The WORST episodes of Forged in Fire
Every episode of Forged in Fire ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst 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 - On the Road: Kalamazoo Combat
Season 10 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/18/2023
Head to Kalamazoo, Michigan to Combat Ready Art where three of their top smiths will be tested like never before. After two brutal challenges only one will go on to represent Combat Ready Art back at the home forge for the ultimate grand prize.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#2 - Baby Boomer vs Gen Z
Season 7 - Episode 29 - Aired 4/22/2020
Baby Boomers and Gen Z-ers face off in the Old vs. New competition. After several intense rounds, two smiths head back to their home forges to recreate ancient China's Sword of Goujian, one of the most intact artifacts ever recovered by archaeologists. Which smith's sword is pristine enough to stand the test of time, earning the title of Forged in Fire Champion and $10,000?
Watch Now:Apple TV
#3 - Medieval Mystery Sword
Season 8 - Episode 24 - Aired 6/16/2021
In this mysterious competition, four smiths won't know what material they're working with until they open up a crate and discover one of any number of salvaged metals inside. After a brutal round off testing, two smiths return home to recreate a weapon that's been puzzling historians for centuries--the Medieval Sword of Mystery. The smiths' skills are pushed to their limits, but only one will crack the code to win $10,000 and the title of Forged in Fire Champion.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#4 - Marvel's Midnight Suns
Season 9 - Episode 25 - Aired 10/26/2022
Tonight, three bladesmiths assemble as MARVEL takes over the competition. Tasked with forging iconic weapons from Marvel's video game, Midnight Suns, the smiths must defeat the evil clock to build their blades. After an epic final battle, which smith's marvelous weapons will be worthy of the mightiest Marvel superhero and earn $10,000?
Watch Now:Apple TV
#5 - The Kachin Dao
Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 8/1/2017
This competition isn't smooth sailing as the four bladesmiths must use steel from old nautical equipment to forge weld their signature blade, while being forced to do it using a metal inlay technique. After two turbulent rounds, two smiths propel to the final round where they have just five days to forge the Kachin Dao, a deadly headhunting sword. It's sink or swim as only one can rise above the tide to be named the Forged in Fire Champion.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#6 - Napoleon's Saber
Season 6 - Episode 26 - Aired 8/21/2019
Four bladesmiths must start at the bottom when they are tasked with creating ladder pattern damascus knives from a real ladder. After they salvage their metal the competitors must go step-by-step to create this intricate design, which proves to be no easy feat. One smith struggles in the intense conditions to even make it out of Round one. When a second competitor falls after a brutal round of testing, the remaining two smiths head home to recreate a battle sword wielded by one of history’s military geniuses: Napoleon Bonaparte. Which smith can create a saber worthy of the Emperor himself, earning the title of Forged in Fire Champion and a prize of $10,000?
Watch Now:Apple TV
#7 - Samurai Showdown
Season 7 - Episode 28 - Aired 4/15/2020
In this Samurai themed competition, four smiths must forge a Japanese tanto dagger. Summoning their inner warriors, the smiths fight to produce blades that are worthy of the samurai. Ultimately, two competitors return home to reproduce the deadly Sodegaramai. Which smith will snag the title of Forged in Fire Champion and win $10,000?
Watch Now:Apple TV
#8 - Astronaut Knife
Season 6 - Episode 21 - Aired 7/17/2019
On the 50th anniversary of the first steps on the moon, four bladesmiths compete to recreate a space-age M-1 NASA Survival Knife out of ball bearings. These knives must not only be worthy of interstellar flight but also overcome a triple strength and durability test. Only bladesmiths with NASA worthy engineered blades will continue onto the third round to return home and construct a Spiked Mace. Which smith will blast off past the competition, earning the title of Forged in Fire Champion, and a check for $10,000?
Watch Now:Apple TV
#9 - On the Road: Appalachian Showdown
Season 10 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/11/2023
In the heart of North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains is the world-renowned Clay Spencer Blacksmith shop, where three of the forge's best smiths will be tested. After two grueling rounds of competition only one will be left standing. The winner will have the chance to compete against other smiths from across America to determine who will win the ultimate grand prize.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#10 - Crushed Car Challenge
Season 9 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/30/2022
In a new twist on the classic car challenge, four smiths have to create a knife from the most mangled mess of a vehicle ever seen on the forge floor. After their weapons are driven to the brink in an intense round of testing, the two surviving smiths return to their home forges to recreate two of the most unique weapons from history--a matched set of curved katars.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#11 - Instruments of Death: Masters of the Siege
Season 10 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/2/2024
In a Forged in Fire twist unlike anything we've ever done before, four teams of expert builders are tasked with making some of the largest and most notorious siege weapons ever seen on the battlefield. From war hammers to battering rams to ballistas, which team's weapons will be strong enough to take down the competition, earning them $20,000 and the first ever title of Forged in Fire: Instruments of Death champions?
