Tattooing is a team sport as artists from nine of America's best shops arrive ready to battle it out for a $200,000 prize and the first ever title of Master Shop.

A massive twist shakes up the competition and a painstaking Flash Challenge puts Shop relationships to the test. The battle continues for the title of Master Shop and the largest prize in Ink Master history.

A fiery veteran artist returns, taking the competition by storm; a difficult Flash Challenge exposes weaknesses in the shops.

The competition gets even tougher when the artists are tested on technical application with individual tattoos; two veteran artists return.

Some shops lose their composure as they butt heads during a grueling elimination tattoo.

Shops crumble as the tension between teammates intensifies.

One of the competition's most infamous veterans returns to shake up the game.

An emotional flash challenge brings the artists to tears; the Alliance becomes a target when a bulletproof pair of veterans return to battle it out for the title.

The artists can't find any relief in a sculptural flash challenge; things get hairier during the elimination tattoo when the artists face the infamous Pin-Up challenge.

The final veteran shop returns to fight for the first title of Master Shop. Skull picks are key to the precision strike leveled at the opposing alliance.

With no flash challenge, the artists think they've got it all figured out until a massive twist sends them reeling. Four horsemen tattoos bring the end of days for one pair of artists.

A painful elimination tattoo has the artists in the pits, and a massive twist sends them reeling.

The competition puts the old saying, "the customer is always right," to the test when the artists must sell themselves to their canvases for the chance to tattoo.

With only 5 shops left, the fight for $200K and the title of Master Shop intensifies. In a deity Elimination Tattoo, some shops reach for the heavens while one is sent packing to hell.

The top four shops battle it out in a tattoo marathon for the three spots in the live finale.

The final three shops battle it out for $200k and the first ever title of Master Shop.