The BEST episodes of Forged in Fire
Every episode of Forged in Fire ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Forged in Fire!
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 - Beat the Unbeaten: The Final Showdown
Season 8 - Episode 45 - Aired 2/2/2022
In this final battle, competitor turned Judge Ben Abbott still remains undefeated in the forge with a record of 8-0, but two smiths handpicked by Doug and Dave want to change that. After a tough 5-hour forging round, their weapons must survive an intense round of testing where only one will earn the opportunity to face off against Ben Abbott. With Ben’s undefeated record on the line, will the judges decide this smith has what it takes to finally beat Ben or will he remain unbeaten?
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#2 - Tournament Championship (Nodachi)
Season 5 - Episode 34 - Aired 10/31/2018
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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#3 - Beat the Unbeaten: Conquering the Kachin Dao
Season 10 - Episode 11 - Aired 10/16/2024
Two previous champions battle it out for the chance to compete against one of our titans of the forge: Gladiator of the Forge Jesse Hu, Superchamp Collin Sage, or our Undefeated Judge Ben Abbott. But first they must face off in a brutal 5-hour challenge, where they have to pick a box and build a signature blade using whatever method is inside. The winner will then have 8 hours to make the intimidating Kachin Dao. Will their weapon stack up and be able to Beat the Unbeaten?
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#4 - Casino Challenge
Season 8 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/12/2021
The stakes are high when the forge floor is transformed into the Forged in Fire Casino. Four smiths must leave it all up to chance and allow the Wheel of Forging to determine their challenge in this competition. After the smiths press their luck in a brutal round of testing, two smiths risk it all one more time at the wheel to determine their final weapon. Two smiths will leave it all out on the floor but only one will hit it big as Forged in Fire Champion, taking home a jackpot of $10,000!
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#5 - The Deadly Vajra-Mushti
Season 8 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/25/2020
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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#6 - Tournament Round 4 (Modern Metalworkers) - The Flamberge Rapier
Season 5 - Episode 33 - Aired 10/24/2018
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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#7 - Barbarian Sword
Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/13/2019
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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#8 - Super Champion Edition
Season 7 - Episode 34 - Aired 7/29/2020
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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#9 - Supersized: Sword
Season 9 - Episode 22 - Aired 10/5/2022
In the first of a four episode event we’re calling SUPERSIZED, four smiths must salvage steel from a massive railroad track to make their signature big blades. Then, two smiths head back to their home forge to build the biggest weapon in Forged in Fire history: a monstrous seven-foot sword wielded by legendary warrior, Grutte Pier. Which smith will rise to this colossal challenge and take home $10,000?
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#10 - Judges Takeover: Doug Marcaida
Season 8 - Episode 32 - Aired 12/8/2021
In this special Judge's Takeover competition, every aspect of the challenge will be decided by the keeling machine himself--the inimitable Doug Marcaida. Four smiths must recreate a weapon straight from the mind of Doug, then survive an intense round of tests also chosen by Forged in Fire's resident Kali Martial Artist. The remaining two smiths will then return to their home forges to make one of Doug's favorite blades--the Supersized Kortada. Once they return to the forge and the weapons are put through another brutal round of testing, Doug will determine which smith's blade will keel and walk away with $10,000 and the title of Forged in Fire champion.
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#11 - The Falcata
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/13/2016
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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#12 - The Ring Hilted Sword
Season 5 - Episode 39 - Aired 12/19/2018
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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#13 - Teeth of the Tegha
Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/13/2021
Four bladesmiths get revved up when they are tasked with forging signature blades from a burnt up car. With no usable leaf spring, the smiths race to salvage the best steel to make their blades. After a couple rounds of burning rubber, two are sent home to recreate the Serrated Tegha Sword. Which smith will produce a show-stopping weapon worthy of the title of Forged in Fire champion and a check for $10,000?
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#14 - Beat the Unbeaten: Round One
Season 8 - Episode 41 - Aired 1/12/2022
Competitor turned Judge Ben Abbott remains undefeated in the forge, but soon that could all change. In the first part of a five-episode challenge, three smiths go head-to-head-to-head in a single 5-hour round. Their blades will then be put through an intense round of testing where only one will earn the opportunity to face off against Ben Abbott. Then after a grueling 8-hour forging round and another brutal round of tests, the judges will decide if this smith has what it takes to beat Ben to win $10,000 or if Ben remains unbeaten.
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#15 - Beat the Unbeaten: Back for Revenge
Season 8 - Episode 44 - Aired 1/26/2022
Competitor turned judge, Ben Abbott, remains undefeated in the forge; but soon that could change. In part four of this five-episode "Beat the Unbeaten" challenge, two smiths who faced Ben in his first Forged in Fire competition are back to seek their revenge in a single 5-hour showdown. Will Ben Abbott retain his title of "The Unbeaten"?
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#16 - Tournament Round 3 (Blacksmiths) - The Knightly Pole Axe
Season 5 - Episode 32 - Aired 10/17/2018
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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#17 - Tournament Round 1 (Farriers) - The Mortuary Sword
Season 5 - Episode 30 - Aired 10/3/2018
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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#18 - Hollywood Edition (Hattori Hanzō Katana)
Season 5 - Episode 27 - Aired 9/12/2018
Four bladesmiths pay homage to the blade craft of Hollywood, and their first mission – forge a survival knife that would make John Rambo proud. Two smiths fail the first round parameters and, in a Forged first, must face off in a sudden death elimination to determine who will continue to compete. After an intense round of testing the final two smiths return home to recreate one of the most famous swords in cinematic history: Hattori Hanzo's 1000-Layer Katana from Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill.
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#19 - Long Road to Redemption Part 2
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/13/2019
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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#20 - Champion Edition / Scottish Claymore
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/23/2016
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?
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#21 - Slasher Edition (Grim Reaper's Scythe)
Season 5 - Episode 35 - Aired 11/7/2018
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 - Branch Battle: Finals
Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/22/2019
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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#23 - Fans' Choice
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/2/2017
Chosen by fans, four bladesmiths return for a second shot at victory. The smiths must use their best forging techniques to make a signature blade using barbed wire; the final two smiths craft a historical Filipino weapon of war, the Panabas.
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#24 - The Massive Maguro Bocho
Season 8 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/6/2021
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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#25 - Beat the Unbeaten: Broken Blade Revenge
Season 8 - Episode 43 - Aired 1/19/2022
Competitor turned Judge Ben Abbott remains undefeated in the forge, but that could all change. In part three of five episodes, three smiths who suffered broken blades at the hand of Ben Abbott hope to rewrite history in a single 5-hour round. Their blades will then be put through an intense round of testing where only one smith will earn the opportunity to face Ben Abbott and seek their revenge.
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