Watch Now:Apple TV
#12 - The Frankenstein Challenge
Season 10 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/1/2023
Four smiths must "Frankenstein" together discarded pieces of scrap steel to make their blades; after a horrifying round of testing, the remaining two smiths retreat to their home forges to create the legendary Crusader Bible Falchion.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#13 - The Gaucho's Revenge
Season 9 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/1/2022
In this competition, we pay homage to the cowboys of South America--the Gauchos. Four smiths lasso up their skills to recreate the iconic Gaucho knife. The two smiths who survive an intense round of testing then must gallop home to forge the ornate Argentinian Saber.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#14 - Springtime for Napoleon
Season 10 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/15/2023
Four smiths spring into action when they must forge signature blades from the metal found in various household items; after a couple tough rounds, two smiths head to their home forges to recreate the Napoleon Presentation Saber.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#16 - Akrafena
Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/9/2017
Bladesmiths are tasked with forging a Kukri, the signature blade of master smith and judge, Jason Knight. After two rounds of mishaps and mischief, two smiths forge ahead in the final challenge to reproduce a distinctive African sword, the Akrafena.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#18 - Frankish Throwing Axes
Season 7 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/11/2019
Four smiths get ready for the ultimate showdown when they are tasked with forging a camp knife out of steel harvested from a barbecue. Temperatures run high as they must first figure out what steel is high carbon and what is mild. After their blades are grilled to perfection and have gone through an intense round of testing, only two smiths advance to their home forges to recreate a pair of Frankish Throwing Axes.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#19 - The Ikakalaka
Season 7 - Episode 27 - Aired 4/8/2020
Four smiths determine their fate when they have to select a forging technique ranging from easy to difficult. They must choose wisely as their selection will directly impact their next round. Ultimately, two smiths must recreate the Ikakalaka African Sword.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#20 - The Ram Dao
Season 6 - Episode 19 - Aired 6/26/2019
Four bladesmiths are dispatched to the snowy winter tundra to forge a kukri with steel harvested from an old snowmobile. Provided with no power tools, the smiths might fight to forge their blades with just hand tools and the dreaded coal forge. After a physically and mentally exhausting outdoor round, one smith is eliminated before ever reaching the comfort of the indoor forge. At the forge, another contestant is eliminated after a particularly brutal round of testing. The two remaining smiths head home to forge a massive and intricate sacrificial sword from South Asia: the Ram Dao. Which smith can bring back a sword worthy of the Hindu Gods, secure a check for $10,000, and the title of Forged in Fire Champion?
Watch Now:Apple TV
#22 - The Spanish Conquistador Sword
Season 7 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/22/2020
Four smiths are faced with recreating the WWII Special Forces Smatchet knife. A knife famous for its versatility on the battlefield. After two rounds and two competitors being eliminated the two remaining smiths head back to their home forges to recreate the infamous Spanish Conquistador sword. Find out which smith will join the ranks of Forged in Fire champions and return home with the $10,000 prize.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#23 - Lion Spear
Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 6/5/2018
Four bladesmiths must figure out how to hack it when they are tasked with crafting a hatchet from pieces of odd shaped steel. After several forging failures, parameter mishaps, and intense conditions — only two smiths head back to their home forges where they must recreate the deadly Maasai Lion Spear. Who will come out roaring and leave with $10,000 and the pride of becoming a Forged in Fire Champion?
Watch Now:Apple TV
#24 - The Firangi Sword
Season 8 - Episode 39 - Aired 12/29/2021
Four bladesmiths are given just one simple parameter--impress the judges. In a single 5 hour round, they can make any blade they want from start to finish but, the smith who wows the judges the most gets to completely bypass the rigorous round of testing and go straight to the final challenge. The most impressive smith and one other who survives the testing will return home to recreate the Indian Firangi Sword.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#25 - Military History Tribute (Naval Cutlass)
Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/28/2018
In a special military themed episode, four bladesmiths, all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, dive into the fray when they are tasked with forging a combat knife from an anti-tank hedgehog. After two grueling rounds of competition filled with frustration and a medical emergency, the final two smiths advance and head back to their home forges to recreate another military favorite, the M1917 Naval Cutlass. Which veteran has the mettle to drive to glory and earn the rank of Forged in Fire Champion?
Watch Now:Apple TV