Out on a Limb (also known as Compass Ropes, Tarantula, Lei Of The Land, Rise To It, Temple of the Dog, Giant Tick, Dragon's Breath, and Slide On) is a recurring physical and mental challenge that debuted in Survivor: Borneo.
Rules[]
Castaways must race through a giant course, which branches out into several limbs, to collect items. They must then bring these items back to a central island. Beginning with Cook Islands, castaways would have to collect bags of puzzle pieces, then use the puzzle pieces to solve a puzzle. The first to solve their puzzle wins.
History[]
United States[]
The challenge was first used as a Reward Challenge in Borneo, in which the castaways would have to go through a web course with 16 legs, with each leg having a medallion with the castaway's number on it. If they fall off the course once, they are automatically out of the challenge. The first castaway to get back to the center of the course with all 16 medallions wins. Kelly Wiglesworth was in the lead for most of the challenge, but was beaten back to the center at the last second by Colleen Haskell, who won reward.
In The Amazon, the challenge appeared as the final five Immunity Challenge where the castaways had to maneuver through a ropes course, dealing with five obstacles, collecting a feather at each obstacle. The first to bring back all five of their feathers to the center post would win. Matthew von Ertfelda took the lead early on and never looked back, winning immunity.
In Cook Islands, the challenge was used as the final five Immunity Challenge where the castaways had to race to eight stations, collecting a bag of puzzle pieces at each station, then use the puzzle pieces to build a three-dimensional compass rose puzzle stated by host Jeff Probst to be the hardest puzzle in Survivor. Yul Kwon initially had the lead, but Ozzy Lusth eventually overtook him and finished his puzzle first, winning his fourth Immunity Challenge.
In Tocantins, the challenge reappeared as the final four Immunity Challenge where the castaways had to collect three bags from a series of rope tunnels in the shape of a tarantula before solving a web-shaped puzzle. J.T. Thomas took the early lead, and despite a comeback from Erinn Lobdell, J.T. held on to win his second consecutive immunity.
In South Pacific, the challenge appeared as the Final Immunity Challenge where the castaways had to collect five bags on a giant flower-shaped obstacle course, then use the puzzle pieces to solve a flower puzzle. Ozzy Lusth was the first back with all his bags, but Sophie Clarke caught up to him and finished her puzzle first, winning her the final immunity.
In Blood vs. Water, it was used as the Final Immunity Challenge where the castaways would race through an obstacle course and a water slide to retrieve six bags of puzzle pieces, two at a time. They would then use the pieces to solve a puzzle which would give them clues to solve a combination lock needed to raise their flag. Tyson Apostol was the first to finish his puzzle, solve his combination lock, and raise his flag to win immunity.
In San Juan del Sur, the challenge was again used as the Final Immunity Challenge. Castaways had to race down a tower and collect three bags of puzzle pieces, then race back up the tower via a stairway and drop off their bags at the top, then race back down to get the remaining two bags and use all their puzzle pieces to solve a puzzle. When the puzzle was completed, three pieces would be missing. The shapes of those missing pieces would reveal the three numbers needed to solve a combination lock needed to raise their flag. With strong gusts of wind hindering everyone, Jaclyn Schultz came from behind and narrowly edged out Natalie Anderson to win immunity.
In Cambodia, the challenge was used as the final five Immunity Challenge where the castaways had to collect six bags of puzzle pieces, then use their puzzle pieces to solve a puzzle. On an extremely slippery course due to rain, Kelley Wentworth employed a strategy of going through the most difficult obstacles first, allowing her to finish her puzzle ahead of Keith Nale to win immunity.
In Edge of Extinction, the challenge was again used as the final five Immunity Challenge with a similar course to Cambodia, with the exception of now being situated above the ocean. Castaways had to collect six bags of puzzle pieces, then use them to solve a puzzle of the season's logo. Although Gavin Whitson was the first back with all his bags, Rick Devens managed to catch up and finish his puzzle first to win immunity.
In Winners at War, the challenge was used as the final six Reward/Immunity Challenge where the course was divided into two identical halves for three castaways each to collect three bags of puzzle pieces. Once they collected a bag, they would have to deposit it at the top of a tower, then slide down and collect their other bags before solving a three-tier puzzle. Despite Michele Fitzgerald being the last to collect all her bags, her familiarity with the puzzle from Kaôh Rōng allowed her to blaze through it and win immunity.
In Survivor 42, the Cambodia version of the challenge was used as the Reward/Immunity Challenge at the final five. Prior to the challenge, Lindsay Dolashewich found a Challenge Advantage that reduced the number of knots she would have to untie at each station from six to one. Despite this advantage, Jonathan Young was the first to retrieve all his bags, and the challenge eventually came down to a battle between Lindsay and Mike Turner. In the end, Mike pieced together the vertical jigsaw puzzle of an ouroboros first to win the challenge.
South Africa[]
In Philippines, the challenge was combined with a dragon maze as the final four Immunity Challenge. Despite struggling immensely with the maze and obstacles, Jeanne Michel was able to use her puzzle skills to blast ahead of the Araw tribe, who were stumped by the hanging dragon puzzle. Surprising herself and her tribemates, Jeanne finished the challenge with her first individual Immunity Challenge win.
The Giant Tick format was used as the final four Immunity Challenge of Return of the Outcasts. After spending over an hour under the hot sun struggling with an intricate jigsaw puzzle, Shane Hattingh defeated his tribemates to win the first individual Immunity Challenge of his career.
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Borneo "Old and New Bonds" |
Individual Reward |  Colleen Haskell |
| The Amazon "The Amazon Heats Up" |
Individual Immunity |  Matthew von Ertfelda |
| Cook Islands "This Tribe Will Self-Destruct in 5, 4, 3..." |
Individual Immunity |  Ozzy Lusth |
| Tocantins "I Trust You but I Trust Me More" |
Individual Immunity |  J.T. Thomas |
| South Pacific "Loyalties Will Be Broken" |
Individual Immunity (Final Immunity) |
 Sophie Clarke |
| Blood vs. Water "It's My Night" |
Individual Immunity (Final Immunity) |
 Tyson Apostol |
| San Juan del Sur "This Is My Time" |
Individual Immunity (Final Immunity) |
 Jaclyn Schultz |
| Cambodia "Lie, Cheat and Steal" |
Individual Immunity |  Kelley Wentworth |
| Edge of Extinction "I See the Million Dollars" |
Individual Immunity |  Rick Devens |
| Winners at War "It All Boils Down to This" |
Individual Reward/Immunity |  Michele Fitzgerald |
| Survivor 42 "It Comes Down to This" |
Individual Reward/Immunity |  Mike Turner |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines Episode 15 |
Individual Immunity |  Jeanne Michel |
| Return of the Outcasts "No Tools in My Toolkit" |
Individual Immunity |  Shane Hattingh |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The challenge's use in Borneo is the only instance when the challenge was used as a Reward Challenge.
- Colleen Haskell's win in Borneo marked the first time that a female won an individual challenge.
- Gervase Peterson, Keith Nale, Natalie Anderson, and Ozzy Lusth are the only castaways to compete in this challenge twice.
- Ozzy has won once, while Gervase, Keith, and Natalie have never won.