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 - 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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#3 - Butterfly Swords
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/6/2016
Four new contestants must choose wisely as they try to craft a blade of their signature style from a pile of tools, both old and new. Then the stakes are doubled when, for the first time ever, they must forge not one, but two swords in the final round. Crafting Chinese Butterfly Swords, our final two bladesmiths face twice the work, and twice the pressure, in their attempt to claim the title of Forged in Fire champion.
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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 - 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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#6 - 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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#7 - 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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#8 - Kora Sword
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/20/2016
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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#9 - 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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#10 - 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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#12 - Branch Battle: Army
Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/8/2019
In a special five-part competition, top bladesmiths from each branch of the US military - Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy - compete to earn a spot representing their branch in a battle for our biggest prize ever: $50,000. Round one belongs to the Army, as four soldiers must forge a special forces V-42 stiletto. After a ruthless bout of testing, two smiths are dispatched to their home forges to build a US Army Officer's Sword. The winner secures a place at the Army Anvil competing in the Battle of the Branches finale, where victory brings pride, glory, and a $50,000 grand prize.
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#13 - The Cinquedea
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/23/2017
Four bladesmiths are welcomed to the forge with a curveball–they must utilize questionable steel from mining tools to forge a blade in their signature style. Ultimately, two smiths survive to forge an intricately designed and deadly Italian sword–the Cinquedea.
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#14 - Champions Edition / The Pata
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/10/2017
Over the course of three seasons, 26 bladesmiths have been crowned Forged in Fire champion. Tonight, prior winners return to prove who among them is the best of the best by forging a blade using canoe damascus. After two high octane rounds of competition, the two remaining champions will move to the final round where they must create a weapon known for its unique mechanics and deadly double-edged blade–the Pata. With $10,000 and their reputation on the line, which smith will survive the judges’ brutal testing to once again be crowned Forged in Fire champion?
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#15 - 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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#16 - 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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#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 - 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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#19 - Tomahawk and Bowie
Season 7 - Episode 32 - Aired 7/15/2020
Four smiths are put to the test when they must forge keys to unlock boxes of steel needed to make a knife. After a couple of intense rounds, two competitors are are picked to head back to their home forges to recreate two American classics: the Tomahawk and Bowie. Which smith will honor American history by producing a weapon worthy of the title of Forged in Fire Champion and the$10,000 prize?
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#20 - 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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#21 - Fan Favorites / Hook Sword
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/30/2016
Four former contestants, back in the Forge by popular demand, return for a second shot at victory and redemption in an all new challenge full of unexpected twists. Competition gets heated right away when they are forced to make their signature style blades with materials from a surprising source. After two rounds of grueling competition, only two smiths are left to take on the final challenge of recreating a weapon they've never seen before: The Hook Sword. This complex weapon gives both fan favorites a run for their money, but only one will hook the crown and take home $10,000.
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#22 - 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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#23 - Beat the Judges: Test of the Best
Season 10 - Episode 14 - Aired 11/6/2024
The top champions step back into the Forged in Fire arena to face their toughest competition yet: one of the expert judges. Tasked with making the grueling Ginunting sword in just five hours, only one will be left standing to compete.
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#24 - The Boar Spear
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/4/2016
Four bladesmiths must use the steel from a suit of armor to create a signature blade. After a tense round of testing, only two move on to the final round where they’ll have just five days to create a weapon historically used for both combat and hunting–the boar spear. Will the blade’s immense size cause them to fall short, or will one rise to the occasion and be crowned Forged in Fire champion?
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#25 - Beat the Judges: Shamshir Showdown
Season 10 - Episode 17 - Aired 11/27/2024
In this final “Beat the Judges” competition, two former Forged in Fire champions duel it out in a 5-hour round making a pichangatti to earn the right to go head-to-head with one of our formidable judges. With only 8 hours to produce the intimidating shamshir, will this champion have what it takes to beat a judge?
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