In this special Judge's Takeover competition, every aspect of the challenge will be decided by two time Forged in Fire Champion, Ben Abbott. Four smiths must recreate the billhook knife, a weapon near and dear to Ben's heart. Then, they must survive two intense rounds of testing also designed by the undefeated champion himself. The remaining two smiths then return to their home forges to make an ornate weapon that Ben previously knocked out of the park on the Judges Home Forge Battle--the Sutton Hoo Sword. Once they return to the forge and their weapons are put through three more rounds of brutal testing, Ben will determine which smith will come out on top to walk away with $10,000 and the title of Forged in Fire champion.

Here in the forge, bladesmiths have built deadly weapons from around the world, but in this special competition, four smiths are challenged to make something from one of the strangest places around--the mind of J Neilson. All aspects of the challenge and all the tests have been hand-picked by J himself, and you better believe he did not take it easy on these competitors. The two surviving bladesmiths then return home to recreate another weapon hand selected by J--the Maguindanao Kris. Which smith can conquer J's brutal challenges and prove themselves worthy of the $10,000 prize and title of Forged in Fire Champion?