Hidden Immunity Idol

The Hidden Immunity Idol (Also known as the "Hidden Idol", or simply "The Idol") became a breakthrough when it debuted in the US version of Survivor. This special item became a major focal point in decisions that its owner make in the game. This twist usually comes with Exile Island, but not always.

This object should not be confused with the Tribal Immunity Idol and the Immunity Necklace, because it is not available during challenges, though clues about its whereabouts will be provided at random points during the game.

Overview
When it debuted in Guatemala, its purpose was to give its owner individual immunity without the need of winning an individual immunity challenge. But in following seasons, it was reformatted to negate votes that the holder would receive at Tribal Council. Despite its potential to make its owner survive longer in the game, it can only be used once (where the idol will be either re-hidden or discarded after its use). With this, owners should be careful about divulging information about possessing one and/or when to to use it, because a player can still be eliminated with the Idol, thus going home bringing his/her idol with him (dubbed as "flushing"). Another limitation is that, the idol is only valid until a given deadline (usually Day 36). A player may hold more than one idol (if available).

Appearance
Similar to the Immunity Idol and the Immunity Necklace, the Hidden Immunity Idol is a small ornate talisman that is designed depending on the season's theme and/or location (example: the Hidden Immunity Idol in China was a plaque-like wooden square with a Chinese symbol engraved on it). Other idols are designed like small necklaces or bracelets.Usually, the idol is an item based on the history/landscape of the area.

Development/Format
The Hidden Immunity Idol debuted in the merge phase of Guatemala, where its existence was revealed via Tree Mail. The owner came to be Gary Hogeboom, where he used it at the same episode and making him immune from the vote, similar to how the Immunity Necklace works. After its usage, the idol was discarded.

In proceeding seasons, the idol's format was drastically changed. In Panama and Cook Islands, instead of making the player immune before the vote, the Hidden Immunity Idol will now be able to nullify votes that are cast against the holder. When the host revealed enough votes to eliminate a contestant, the player in question will have to draw the Hidden Idol to stay in the game. With the holder immune at the last minute, the person who receives the next highest amount of votes will be eliminated instead. This format was panned by fans, deeming the item "too powerful," by using them akin to the "Get Out of Jail Free card" used in the board game Monopoly. These idols are good up until the Tribal Council where there are only four contestants remain.

In later seasons, two idols became available. Additionally, the format was once again changed. Instead of using it after the host revealed enough ballots to eliminate, players must use the idol after the votes have been cast, but before the host reveals them. This gesture will force castaways to become more cautious on possessing it and/or divulging information about possessing one. With this format, it is crucial for players to use his/her idol at the right time. If not, they will either waste the idol (if they had either no votes against them or if they have votes, it is not be enough to eliminate them) or getting eliminated without even using the idol. This was dubbed by several contestants as flushing. Once the idol is used, it is rehidden. From this point forward the idols are valid up until the Tribal Council where there are only five contestants remain.

Clues
To find Hidden Immunity Idols easier, clues are provided to castaways. As the season progresses, more clues will be provided, regardless if the idol was already been found or not. These clues can be shared to others by the founder/s' choosing. But in several incidents in Samoa, Russell Hantz was notoriously popular for finding the idols without the need of clues.

These clues may be a cryptic messages that are similar to Tree Mails or rebus puzzles (in Nicaragua).

