| Merge | |
|---|---|
| |
| Survivor Fan Characters gameplay | |
| Type | Event |
| Appearance(s) | Every season |
A merge (sometimes called a "merger") is the coming together of two or more rival tribes into a single tribe. From this point forward, all remaining castaways will live together at the same camp, and compete in challenges as individuals.
About[]
The merge serves as a sign that the castaways have reached the halfway point of the game, typically occurring when there are only around ten people left. It is also common that the jury phase of the game begins around this point, though this is not always the case.
Process[]
Informing the castaways[]
There have been a multitude of ways in which the merge has been announced to the castaways. In most seasons, the castaways are informed shortly after they convene at what is normally expected to be a Reward Challenge. Other times, they are informed via Tree Mail, which provides instructions of what they need to do. On some occasions, the merge is announced to the castaways shortly after a Tribal Council has taken place.
Determining the camp[]
After the merge has been announced to the castaways, their first priority is usually determining the camp that they will reside at for the remainder of the game. In some seasons, the castaways choose the camp themselves. In other seasons though, the location is already decided by production. It is usually either one of the previous tribe camps, or an entirely new camp that no castaway has been to.
Naming the tribe[]
Once the castaways have all arrived at the merged tribe campsite, they will find their new tribe flag, and are then tasked with giving their tribe a name. As a running joke, the name the castaways decide on is often something silly, questionable, or generally uncreative.
Early and delayed merge[]
On some occasions, the merge arrives quicker than the castaways may expect it to. This first occurred in Survivor Fan Characters 4: Fans vs. Canon, when the tribes merged at the final eleven, rather than the final ten. Contrastingly, the merge sometimes arrives later than the castaways expected. This first happened in Survivor Fan Characters 8: The Midway Island, when the tribes merged with only nine contestants left in the game, as opposed to ten.
Merged tribes[]
Trivia[]
- Green is the most frequently used color for merged tribes, being used five times.
- Orange and magenta are the least used merged tribe colors, only being used one time each.
- >:) was the first merged tribe to have a challenge win, as all of its members competed together in a Reward Challenge on Day 26 against the first nine eliminated contestants in Survivor Fan Characters: All-Stars.
- It would later be followed by the Dreams tribe in Survivor Fan Characters 19: Star Allies, with its members all competing together in a Reward Challenge on Day 32.
- #Survivor is the merged tribe that is composed of the most rival tribes, with four total.
- Quinn and Aether are tied for smallest merged tribe, with nine members each.
- Guardian and Hedgelord are tied for largest merged tribe, with thirteen members each.
- Guardian also has the shortest lifespan of any merged tribe, being formed on Day 14 and dissolved on Day 20.
- This also makes it the only merged tribe to not last until Day 39.
- Guardian also has the shortest lifespan of any merged tribe, being formed on Day 14 and dissolved on Day 20.
- Survivor Fan Characters 17: Alola is the only season to have two merged tribe phases.
- Dreams is the merged tribe that has existed for the longest amount of time in the game, being formed on Day 16 and lasting until Day 39.