The BEST Episodes of Forged in Fire
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Jan 7, 2022
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 - Casino Challenge
Season 8 - Episode 20 - Aired May 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!
8.23 
#2 - 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.
8.13 
#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?
8.07 
#4 - 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?
8.07 
#5 - Russian Special Forces Spetsnaz
Season 8 - Episode 10 - Aired Feb 24, 2021
Four bladesmiths are in for a hands-on challenge when they are tasked with forging pry bar knives. Given a variety of tools to make their blades, will the smiths be able to figure out the right tool for the job? Then after grueling round of testing two Smith's return home to forge a pair of Spetsnaz shovels famously wielded by Russian Special Forces. Which smith will dig deep to forge a pair of weapons worthy of the Forged in Fire title and a check for $10,000?
8.03 
#6 - Judges Takeover: Doug Marcaida
Season 8 - Episode 32 - Aired Dec 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.
8.02 
#7 - 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?
8.02 
#8 - 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.
8.00 
#9 - Teeth of the Tegha
Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired Jan 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?
8.00 
#10 - 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?
8.00 
#11 - 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.
7.99 
#12 - Armed Forces Tournament Part 1
Season 8 - Episode 29 - Aired Jul 21, 2021
Eight armed forces members redeploy to the forge for a three-part tournament where they will go head-to-head against one other smith in an intense five-hour battle. Up first, the E-4 Duel, where a corporal from the Marines who shares rank with a specialist from the Army will face off. Next, the Two-Branch Duel, where a veteran from the Army and Air Force will battle it out with a veteran from the Navy and the Air Force. Armed with grit and fueled by fire, which smith will take home the ultimate reward of $10,000 and rise to the rank of Forged in Fire Champion?
7.99 
#13 - 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?
7.98 
#14 - 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 
#15 - 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.
7.97 
#16 - 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?
7.96 
#17 - 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.
7.95 #18 - 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?
7.95 
#19 - Arctic Forge
Season 8 - Episode 18 - Aired Apr 28, 2021
Four smiths must brave the frigid cold as they enter the Arctic Forge, where they will have to recreate the trusty Inuit tool, the Ulu, from steel harvested from a giant block of ice. After a round of spine-chilling tests, two smiths return home to forge a blade worthy of the mighty Viking warriors, the Northern Long Seax. These tundra-ready weapons will then be pushed to their limits to determine who will take home the prize of $10,000 and the title of Forged in Fire Champion.
7.95 #20 - 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?
7.94 
#21 - 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.
7.93 
#22 - Second Chance Tournament: Part 2
Season 8 - Episode 14 - 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?
7.93 
#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.
7.93 
#24 - Fire and Water
Season 8 - Episode 22 - 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.
7.93 
#25 - Fans' Choice
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired May 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.
7.93