A Crate Idea (also known as Crate Outdoors, Boats, Brains & Brawn, Uprising and No Quarter) is a recurring physical/puzzle challenge that originated in Survivor: Tocantins and was later used in future seasons.
Rules[]
Two castaways from each tribe race out to a giant tribe-colored crate. Once they reach the crate, they must roll it back to their tribe's mat. Upon reaching the tribe mat, the next pair run out to get the next crate. Once all 6 crates have been collected, the contestants would stack the crates, solving a puzzle on the side of the crates (spelling out a key word or phrase). Once all the crates have been stacked correctly, the castaways would climb up the crates to a platform. The first tribe to get all tribe members on the platform wins.
History[]
United States[]
In the challenge's debut in Tocantins, Timbira was able to collect their crates first. However, Jalapao overtook them in the puzzle portion and won immunity, sending Timbira to their second consecutive Tribal Council.
The challenge later reappeared in Heroes vs. Villains. Although the Heroes collected all their crates first, a communications breakdown between several of their members allowed the much more organized Villains, under Rob Mariano's leadership to finish their puzzle first and win immunity.
In Caramoan, the challenge was supposed to be an Immunity Challenge in "Persona Non Grata", but Bikal decided to forfeit the challenge and go to Tribal Council, giving Gota immunity. It was used later in the following episode, with the physically stronger new Gota tribe winning immunity over the less physically adept new Bikal.
In Blood vs. Water, the challenge was a combined Reward/Immunity Challenge. Paddling out to retrieve puzzle crates, the tribes would have to dive down underwater to release the boxes. Once all crates were retrieved and brought back to shore, the tribes would stack the crates into a staircase with Blood vs. Water properly aligned along the sides. Then, two members of each tribe would solve a puzzle giving them the combination to retrieve the correct key. The first tribe to run to the top of the tower, unlock and pull a lever, releasing the tribe flag, would win the challenge. Galang won their fourth consecutive immunity, beating Tadhana in a close race.
The challenge was modified for use as the Earn the Merge challenge in Survivor 43. Teams will drag a sled to retrieve their six wooden crates, using these to build a staircase to retrieve a key. After racing up a warped wall, they will use their key to unlock puzzle pieces to solve a word puzzle. Despite lagging behind and one member sustaining a finger injury, the blue team of Dwight Moore, Jeanine Zheng, Jesse Lopez, Karla Cruz Godoy, Mike Gabler, and Ryan Medrano staged a comeback to win the challenge.
Australia[]
Mexico (Unofficial)[]
In La Isla 2012, it was used as the first Immunity Challenge as new tribes. In the challenge, only two contestants moved the cubes, while the rest were positioned on top of them. The Celebridades tribe quickly got in the lead, and the Desconocidos tribe was never able to catch up.
South Africa[]
In Maldives, the tribes competed for a mystery reward sponsored by Volvo. In view of the sponsorship, the tribes had to stack the crates to depict the Volvo logo. Though both tribes showed some struggle with arranging their crates, Raituhn pulled forward to complete their puzzle before Goma had gotten their game plan together. They won the challenge, and it was revealed that the prize was a set of comfort items.
In Immunity Island, the tribes competed for immunity and had to stack their crates to form the logo for Brights Hardware. Zamba suffered from poor communication, while Vuna won the challenge, extending their winning streak.
Winners[]
Episode | Challenge Type | Winner |
---|---|---|
Tocantins "Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This" |
Tribal Immunity | Jalapao |
Heroes vs. Villains "It's Getting the Best of Me" |
Tribal Immunity | Villains |
Caramoan "Persona Non Grata" |
Tribal Immunity | Gota |
Caramoan "Operation Thunder Dome" |
Tribal Immunity | Gota |
Blood vs. Water "One Armed Dude and Three Moms" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity | Galang |
Survivor 43 "Mergatory" |
Team Reward/Immunity (Earn the Merge) |
Dwight, Gabler, Jeanine, Jesse, Karla, Ryan |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winner |
---|---|---|
Australian Survivor (2017) Episode 1 |
Tribal Immunity | Samatau |
Heroes v Villains Episode 11 |
Tribal Immunity | Villains (Australia) |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
La Isla 2012 Cycle 5, Episode 18 |
Tribal Immunity | Celebridades (2012) |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Maldives Episode 6 |
Tribal Reward | Raituhn |
Immunity Island "Gloat or Vote" |
Tribal Immunity | Vuna |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Robinson 2023 Episode 25 |
Tribal Immunity | South Team (Robinson 2023) |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- J.T. Thomas, Coach Wade, and Tyson Apostol have competed in this challenge twice, all winning it once.
- Every time this challenge appeared, it was used for tribal immunity.
- This challenge is the first challenge in Survivor history to be forfeited by a tribe before it began. Bikal forfeited this challenge in Caramoan, giving Gota immunity.
- When the challenge was subsequently reused, the switched Gota tribe won again. This makes Gota the first tribe to "win" the same challenge twice, and Eddie Fox, Reynold Toepfer, and Sherri Biethman the first contestants to "win" the same challenge twice in one season.
- Each time this challenge was used in a "Heroes vs Villains"-themed season, the Villains and a member of the Twine family won.