Battle Dig (also known as Water Slaughter) is physical race challenge that originated in Survivor: Palau, and has subsequently appeared in Micronesia and Caramoan. A land-based version of the challenge was also used in Panama and Heroes vs. Villains.
Rules
In Survivor: Palau and Survivor: Caramoan, two members of each tribe would race out in the water to retrieve a ring. The tribe members would then battle against each other to gain possession of the ring and bring it to their tribe flag/pontoon. The first tribe to score a given number of points would win.
In Survivor: Panama and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, for each tribe, a designated number of contestants will race out to a marked location and dig up a bag. The castaways then compete to return the bag to their tribe's mat. The first person to touch the tribe mat, with a hand on the bag, scores a point for their team. The first tribe to win a given number of rounds will win the challenge.
In Survivor: Micronesia, the tribes start at opposite ends of the playing field with three canvas bags. The tribes have to battle their way to their end zone. The tribe that has their three bags and two of the other tribe's bags in their end zone at the same time wins.
History
The challenge debuted in Survivor: Palau as the episode three Reward Challenge. Two contestants from each tribe would swim out to retrieve an inner tube and try to bring it back to their tribe's platform while contestants from the other tribe would try to stop them. The first tribe to three points won. Ulong won this challenge in a 3-0 sweep over Koror.
The challenge re-appeared in Survivor: Panama as a tribal Immunity Challenge. The first tribe to score three bags won the challenge. Casaya narrowly defeated La Mina 3-2 to win immunity.
In Survivor: Micronesia, playing in an area similar to a football field, the tribes start at opposite ends of the playing field with three canvas bags. The tribes have to battle their way to their end zone. The challenge ends when one tribe has their three bags and two of the other tribe's bags in their end zone at the same time. The tribes, dressed in war paint, had a very physical battle in the rain with the reward of items chosen from a catalog. Malakal won the challenge over Airai, taking home a tarp, a lighting kit, and a survival kit.
The challenge was used as the first Reward Challenge in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. The challenge occurred immediately at the start of the game. Teams of two raced for each tribe, with the first tribe to reach three points winning. The Heroes tribe won the challenge, defeating the Villains tribe 3-2, receiving flint. The challenge was notable for inflicting multiple injuries, with Stephenie LaGrossa dislocating her shoulder and Rupert Boneham breaking a toe. This challenge was also notable for Sugar Kiper letting go of her bra (which was undone by Sandra Diaz-Twine) in order to score a point for the Heroes tribe.
In Survivor: Caramoan, a variation of this challenge was again used as the first Reward Challenge of the season. Adapted to an aquatic playing field, two members of each tribe would race to retrieve a buoy from one end of the course and return it to their tribe's pole. The Favorites tribe Bikal won the challenge 4-1 over the Fans tribe Gota, receiving flint and 20 pounds of beans.
Winners
Gallery
Trivia
- Cirie Fields, Amanda Kimmel, Parvati Shallow, Stephenie LaGrossa, Danielle DiLorenzo, Erik Reichenbach, Tom Westman, and James Clement are the only contestants to compete in this challenge more than once.
- Cirie, Danielle, Erik, and Tom are the only returning castaways to have competed is this challenge in all of their seasons.
- Cirie is also the only castaway to compete in this challenge 3 times.
- Cirie, Stephenie, Amanda and James are the only castaways to have won the challenge every time they competed.
- Cirie, Danielle, Erik, and Tom are the only returning castaways to have competed is this challenge in all of their seasons.
- This is the only challenge that returning player Francesca Hogi has won.
- In all of the seasons in which the challenge was used for reward, the winning tribe lost the subsequent Immunity Challenge.
- This challenge has been played by both members of the Hantz family who have competed on Survivor.
- Brandon Hantz won in Survivor: Caramoan, while his uncle, Russell Hantz, lost in Heroes vs. Villains.
- Blue and purple tribes are the only tribes to win the challenge.
- Every purple tribe that has won has contained the eventual Sole Survivor, while every blue tribe has not.