Tribe Switch

The **tribe switch** was the first game-changing twist of *Australian Survivor*. This twist sends members from one tribe to the rival tribes and vice versa.

## About

The tribe switch is a twist that can happen at any specific point of the pre-merge phase. This reassignment of tribes is effective until the tribes merge or a new opportunity to switch tribes occurs (e.g. a Mutiny or a second switch.) This is denoted by contestants wearing a newly-supplied buff in the color of their new tribe. They then drop their old buff on the ground and start wearing the new one.

## Classifications

A tribe switch could be classified as one of three types:

* Swap - It happens when the switch is done in a way ensuring that each tribe exchanges the same number of castaways. Among Survivor fans, all tribe switches are commonly referred to as "swaps" regardless of the specific type.
* Shuffle - A shuffle happens where each tribe could have a different number of new members. Many times, however, the number of castaways coming from a particular gender is considered, making sure each new tribe has good gender balance.
* Disbandment - Typically a variation of the shuffle, it happens when a tribe gets dissolved, then a shuffle is done to put the castaways on the remaining tribes.

## Occurrences

### *Celebrity Survivor Australia*

* Type: Swap

On Day 6, a tribe switch occurred, mixing the two tribes of Kakula and Moso. The final ten were mixed into two tribes of five, with two members of each original tribe switching tribes.

### *Australian Survivor* (2016)

#### Switch #1

* Type: Swap

The two tribes who did not win the Day 12 Immunity Challenge both had to vote. At the Double Elimination, each tribe was told to vote without knowing that the person with the most votes would be sent to the other tribe attending the session. The person sent over also gets to pick one member of their original tribe to join them on his new tribe. Nick Iadanza was voted off Vavau and chose Tegan Haining to follow him to Saanapu, while Conner Bethune was voted off Saanapu and chose Sam Webb to follow him to Vavau.

#### Switch #2

* Type: Disbandment

On Day 19, the tribes met for a Reward Challenge. Saanapu won, and were given the right to individually choose which tribe they wanted to be on henceforth. The five members of Saanapu unanimously decided to stick together and collectively chose four members of the other two tribes to join the new Saanapu tribe. They chose El Rowland and Lee Carseldine from Aganoa, and Jennah-Louise Salkeld and Sam Webb from Saanapu. The nine who were not picked formed the new Vavau tribe, and Aganoa was disbanded.

### *Australian Survivor* (2017)

#### Switch #1

* Type: Swap

At the Day 20 Tribal Council, Samatau voted out two players, being Tara Pitt and Anneliese Wilson, but it was revealed after the vote that they will instead join Asaga. The next day, Samatau nominated Ben Morgan and Henry Nicholson to join Asaga.

#### Switch #2

* Type: Swap

Before the Day 27 Reward Challenge, a switch occurred. Anneliese Wilson and Michelle Dougan transferred to Samatau while AK Knight and Peter Conte transferred to Asaga.

### *Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders (2018)*

* Type: Shuffle

On Day 25, the Champions and Contenders tribes swapped players, but unlike in previous seasons, the tribe numbers did not remain equal. The tribe balance went from 9-6 in favour of the Champions to a more equal 8-7. Shonee Bowtell and Tegan Gasior transferred to the Champions while Lydia Lassila, Monika Radulovic and Sharn Coombes transferred to the Contenders.

### *Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders (2019)*

* Type: Shuffle

On Day 15, the Champions and Contenders tribes swapped players, with the Contenders' 11-7 advantage being wiped out. Andy Meldrum, Baden Gilbert, Daisy Richardson, Hannah Pentreath, John Eastoe, Sam Schoers and Sarah Ayles transferred to the Champions while Abbey Holmes, Janine Allis, Pia Miranda, Ross Clarke-Jones and Simon Black transferred to the Contenders.

### *Australian Survivor: All Stars*

* Type: Swap

Before the Day 15 Reward Challenge, a switch occurred. In addition, Shonee Bowtell and Zach Kozyrski returned from Exile Beach; while Zach remained on Mokuta, Shonee transferred to Vakama.

### *Australian Survivor: Brains v Brawn*

* Type: Shuffle

On Day 17, the Brains and Brawn tribes swapped players, with the Brawn's 10-8 advantage being wiped out. Cara Atchison, Daini Tuiqere, Emmett Pugh, Gerald Youles and Kez McGee transferred to Brains while Andrew Ucles, Baden Cooke, Hayley Leake and Wai Chim transferred to Brawn.

### *Australian Survivor: Blood v Water*

* Type: Shuffle

On Day 17, the Blood and Water tribes swapped players, with Water's 10-9 advantage being reversed. The person without a buff had the option of deciding which tribe to join. Jordie Hansen, Josh Millgate, Mark Wales Mel Chiang, Nina Twine and Shay Lajoie transferred to Blood while Ben Watson, Croc Crocker, Jesse Hansen, Michelle Chiang and Sam Gash transferred to Water.

### *Australian Survivor: Heroes v Villains*

* Type: Shuffle

On Day 18, the Heroes and Villains tribes swapped players, with the Heroes' 10-6 advantage being wiped out. George Mladenov, Shonee Bowtell and Stevie Khouw transferred to the Heroes while David Zaharakis, Hayley Leake, Nina Twine, Sam Webb and Shaun Hampson transferred to the Villains.