The Beast
The obstacle course for the competition is known as The Beast, and it is divided into 3 Levels. Level 4 has been added to the Beast for the Finals. Competitors with the highest scores after each level move on while those with the lowest scores are eliminated, with ties decided in favor of the competitor with the lowest time. Unlike the first season (where scores reset on Level 4) and the previous season (where scores accrue on all four levels), all scores reset at the start of the level. The obstacles are suspended over a body of red-tinted water referred to as Beast Blood (except for Level 3 which has blue(sometimes regular)-tinted water and is referred to as the Fuel of the Pyramid) and housed in a giant steel frame that takes the form of a large animal. A competitor is considered to have failed a Level if all four limbs are submerged into the Beast Blood/Fuel of the Pyramid. Failure ends the attempt at the current Level but confers no penalties.
This season, the same LED triangle from Season 2is the form of the Point Thrusters, but meanwhile in addition to the normal Point Thrusters, a new Mega Thruster has been added, which counts down from 50 at varying speeds, giving the competitors a certain number of points, depending on how fast they hit the Thruster. In addition, a final Point Thruster worth 25 points has been added to the end of every level. Mega Thrusters have replaced the Energy Taps in Level 4, and in this level the points are only accessible with these, each being increased by 250 points than the other.
This season also features a tournament-style bracket, in which two athletes advance from each episode to a semifinal round then to a final round, earning themselves $10,000, where they fight for the title of Ultimate Beastmaster and $50,000. In the semifinals, the top 6 competitors compete, with the top 3 winning $10,000 and moving on to the finals. Competitors must run the entire course (Levels 1-3) in one go and get the farthest the fastest. If they fail once, they are given an extra life they can use to try again from one of five checkpoints throughout the course, but at the cost of the points accrued after crossing the checkpoint. Should the competitor choose not to use it, however, the extra life is then forfeited and cannot be used later.
Level 1
In Level 1 all nine competitors compete with the top six scorers moving on.
- Lockjaw - Competitors must scale a pole that gets as thin as 8 in. as competitors progress.
- Gear Head - Competitors must cross two gear-like platforms shaped similarly to the Grinders from Season 2. The first one is stationary while the second swings back-and-forth.
- Faceplant - Competitors stand on a narrow platform, hands braced against panels on either side, as they are tilted forward to a 45° angle. They must then jump to a chain which was swapped temporarily with a rope in S1E7,and moved out 2 feet in S1E10,and swing to the next obstacle. The first Point Thruster is located higher up the chain. Unlike previous seasons, the chain is positioned towards the side a bit. This is the first of five checkpoints in the Semifinals.
- Hyper Jump - Competitors must jump across
approx. 4 semi-stationary hanging platforms that start moving
once the competitor lands on them. A Point Thruster is located between the platforms. At the end of Hyper Jump, there are two different paths taken, often with interchangeable obstacles, depending on the episode.
Path 1
- The Rack - Competitors must jump across a series of 2 seesaws. A Point Thruster is located in between each seesaw. Interchangeable with Rope Burn or the Dead Bolts; replaced with Break Neck for the Semifinals.
- Rope Burn - Competitors must use a rope to scale a giant tube that gets wider midway through. A Point Thruster is located just before the tube gets wider. Interchangeable with The Rack or the Dead Bolts; replaced with Break Neck for the Semifinals.
- Dead Bolts - Competitors must jump across a series of 4 semi-stationary hanging bolts, each at a slightly different angle; the last two are placed 6 ft. apart from each other. A Point Thruster is located between the second and third Deadbolts while a Mega Thruster is located between the last two Deadbolts. Interchangeable with The Rack or Rope Burn; replaced with Break Neck for the Semifinals.
- Break Neck - Competitors must cross a series of 3 wheels, two of which spin automatically while the second one is stationary, each with 6 pistons, two at the least of which drops down. Exclusive to the Semifinals.
- Chain Drive - Competitors must cross a series of 3 spinning gears, two counter-clockwise and the second clockwise, with 4 dangling pole-ropes. Exclusive to the Finals.
- Mag Wall - Competitors navigate horizontally across a climbing wall. Every 2 seconds the magnetic handholds are released and fall into the Beast's blood. The wall features an inversion, from which the competitors must jump to the finishing platform. A Point Thruster is located toward the start of Mag Wall while a Mega Thruster is located towards the end of the wall.
Path 2
- Wheel Power - Competitors must use their momentum to turn a rolling beam with monkey bars. Interchangeable with Rib Cage Row or Crank Shaft.
- Rib Cage Row - Competitors must swing across 4 sets of bars, the distance between each set as far as 9 ft. the farther competitors go. Interchangeable with Wheel Power or Crank Shaft.
- Crank Shaft - Competitors must cross a rotating beam with 6 heptagonal-platforms. Interchangeable with Wheel Power or Rib Cage Row.
