The Mercenary, also known as the Heavy Hitter, is a season twist introduced during Cutthroat. The twist often features players not featured on a season entering the competition to participate in an elimination against the players in the game. Since the twist was first debuted it has been used multiple times during elimination rounds, with each time being featured differently.
Twist history[]
Cutthroat[]
The twist was first introduced during Cutthroat as the Heavy Hitter twist. During the eighth Gulag of the season TJ revealed that rather than face each other, the elimination nominees would all face a Heavy Hitter of their gender in the elimination. The player of each gender to last the longest against the Heavy Hitter in the Gulag would be announced the winners of the elimination.
| Episode | Gulag | Heavy Hitter | Opponents | Winner | |
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| 8/9 | Back Up Off Me |  |
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Battle of the Bloodlines[]
The Heavy Hitter twist was brought back on Battle of the Bloodlines during the eighth Pit elimination of the season. At the start of the elimination TJ revealed that rather than face each other, the elimination nominees would each face a separate Heavy Hitter in the elimination determined by flip of a coin. The player to last the longest against their Heavy Hitter in the Pit would be announced the winners of the elimination.
| Episode | Pit | Heavy Hitter | Opponent | Winner |
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| 9 | Hand It Over |  |
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Vendettas[]
The Heavy Hitter twist was brought back once again on Vendettas, now referred to as the Mercenary twist. On the designated double eliminations during the fifth and eighth Ring eliminations TJ announced that the elimination nominees would each face a separate Mercenary in the elimination determined by random flip of a coin. If a player is to lose against their Mercenary, they will be eliminated from the game while any player to defeat their Mercenary will rejoin the competition and earn a Grenade.
| Episode | Ring | Mercenary | Opponent | Winner |
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| 7/8 | Crazy 8 |  |
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| 11 | Yankin' My Chain |  |
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Additionally at the start of the final challenge TJ announced that each of the finalists would have to face against a Mercenary of their gender during one of the checkpoints. If a player loses against their Mercenary, the Mercenary is allowed to assign that player a Grenade before advancing.
| Episode | Checkpoint | Mercenary | Opponents | Loser | |||
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| 14 | Decked Out |  |
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Notes:
- Aneesa won the "Crazy 8" Ring by default after Veronica injured her finger on the "8" and was declared unable to continue.
- Following multiple rounds, the "Yankin' My Chain" Ring between Darrell and Nelson was declared a draw. Nelson was not awarded a Grenade as a result.
- Melissa was only required to face three players during the "Decked Out" checkpoint after Nicole Z. injured her ankle early in the race.
Final Reckoning[]
In Final Reckoning, the Mercenaries will face the elimination teams for their chance to enter the game. If the Mercenaries win, they will take their opponents spot in the game. Ashley and Hunter were required to eliminate one team to enter the game while Cory and Devin were required to eliminate two teams.
| Episode | Armageddon | Mercenaries | Opponents | Winners |
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| 8 | No Slack |   |
  Angela & Faith |
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| 13 | Shake It Off |   |
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Ride or Dies[]
In Ride or Dies, the three teams of Heavy Hitters entered the game at staggered points in time. Each team features a well-known veteran pairing. Unlike other times where a mercenary had to win an elimination to enter the game, these teams simply got to enter the game right after an elimination had ended, occurring for the first three episodes.
| Episode | Heavy Hitters |
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| 1 |   |
| 2 |   |
| 3 |   |
Battle for a New Champion[]
In Battle for a New Champion, ten Champion Mercenaries were revealed. The season features 24 players, known as Contenders, who have never won before battling it out for their first-ever championship. Along the way they will have to face these Challenge Champions in surprise eliminations, however the Champions will not earn their way into the game. Instead, the they will take $10,000 out of the Contenders' final prize pot if they win the elimination in addition to sending the Contender home. If the Contender wins the elimination, they protect their money and stay alive in the game.
| Episode | Arena | Champion | Contender | Winner |
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| 5 | King of the Hills |  |
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| 6 | Loaded Barrel |  |
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| 7 | Totally Mental |  |
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| 8 | Pole in the Storm |  |
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| 9 | Going Under |  |
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| 10 | Fire Walker |  |
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| 11 | Chain Reaction |  |
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| 12 | Block Head |  |
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| 13 | What's Going Down |  |
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| 14 | Mind Grind |  |
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Trivia[]
- CT, Darrell, and Jordan are the only contestants to be a Heavy Hitter/Mercenary thrice.
- Aneesa, Ashley, Bananas, Laurel, Tori and Devin are the only contestants to be a Heavy Hitter/Mercenary twice.
- Kaz is the only Mercenary who never competed on a flagship season.
- Big T, Kam, and Kyland are the only contestants to face off against Mercenaries in elimination twice.
- Kam and Kyland are the only contestants to win against two Mercenaries in a single season.
- Zach is the only contestant to be a Mercenary and then later compete against one in an elimination himself.
- Melissa is the only contestant to return as a Mercenary during their debut season.
- It was confirmed during the reunion of Battle for a New Champion that Bananas was supposed to make his third Mercenary appearance, but he later dropped out. He was replaced by Brad.