Season 9

Episode Guide

Fire & Ice

S9 E1
Artists from nine of America's best tattoo shops arrive to battle it out for $200,000, the title of Ink Master and the first-ever Master Shop title.

Crossing the Line

S9 E2
A massive twist shakes up the competition, a painstaking Flash Challenge puts shop relationships to the test, and a tough Elimination Tattoo tests the artists' fundamentals.

Unnatural Disasters

S9 E3
A veteran artist returns to take the competition by storm, a difficult Flash Challenge exposes the artists' weaknesses, and the artists tag-team an Elimination Tattoo.

Lend Me Your Ear

S9 E4
The competition intensifies when the artists are tested on technical application, and two veteran artists make their returns.

War and Ink

S9 E5
Some shops lose their composure during a grueling color realism Elimination Tattoo, and a difficult canvas threatens one shop's spot in the competition.

Get the Flock Outta Here

S9 E6
The competition intensifies as another veteran artist returns, and artists must take on the ultimate test of artistry as they freehand their Elimination Tattoos.

On the Bubble

S9 E7
One of the competition's most infamous veterans returns to shake up the game, and the pressure is on when the artists are tasked with a new-school Elimination Tattoo.

Masterpiece Mayhem

S9 E8
An emotional Flash Challenge brings the artists to tears, and the alliance becomes a target when a bulletproof pair of veterans returns to battle it out for the title.

Pin-Up Panic Attack

S9 E9
The artists can't find relief in a sculptural Flash Challenge, and in honor of one veteran artist's return, the artists must team up to tackle the infamous pinup tattoo.

Drill Baby, Drill

S9 E10
The final veteran artist's return sparks an old rivalry, the shops struggle to work together during a woodworking Flash Challenge, and artist Tommy Montoya is a guest judge.

Grim Inker

S9 E11
A massive twist in the Elimination Challenge sends the artists reeling, and Four Horsemen tattoos bring the end of days for one pair of artists.

Pit Fall

S9 E12
The artists must tackle painful coordinating armpit tattoos, and Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck take charge of doling out canvases to the artists for the Elimination Tattoo.

Sell Out

S9 E13
The six remaining shops must use their sales skills to win over the canvases for the chance to tattoo, and the judges send one more shop packing.

Casting the First Stone

S9 E14
The artists create cohesive designs by painting nude models in the Flash Challenge, and some shops miss the mark on an Asian deity-themed Elimination Tattoo.

Marathon to the Finale

S9 E15
The final four shops battle it out in a tattoo marathon for a spot in the finale, a chance at $200,000 and the first-ever title of Master Shop.

Shop Wars Finale

S9 E16
In the live finale, the final three shops compete for $200,000 and the first-ever title of Master Shop.