The contest assembles the nation's top bladesmiths, martial artists and knife experts as they bring their best blades to slice, stab and chop their way through some of the most daunting obstacle courses ever seen such as slicing through flying watermelons, hacking through massive ice blocks and severing various types of ropes, tubes, metals and item-filled crates. The winner of each episode will earn a cash prize and a coveted spot in the season finale where they will compete in the ultimate showdown to be crowned the first ever Forged in Fire: Knife or Death Champion.