Tribes

The competing teams in Minecraft Survivor are known as tribes. Commonly, there are two tribes in a season, but there have been instances where three may be active at the same time. A tribe can have anywhere between five to seven people at the beginning of the game.

Dividing Into Tribes
Most commonly, the tribes are divided by the producers before the game begins.

Tribes Preset by Production
In most seasons, the castaways are divided into tribes semi-randomly:
 * In, the 18 castaways were divided into two tribes of nine.
 * In, the 20 castaways were divided into two tribes of ten.

Starting Tribes
Each Minecraft Survivor season starts with 18 to 20 contestants, stranded in a remote location and will be left there for 23-39 days. The castaways will be equally divided into two tribes. These tribes then will be sent out to separate camps identified by a colored tribe banner.

Names and Identification
Starting tribes are given unique names (usually based on local language) and identifying colors which are used on tribe flags, challenge props, on-screen text, and various other items. Each player is given a buff which all contestants must wear on their heads at all times. Players are only allowed to take off their buffs when instructed.

Merged Tribe
The merged tribe is composed of the remaining members of the two-three starting tribes. The merged tribe is named by the producers, just as the starting tribes are.

Merged tribes will be given new camps to stay at, usually with new supplies and new twists. As for challenges, post-merge challenges are generally individual-based, rather than team-based.