The BEST episodes of RWBY season 5

Every episode of RWBY season 5, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of RWBY season 5!

The story takes place in the world of Remnant, which is filled with supernatural forces and shadowy creatures known as the "Creatures of Grimm." Prior to the events of the series, mankind waged a battle of survival against the Grimm before discovering the power of a mysterious element called Dust, which allowed them to fight back against the monsters. In the present day, Dust is used to power magical abilities and weapons. Those who use these abilities to battle the Grimm are known as Huntsmen or Huntresses.The series focuses on four girls, each with her own unique weapon and powers. Together, they form team RWBY at Beacon Academy in the city of Vale, where they are trained to become Huntresses alongside team CRDL (pronounced "cardinal"), team JNPR (pronounced "juniper"), team SSSN (pronounced "sun") and team CFVY (pronounced "coffee").

Last Updated: 11/30/2024Network: CrunchyrollStatus: Continuing
Downfall
star
8.02
60 votes

#1 - Downfall

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/13/2018

Ruby distracts Emerald and Mercury long enough for Yang to pursue Raven and Cinder, while a recovered Weiss summons the Lancer Queen to defeat Hazel. Adam prepares to destroy the school, but Blake arrives with the rest of the Faunus to take him into custody. Raven defeats Cinder in a grueling battle and unlocks the relic, but is confronted by Yang before she can claim it.

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Lighting the Fire
star
7.94
67 votes

#2 - Lighting the Fire

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/4/2017

Yang tells Raven that she needs her Semblance, which allows her to create portals and teleport to people she's bonded with, to get to Ruby. Raven initially refuses, claiming that Ozpin is not to be trusted, but Weiss escapes her confinement with the help of her Armored Knight and reunites with Yang. Not wanting to attract Grimm, Raven agrees to Yang's demands and summons her and Weiss to her tent to tell them what they need to know.

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True Colors
star
7.73
59 votes

#3 - True Colors

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/16/2017

Qrow receives a call from Lionheart while talking to Ozpin, but they are suspicious. As Blake and Ilia fight, Ilia becomes lost between following Blake and the White Fang. When the Albain brothers intervene, Fennec is killed and the Belladonnas and Sun are victorious in their battle. Blake convinces the Faunus of Menagerie that they need to stop Adam, and the majority join her, including Ilia.

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The More the Merrier
star
7.69
55 votes

#4 - The More the Merrier

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/30/2017

Qrow, Oscar/Ozpin, Ruby, and the rest of their group arrive at Haven to meet with Lionheart, but the meeting turns out to be a trap. Raven, Vernal, Cinder, Emerald, Mercury, and Hazel arrive to confront them, with the latter saying that the White Fang has also arrived as they prepare to destroy the school. Jaune attacks Cinder, seeking revenge Pyrrha. In the ensuing battle, Weiss is impaled by Cinder.

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Haven's Fate
star
7.63
54 votes

#5 - Haven's Fate

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/20/2018

Yang denounces Raven and her actions, shaming her into fleeing. Emerald breaks down upon learning of Cinder's defeat while Adam and Lionheart flee, forcing Mercury and Hazel to retreat. Salem kills Lionheart for his cowardice, while Ghira reclaims leadership of the White Fang. Despite brief tension in Yang, Blake is welcomed back by RWBY as Ozpin directs them to make for Atlas. In a post-credits scene, Raven visits Taiyang in secret.

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Vault of the Spring Maiden
star
7.61
56 votes

#6 - Vault of the Spring Maiden

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/6/2018

Hazel becomes enraged at Ozpin and fights him to settle an old grudge. Jaune unlocks his Semblance and heals Weiss while Ruby and Yang hold off Emerald and Mercury. Upon entering the vault, Cinder fatally strikes Vernal to steal her powers. However, Raven reveals that she is the real Spring Maiden and prepares to fight Cinder for the Relic.

