It’s time for castaways in tribes to drop their buffs and merge into one, as the Survivor: Winners at War episode 8 press photos prepare for war.

The Survivor: Winners at War episode 8 press photos will showcase scenes from the merge, including the feast and players at camp.

At the very end of this week’s show, we saw that players would drop their buffs in Survivor: Winners at War episode 8, “This is Where the Battle Begins,” in the preview. To me, it’s long overdue, as a game with two players returning from the Edge of Extinction turns a 20-player cast into one with “22” runs of gameplay, which is a lot to get through in just 39 days.

Either way, CBS has released the press photos for the merge, going well out of their way as to not spoil who returns from the Edge of Extinction. In fact, we don’t even have photos of the Edge of Extinction Challenge despite the preview at the end of this week’s episode making it look like the one from the titular season. We don’t even know what the Immunity Challenge looks like!

There are no hard spoilers that I can find, so no worries as you look through this week’s press photos.

If there’s a tribe that has been waiting too long for this moment, it’s Sele. Through the tribe swap, they’ve experienced nothing but hardships, with Yul being the latest and final victim of the “old school vs. new school” mentality. It’s clear which side won out.

I cannot recall a time since starting Surviving Tribal with Game Changers where I have seen so many merge feast photos. Here’s just one shot of the various foodstuffs on the right side of the entire spread.

Note that there are 12 different cups in this picture, each of differing sizes and styles of a goblet. The designs aren’t that important (for now); the fact that there are 12 indicates just one player will be returning from the Edge of Extinction.

Most of the merge feast photos with actual people show this side of the table, as it’s more than likely that whoever returned from the Edge of Extinction is on the left side. Think about who is less likely to sit with this side and who would sit with the others if you want to theorycraft who returns.

There is one look at the other side of the table, though not everyone is seen sitting. Could that fourth set of arms belong to the Edge of Extinction returnee, or do people at the merge move around at the table and get to talk with as many people as possible? Who’s to say?

If the merge feast wasn’t enough of a central communication hub, how about the merge bench? Eight of twelve players are sitting here, split down the line from original tribe formats.

Here is Adam surrounded by Nick, Wendell, and Jeremy, perhaps pointing at someone else other than him to target as the merge boot. Funny, they have the new black and gold merge buffs on but still carry carrying bags colored in the style of their original tribe.

One of the underlying stories surrounding Kim Spradlin is the options she hopes to have heading into the merge. She previously showed concern for Tony’s zany ways; will she stay loyal now that we’ve arrived here?

Jeff Probst infamously says, “Individual immunity is now what you covet,” and this is the necklace that these winners will covet once again.

The mast is back down at the Edge of Extinction, as this shot shows so little of who’s still left on the island.

Here are some more portraits from Survivor: Winners at War episode 8, as well as some shots made available after this week’s episode aired.