The competitors must forge two blades in the first round, pushing them to their limits and leading to a hospital trip; after the second round, the two remaining smiths have five days to create a 15th-century combat sword, the Katzbalger; enhanced.

The judges pick past bladesmiths to represent them; first, the smiths must use steel from N.Y.C. streets to forge signature blades; in the final round, the competitors have five days to forge a sword that originated in West Africa, the Ida; enhanced.

Facing a new twist in the first round, four bladesmiths must forge a karambit, a curved knife that resembles a claw; the final two competitors have five days to forge one of the deadliest weapons in African history, the makraka; enhanced.