Merge

A merge is the coming together of the two or more competing tribes into a single tribe. This means that the tribes will now live as one in one camp until the end of the game. This also signals the game's halfway point and typically is near the start of the jury phase. The initially merged tribe can contain anywhere from 8 to 13 members.

The merge signals the halfway point of the game as it often takes place during days 19-20 or thereabout. It is where the castaways will live as one new tribe until the final day of the competition. Once merged, they will receive a blank tribe banner (with a new color), new buffs, and poster paint (as they will be painting their banner). They would also have to christen a name for the new tribe. From this point forward, the game shifts from a team-effort competition into an individual game, although some challenges would still be team challenges. The Final Two or Three would then face the jury on the last day of the competition at the Final Tribal Council, where the jury decides who will be the Sole Survivor.

Determining the Camp
Determining the merged tribe campsite varies almost each season. While the tribes convene for the merge, the migrating tribe(s) will immediately relocate to the chosen tribe's camp, while their personal items, such as rewards, luxury items, and remaining supplies are moved to the new camp. This happens when the tribes compete in a challenge, where the Survivor Production Team ships the items of the tribe(s) moving to the new camp. Sometimes, the camp of the starting tribe that was most dominant in challenges becomes the merged tribe camp, though this is not always the case.

In most seasons, the tribes pick which camp they would like to live in. This decision mostly depends on tribes' living conditions (e.g. having more food sources, more livable shelter, etc.).

In other cases, the producers determine the campsite, choosing any of the existing camps, usually to the tribe with more members at the time of the merge without any input from the contestants, or a totally new one

Challenges
Due to the nature of the merge, the game shifts from a team effort to an individual affair. Certain post-merge challenges, usually for reward, may see the tribe temporarily divided up into two or more teams, with one of these teams winning the challenge.

Immunity
See Individual Immunity

Reward
See Individual Reward

Do-It-Yourself Challenge
See Do-It-Yourself Challenge

Loved Ones Challenge
See Loved Ones Challenge

Strategy
Strategy on the merged tribe differs from pre-merge strategy, as jury management and strategic voting start to take hold around this point.