Over the years, the clues for the Hidden Immunity Idol have varying ways of how they were given to contestants:
 * In Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains, Nicaragua and Redemption Island, aside from the prize that a tribe gets after winning a Reward Challenge, a clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol was either given to the winner/s outright, or tucked inside their prize. Additionally,
 * In Panama, Cook Islands and Gabon, the Idol was hidden at Exile Island. The banished castaway will be handed clues of its whereabouts. Additionally in Gabon, a second idol was revealed, hidden somewhere near the feast table during the fake merge feast.
 * Starting in Fiji, two immunity idols became available, with one hidden at each camp. The exiled castaways will receive clues.
 * In Micronesia, several mechanisms have been used:
 * The two people (one from each tribe) banished will be provided clues that are scattered around Exile Island, where they have to compete for ownership of the idol. This was during the tribal phase of the game.
 * At the merge phase, several idols have been available. Ozzy Lusth possessed an idol, but wasn't able to use it during the Tribal Council where was eliminated. With Ozzy's Idol gone, a new one was placed in Exile Island, though its founder, Jason Siska also did the same mistake. The next idol was found by Amanda Kimmel, who possessed a clue while at Exile Island, but realized that the idol was at camp, under their tribe flag. Amanda's idol was re-hidden at the next episode. Parvati was sent to exile island in the next episode, and although it looked like she did not look for the idol, it was revealed in a post show interview that she found the dol whilst snorkelling and left it on the island to prevent trouble.
 * In Tocantins, two people will receive clues about the idol, only to realize that the idols were hidden at their tribe camp.
 * In China and Samoa, one player of the opposing tribe will visit the camp and they will provide the clue for the idol.
 * In South Pacific, the clue is also hidden at camp, providing more difficulty in finding the idol. The tribe that wins the Immunity Challenge will have a clue implanted somewhere around their camp. The more a tribe wins an Immunity Challenge, the more clues they get.

Strategy
Several strategies were developed by contestants that has something to do with the Hidden Immunity Idol. Here is a non-exhaustive list of how the Idol was used over the series: There have been several instances that a person that is caught looking for the idol, especially if the questioned player is seen feverishly searching for it, becomes an immediate target, so it is crucial that searchers must be undetected when looking for it.
 * Making the holder believe that they will not be voted out, but that player will be going home instead (dubbed as flushing; seen in Ready To Bite The Apple, I Promise..., All Hell Breaks Loose)
 * Splitting votes to defuse any power gained by playing the idol (Banana Etiquette)
 * Passing idols to another player to save them (Banana Etiquette, This Game Respects Big Moves, Double Agent)
 * Discarding the idol itself to scare anybody who would want to get it (Apple In The Garden Of Eden)
 * Potentially removing the possibility of a tie vote (Going Down In Flames)
 * Players constructing fake idols - These have no value at Tribal Council. If a contestant plays a false hidden immunity idol, the host would just toss it into the fire pit (An Evil Thought, I'm Not Dumb As I Look, Apple In The Garden Of Eden)
 * Feigning an object in their pocket is an idol, prompting the others to vote somebody else (A Sinking Ship, Reap What You Sow)
 * A player not possessing an idol taunting another player who as an idol to surrender or use the object, inducing indecision at the side of the owner (You're Looking At The New Leader Of Your Tribe)
 * Handing out multiple idols to allies -- as the it suggests, this requires a person owning more than one idol (Going Down In Flames)

Trivia

 * Gary Hogeboom was the first Survivor contestant to possess a Hidden Immunity Idol
 * Terry Deitz was first castaway to obtain an idol but never used it.
 * Yul Kwon was second castaway to possess an idol, but not used it, though he would become the first winner to own one.
 * Survivor: Fiji is the first season to have more than one idol.
 * Yau-Man Chan was first to use an idol since Guatemala; also the first person to have votes that are nullified because of the idol's usage. He was also the first to plant a fake immunity idol.
 * Jaime Dugan was first to use a fake immunity idol (obviously to no avail).
 * James Clement was first to have more than one idol in his possession, and the first to be voted out while having one in his possession.
 * Amanda Kimmel became the first female player to use a hidden immunity idol.
 * Parvati Shallow became the first and only person to find an idol and leave it behind, in micronesia
 * Russell Hantz was first to find an idol with no clues.
 * Parvati Shallow was first woman to to have more than one Idol in her possession and the only person to play both at the same time.
 * Both Jill and Brenda deciphered the clues to the idol, but told the information to someone else and had no possession of the idols. Ironically, they were each voted out when they needed it most.
 * NaOnka Mixon was the first to have found an idol and later quit.
 * Ralph found the idol without a clue on Redemption Island, and it was wasted on Mike in the first merge tribal council
 * Boston Rob found and wasted his idol on Redemption Island
 * Kristina Kell was the first female to find the hidden immunity idol without any clues.
 * Ozzy Lusth found the idol on Survivor South Pacific, gave it to Cochran, re-claimed it, and wasted it on Whitney
 * Coach Wade found an idol on Survivor South Pacific created a ruse as to how he found it. This was exposed by Sophie. His idol was never played.