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Welcome to Haven
star
7.60
68 votes

#7 - Welcome to Haven

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/14/2017

Qrow and Team RNJR visit Professor Leonardo Lionheart to protect Haven's relic, which can only be accessed by the Spring Maiden. After Lionheart refuses Qrow's plan, Qrow is approached by Oscar, who identifies himself as Ozpin. The Belladonnas confront the Albains about the information from Ilia's scroll, but they blame Ilia. Blake decides to tell the public the information instead. Somewhere in Mistral, a man offers to lead Yang to Raven.

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Dread in the Air
star
7.58
65 votes

#8 - Dread in the Air

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/21/2017

Cinder is tasked with finding the Spring Maiden from Raven's tribe and use her to take Haven's relic. Meanwhile, Weiss' airship is attacked by Lancers, wasp-type Grimm. Weiss defends the airship from the open loading ramp and, by summoning her Armored Knight, kills their Queen. However, the airship still crashes in Lake Matsu. Weiss is found and apprehended by Raven's tribe of bandits. Adam meets with White Fang High Leader Sienna Khan, and, after a disagreement, fatally stabs her. He declares himself the new High Leader and orders his men to frame the humans for Sienna's assassination.

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Unforeseen Complications
star
7.55
60 votes

#9 - Unforeseen Complications

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/28/2017

Blake and her parents hold a press conference with the Faunus in Menagerie, rallying them to reclaim the White Fang by going to Mistral and help out the humans. Ilia publicly denounces the Belladonnas as traitors, swaying their trust in them. In Mistral, Ozpin, communicating through Oscar, explains that he is forced to reincarnate with different souls to defeat Salem. He predicts that she will attack Haven Academy in one month, and rather than depending on Lionheart, he decides to train the four and Oscar. Weiss awakens to find herself in captivity by bandits. Realizing Winter has since left for Atlas, Weiss summons a small Armored Knight to help her escape by herself.

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Known by its Song
star
7.40
62 votes

#10 - Known by its Song

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/18/2017

Raven explains to Yang and Weiss that she joined Beacon to fight back against other Huntsmen that would pose a threat to her tribe, but lost trust in Ozpin after learning about Salem's existence. She shows off her shapeshifting ability as proof and offers Yang a choice to stay with her. Yang and Weiss choose to leave and reunite with Ruby.

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Alone Together
star
7.30
56 votes

#11 - Alone Together

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/2/2017

Yang becomes upset when Ruby mentions Blake in the morning, but Weiss comforts her, asking her to trust Blake until she comes back. In Menagerie, Blake receives a note from Ilia to meet with her. The meeting becomes an ambush, and Sun rescues Blake from her captors. Blake and Sun rush to help her parents, who are defending their home from White Fang insurgents.

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Rest and Resolutions
star
7.22
54 votes

#12 - Rest and Resolutions

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/25/2017

The kids have a heartfelt reunion, and after dinner, Yang confronts Ozpin about using magic. Ozpin explains that he gave Qrow and Raven shapeshifting abilities to spy on Salem and the Maidens, as well as being the old man in the story that gave the Maidens their power. He offers them all the choice to continue to fight, which all of them accept. Meanwhile, Cinder, Watts, Mercury, and Emerald arrive at Raven's camp.

A Perfect Storm
star
7.15
54 votes

#13 - A Perfect Storm

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/9/2017

Cinder strikes a deal with Raven and Vernal to help her unlock the relic. Despite knowing that Salem will have her killed anyway, Raven accepts her offer on the condition she kills Qrow, while secretly planning to use it as a distraction for taking the relic for herself. Blake and Sun defend Ghira, and while Blake is on her way to look for Kali, she is stopped by Ilia.

Necessary Sacrifice
star
7.10
69 votes

#14 - Necessary Sacrifice

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/11/2017

After the press conference, Blake and Sun fail to get signatures for their petition to save Haven Academy due to the Faunus in Menagerie wanting to avoid conflict. Despite knowing she will have to face Ilia, Blake hopes to save her from the White Fang. Ilia, however, is given orders by the Albains to orchestrate the assassination of Blake's parents and bring Blake alive to Adam.