a chance to prove who among them is the best of the best in a challenge that leaves no room for error: a high carbon steel inlay. After two surprising rounds of competition, only two will move on to the final round where they will have just five days to create a weapon that stumped previous contestants; the Scottish Claymore. Will this sizable blade be too much to handle, or will one be able to stand above the rest as Forged in Fire champion of champions?
7.98 #16 - Barbarian Sword
Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired Mar 13, 2019
Four bladesmiths plunge into the first round of competition where they must forge a blade using steel harvested from a vintage pinball machine. There’s no playing around as the smiths aim to get to the next level before the clock runs out. After a wicked round of testing, only two smiths advance and return home to build a weapon rooted in savagery: the Barbarian Sword. Two enter, but only one can emerge as the Forged in Fire Champion and take home the $10,000 jackpot.
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#17 - Deadly Duo
Season 8 - Episode 22 - Aired May 19, 2021
Four smiths face double the trouble during this Forged in Fire challenge when they have to make a single blade using two different techniques--san mai and layered damascus. After surviving twice the amount of brutal testing, the two smiths left standing return home to recreate a pair of legendary weapons used by the Philippine Marine Corps--the Ginunting Swords. The smiths face off in one last round of testing that's so intense, it'll have them seeing double, but only one can come out on top to win $10,000 and the title of Forged in Fire Champion.
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#18 - The Ring Hilted Sword
Season 5 - Episode 39 - Aired Dec 19, 2018
Four blacksmiths must each forge judge Ben Abbott's favorite blade, the Celtic ring knife, using the San Mai technique; the final two competitors return to their home forges to recreate Irish ring hilted swords.
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#19 - Kora Sword
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired Sep 20, 2016
Four new bladesmiths step up to the challenge of forging blades using pieces of steel harvested from some monstrous power tools. While some smiths excel under the pressure, others are pushed to the limits of exhaustion in the heat of the Forge. After a vigorous round of testing, the final two go toe-to-toe in creating a sacrificial sword from history which could reportedly cut a sheep in half with one swing. After a formidable battle in the finale, only one will earn the title Forged in Fire Champion and take home $10,000.
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#20 - Super Champion Edition
Season 7 - Episode 34 - Aired Jul 29, 2020
Four former champions return to the forge to engage in a competition unlike any other. Although they've mastered the fire their first time around, they'll have to dig deeper in order to overcome a set of new challenges. After an intense first round takes down one, three move onto a fit and finish round with more at stake than they could ever imagine. Ultimately one former champion is tasked with recreating a Cossack Shashka, but in a challenge that features the biggest twist in Forged in Fire history--the smith must defeat one of our judges to be named the first ever Super Champion and walk away with $10,000.
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#21 - Slasher Edition (Grim Reaper's Scythe)
Season 5 - Episode 35 - Aired Nov 7, 2018
In this special edition, four bladesmiths must create a signature slasher blade that would give Freddy Krueger nightmares. Each smith has a different type of metal to contend with, and after a gruelling first round one blade falls victim to the forge. The others are forced to face the music for a frightening round of testing. Only two smiths survive and return to their home forges to recreate the menacing Grim Reaper's Scythe. Whose weapon will silence the competition, earning $10,000 and the title of Forged in Fire Champion?
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#22 - Tournament Round 1 (Farriers) - The Mortuary Sword
Season 5 - Episode 30 - Aired Oct 3, 2018
In the first ever Forged in Fire Tournament, four different classes of metalsmithing professionals will compete over five weeks for the chance to win the biggest Forged in Fire prize ever – $50,000. In this first week, four farriers are tasked with creating a San Mai blade from familiar tools: horseshoes and hoof rasps. After a strenuous round of testing, the remaining two farriers return to their home forges to create a famed weapon of the English Civil War: the Mortuary Sword. The winner will return in the final Tournament of Champions for a chance to prevail over the other metalsmithing classes and win the $50,000 grand prize.
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#23 - Tabar
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired Apr 19, 2016
Four bladesmiths must take an ordinary garden lawnmower and using its metal to bend and shape to their will, create one of their signature blades. When the other contestants are mowed down in the competition, two will make it to the final round where they must create a Tabar, a deadly battle axe from Southern Asia. After a series of grueling tests, only one will survive the cut to be named the Forged in Fire champion.
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#24 - Fire and Water
Season 8 - Episode 23 - Aired May 26, 2021
In this special competition, Forged in Fire pays homage to Korean bladesmithing by challenging four smiths to recreate the Hwando sword and attempt the dreaded water quench. After achieving this delicate balance between fire and water, two smiths advance to the final round where they must recreate the fearsome Korean Woldo. Two smiths will test their battle-ready Woldos, but only one will emerge victorious with $10,000 and the title of Forged in Fire champion.
7.94 #25 - Branch Battle: Finals
Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired May 22, 2019
In the final round of the Battle of the Branches the winning Soldier, Airman, Marine and Sailor return to the forge for the ultimate showdown. Tasked with replicating an iconic M3 Trench Knife from layered damascus in only three hours, the smiths work to showcase their expertise and push themselves to go above and beyond. After a last minute flaw sends one smith packing, the remaining three veterans must face a brutal bout of testing. Ultimately two servicemen persevere and head home to recreate a legendary sword: General George Washington’s Lion-headed Cuttoe. Which smith will earn bragging rights for his branch, be crowned Battle of the Branches Champion, and take home the biggest prize in Forged in Fire history: $50,000?
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