The WORST episodes of Ink Master

Every episode of Ink Master ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Ink Master!

An estimated 40 million Americans have at least one tattoo. So who is the country's preeminent tattoo artist? Ink Master is the first-ever tattoo competition series featuring some of the nation's top tattoo artists on a quest to determine who is the best at their craft and win a huge cash prize. The stakes are high as the artists showcase their irrevocable artwork on real people's bodies. The dramatic tension is ever-present as the artists will ultimately face the opinion of the living canvas who now bears a permanent souvenir of the Ink Master etched into his or her skin.

Last Updated: 3/21/2025Network: Paramount+Status: Continuing

6.60

268 votes

#1 - Road to the Finale

Season 8 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/8/2016

Dave digs deeper into the lives and strategies of the final 6 artists from Team Peck and Team Nuñez.

7.23

39 votes

#2 - A Sin in Tattooing

Season 16 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/6/2024

Massive murals have the teams struggling to keep their composure in the Flash Challenge; the battle for the title of Ink Master continues with Japanese Samurai tattoos, and a backwards hand sparks a heated debate.

7.29

359 votes

#3 - Sparks Fly

Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/20/2016

Team Nuñez fries in an electrifying Flash Challenge testing legibility. A gendered alliance has the girls out for blood. The battle intensifies for 100K and the title of Ink Master.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.30

132 votes

#4 - Like a Moth to the Flame

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/25/2015

Artists paint with fire in the Flash Challenge; mounting pressure causes major mishaps; a romance between artists tests loyalties.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.33

36 votes

#5 - At Your Service

Season 16 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/13/2024

Artists tattoo service dogs and face a twist battling for $250K and the title.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.34

207 votes

#6 - Ink On the Dotted Line

Season 10 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/6/2018

Precision skills are put to the test when the artists must create masterpieces with hole punches. One of the coaches may put his own skin on the line.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.35

178 votes

#7 - The Epic Finale

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 10/8/2013

The final 3 Artists battle it out Live on their toughest canvas yet. America’s vote on who will get a second chance to come back next season is revealed & one Artist is crowned the Ink Master, taking home the $100K grand prize.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.35

144 votes

#8 - Tut for Tat

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/14/2015

Teams adorn sarcophagi while an artist’s vicious skull picks for Egyptian tattoos angers the rest.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.36

143 votes

#9 - Firing Lines

Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/4/2015

Heads roll when artists must take on a legend in the elimination challenge.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.39

190 votes

#10 - Inking with the Enemy

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/2/2014

The nation's top tattoo artists compete for a grand prize.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.39

136 votes

#11 - Master vs. Apprentice Live

Season 6 - Episode 16 - Aired 10/13/2015

The three final artists tattoo live for $100,000; eliminated artists confront each other; a huge announcement.

7.40

168 votes

#12 - Baby Beat-Down

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/13/2013

The artists cover up scars before creating Day of the Dead tattoos, a Tatu Baby specialty.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.40

186 votes

#13 - Animal Instinct

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/20/2013

A wild Flash Challenge features hot models and jungle animals. Then, the judges are sent reeling by the artists' Asian-style tattoos; and Jime gives Joshua a taste of his own medicine.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.41

243 votes

#14 - Baby Got Back

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/16/2013

The Season 3 opener finds the 16 competing tattoo artists in a prison, tasked with inking inmates. Among this season's competitors is Katherine "Tatu Baby" Flores, a Season 2 artist who was eliminated but voted back by viewers.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.41

433 votes

#15 - Crossing the Line

Season 9 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/13/2017

A massive twist shakes up the competition and a painstaking Flash Challenge puts relationships to the test.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.41

147 votes

#16 - Rep Your Region

Season 13 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/7/2020

The artists tattoo their home states and face blind critiques by the judges, a competitor makes a drastic choice, and patriotic tattoos decide someone's fate in the Face Off.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.43

151 votes

#17 - A Storm Is Brewin'

Season 12 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/18/2019

Team leaders emerge in a shocking new season-long twist that sends the Artists a wake-up call and shakes up the Competition. The Battle of the Sexes continues for $100K and the title of Ink Master.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.45

143 votes

#18 - Problem Parts

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/28/2015

Naked models are used to create illusions; one artist gets a shot at revenge; and tattoos on challenging body parts cause panic amongst the competition.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.45

203 votes

#19 - Tattoo Her What?

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/23/2012

A face-off leaves Sarah in tears and the artists are pushed to their limits when one canvas demands a tattoo on her private parts and another has a meltdown, which causes a fight in the loft. The NBA's Matt Barnes guest judges.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.46

160 votes

#20 - Sink or Swim

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/7/2015

It’s sink or swim when the artists team up to ink underwater ocean scenes on the back of canvas’ hands. Then, an outrageous head-to-head style sparks an explosive elimination.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.46

139 votes

#21 - Hail Mani

Season 6 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/8/2015

Religious tattoo virgins get their first ink--on their fingernails; tattooing famous works of art means the smallest errors result in failure.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.47

58 votes

#22 - Put Me In, Coach!

Season 15 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/1/2023

The Artists rely on their Coaches in the Flash Challenge to design for a very special Human Canvas; there's nowhere to hide with 360 degree Elimination Tattoos testing adaptability.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.47

133 votes

#23 - Down to the Wire

Season 12 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/25/2019

The artists must fight even harder to win the Battle of the Sexes as the field thins and the competition intensifies; one artist is not wired properly for the competition and must pack up and close shop.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.48

167 votes

#24 - The 80 Year Old Virgin

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/16/2012

A botched American flag and a backwards eagle tattoo cause veterans' patriotic tempers to flare and a third artist loses their shot at USD100,000 dollars and the title of Ink Master.

Watch Now:Apple TV

7.48

245 votes

#25 - One Man's Trash

Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/8/2016

Egos collide when the artists get their hands dirty in a team Flash Challenge; another veteran returns.

Watch Now:Apple TV