- Crash Pads - Similar to the Bungee Beds from season 1 's Level 3, competitors must traverse two unstable platforms suspended at varying heights by bungee chords. A Point Thruster is located near the first Crash Pad while a Mega Thruster is located near the second one.
Each individual portion of an obstacle is worth 5 points.
Level 2
In Level 2 the top six competitors compete, with the top four scorers moving on. Similar to Season 1, some obstacles interchange with each other.Many obstacles i.e.Stomach Churn and Spinal Descent have been swapped with new obstacles, but unlike other seasons, now the obstacles swap places during the Semifinals and Finals.
- Drop Zone - Competitors must scale an angled-trampoline to a blue ramp, but they should jump on the Beastmaster logo while facing the trampoline than anything else for more balance. A Point Thruster is located near the base of the ramp. This is the second of five checkpoints for the Semifinals.
- Pivot Point - Competitors must jump from the ramp to a hexagonal-platform near the base of Digestive Track. The drop is said to be 10 ft down. This is the third of five checkpoints for the Semifinals.
- Digestive Track - Jumping from the last spinning platform into a tube, competitors must climb the tube before it sinks and jump to the next obstacle.
- Dreadmills - Competitors must cross a pair of suspended treadmills and leap to a platform. A Point Thruster is located after the second Dreadmill.
- Shape Shifter - Competitors must cross a 30 ft. series of octagonal-footholds. A Point Thruster is located midway across, while a Mega Thruster is located near the end. Replaced with the Sidewinder for the Semifinals and Destabilizer for the Finals.
- Sidewinder - Competitors must cross a series of two bent pipes while hanging on to wheels. A Point Thruster is located midway across. This is the fourth of five checkpoints for the Semifinals. Exclusive to the Semifinals. Replaced with Destabilizer for the Finals.
- Destabilizer - Competitors must jump across a series of three beams suspended by Bungee Cords and placed at different angles. Exclusive to the Finals.
- Tail Whip - Competitors must scale a series of monkey bars set 3 ft apart and can fall at any time. A Point Thruster is located midway across with a Mega Thruster located towards the right.
Each individual portion of an obstacle is worth 5 points.
Level 3
In Level 3, also known as the Energy Pyramid, the top 4 scorers compete, with the top 2 advancing to the Semifinals (3 moving on to Level 4 for the Finals).
- Rail Runner - Competitors must mount a forward-moving treadmill and attempt to grab a suspended a pole-rope (or a regular black rope in some episodes) as it swings through a curved track, then reach for an additional pole-rope/rope located just before Power Surge. 3 Point Thrusters are located at the beginning, middle, and end of the track. This is the last of five checkpoints for the Semifinals.
- Power Surge - Competitors must work their way through three tubes structure made of pipe and chain before they each sink into the water. The first is placed vertically while the rest is shaped similarly to the previous seasons' Coil Crawl. In contrast to the previous seasons', the last ring only sinks occasionally. A Mega Thruster is located midway through.
- Viper Climb- Competitors must scale an 80 ft helix. A Point Thruster is located 3/4ths of the way up.
- Pipeline - Competitors must use grip handles to slide up a set of V-shaped bars.
- Climbing Wall - Competitors must climb a wall up to the final platform. A Mega Thruster is located at the bottom of the wall.
Individual portions of obstacles are worth 5 points.
Level 4
In Level 4 the top 3 finalists compete on an 80 ft climbing wall, with the top 1 winning $50,000 and being crowned the Ultimate Beastmaster. Unlike the previous seasons, this level is exclusive to the Finals, and competitors each compete one-at-a-time. Points can only be attained through three Mega Thrusters placed throughout, each worth 250 points more than the previous Thruster.
- Ricochet - Competitors navigate back-and-forth between 2 walls, each transfer when grip is worn out.
At the end of Ricochet, competitors must make a choice between two paths.
- Full Tilt - Competitors must scale six blocks with two handholds which tilt down as they grab them.
- Drop Tank - Competitors must scale three platforms which drop down 18 in. as they step on them.
- Mother Board - Competitors must ascend a large pegboard. The first Mega Thruster (worth 250 points) is located towards the bottom of the board.
At the end of Mother Board, competitors must make a choice between another two paths.
- Razor's Edge - Competitors must cross a shaky bridge made up of trapezoidal platforms.
- Vertigo - Competitors must scale a swirling beam.
- Ventilator - Competitors must ascend in one of three ways:
- Rope Climb - A narrow vertical crevice with a rope positioned left.
- I-Beam Cross - A narrow beam positioned right in the middle that gets thinner as competitors climb up.
- The second Mega Thruster (worth 500 points) is located at the bottom of the I-Beam.
- Chimney Climb - A narrow vertical crevice positioned right.
- The final Mega Thruster (worth 750 points) is located at the top of Ventilator.
Competitors are given unlimited time to accrue the highest possible score, with ties decided in favor of the competitor who finished the fastest. There is no failure condition for Level 4, and competitors may attempt to regain their footing if they lose grip on the wall.
