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The Hidden Immunity Idol (also known as the "Hidden Idol" or simply as "the idol") is a pocket-sized talisman, and is widely believed to be the most groundbreaking twist ever to be created on Survivor. Its purpose is to, one way or another, prevent the user from being voted out in a Tribal Council vote. The idol has influenced many of the contestants' strategies, whether they use the object, or defuse its powers. The Hidden Immunity Idol made its debut in Survivor: Guatemala, and in seasons containing the Exile Island twist, the idol is often hidden there.

It is not to be confused with the tribal Immunity Idol or the individual Immunity Necklace, as the Hidden Immunity Idol is not won or usually found at challenges, and is flexible as the found idol is not forced to be applicable on only the following Tribal Council. However, clues to the whereabouts of the idol may exist at camp or may be given to the winners of a Reward Challenge.

Overview

Gary

Gary Hogeboom uses the series' first Hidden Immunity Idol.

When the idol debuted in Survivor: Guatemala, its purpose was to give its owner Individual Immunity without the winning of 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 protect its owner in the game, it may only be used once, after which the idol will either be re-hidden or discarded. With this, owners should be careful about divulging information about possessing one and/or when to use it, because starting in the Survivor: Fiji season and beyond, a player can still be eliminated with the idol in their possession, thus going home bringing their idol with them. Another limitation is that the idol is only valid until a given deadline (usually Day 36 or 37, when 6 or 5 players are left). 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 usually a small, ornate talisman that is designed to match the season's theme and/or location. For example, the Hidden Immunity Idol in Survivor: 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 or landscape of the area.

Format

The format of how the Hidden Immunity Idol is used every season differs, and as of now there are three different formats of how it is used based on the time it can be used in Tribal Council.

Preventive Idol

Appeared in: Survivor: Guatemala
Played: Before the regular votes are cast.

This type of Hidden Immunity Idol, which can be used before the votes are cast, only appeared during the twist's debut in Survivor: Guatemala, where its existence was revealed via Tree Mail. The owner came to be Gary Hogeboom, who used it in the same episode, making him ineligible to be chosen as a vote target, similar to how the Immunity Necklace works. After its usage, the idol is discarded.

Super Idol

Appeared in: Survivor: Panama, Survivor: Cook Islands, Survivor: Cagayan (finder only), Survivor: Kaôh Rōng (combining two negating idols), and Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers (first Tribal Council only)[1]
Played: After the regular votes are read.

The super idol is a type of Hidden Immunity Idol that can be used after the votes have been read. In this mechanic, all the votes the user received will be negated, and the person with the next highest number of votes will be eliminated instead. This creates a scenario where the group which originally had the fewer votes gathered during Tribal Council gain control of that vote.

The downside however is that it is almost impossible to counter without a split vote plan: with the knowledge of the castaway being voted out is known, the voting side who has the super idol has full control of who is going to be voted out, as they know where the majority votes will go, negating their power with the idol.

This format was panned by fans, calling the item "too powerful," by using them akin to the "Get Out of Jail Free card" used in Monopoly. These idols are good up until the Tribal Council where there are only four contestants remaining. In Cagayan and Kaôh Rōng, this was changed so that, like regular idols, they can only be played up until the final five. In Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, a super idol was planted beneath the supplies before the marooning. Unlike previous itinerations of the super idol, this idol could only be used during the first Tribal Council. If the finder's tribe won the first Immunity Challenge, that player had to anonymously send the idol to a member of the losing tribe.[2]

In Kaôh Rōng, while the current format still applied, there was also the option to combine two idols to create a "super idol" that can be played after the votes are read to save any player still in the game.

Negating Idol

Appeared in: Survivor: Fiji onwards
Played: Before the reading of regular votes.

From Fiji onwards (with the exception of Micronesia, Gabon, Cambodia, and Game Changers), there has been one idol hidden in each of the tribe camps. Additionally, the format was once again changed. Instead of using it after the host revealed enough votes to eliminate a castaway, the idol must be used after the votes have been cast, but before the host reveals them.

This mechanic makes it possible for the idol to be wasted, as a castaway must play the idol on someone that can be voted against, but who is not guaranteed to have the most number of votes, making timing a crucial factor in playing it. A way to counter this type of idol is to force the user to waste it (i.e. if they do not have the most number of votes), a strategy several castaways call as flushing. Once the idol is used, it is usually re-hidden. Typically, these idols are valid up until there are only five castaways remaining in the game (including Redemption Island).

In Survivor: One World, while there is only one camp, there are still two idols; one for each tribe. Both idols are exclusive to a tribe. For instance, if a member of one tribe finds the idol of the rival tribe, they have to give it to one of its members before the next Tribal Council.

In Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, it was shown that idols can be played even before the intended period. Ben Driebergen played a regular idol during the Night 36 Tribal Council even before the castaways voted, meaning it was known to the others that any votes cast against him would not count before they vote.

Per the current tiebreaker rules, those who played an idol (or played for someone else) are exempted from the rock draw.

Clues

To find Hidden Immunity Idols more easily, clues are provided to castaways. Several clues either are progressive (meaning the first clue will not be as helpful as the next ones because it will only lead to another clue, but the succeeding clues would lead the looker closer to the actual place of the idol), or still lead to the same hiding place, albeit restructured for added confusion.

As the season progresses, more clues will be provided, regardless if the idol has already been found or not. These clues can be shared with others by the finder(s)' choosing; however, in several incidents in Survivor: Samoa, Russell Hantz was notorious for finding the idols without any clues.

Clip image00212

Hidden Immunity Idol Clue.

These clues may be a cryptic message similar to Tree Mail messages or rebus puzzles in Survivor: Nicaragua. Sometimes, the exact location of the idol is stated outright.

In Survivor: Blood vs. Water, Monica Culpepper began a trend of refusing the clue as to prevent a target from forming on one's back. Only four of the ten clues were accepted during the season.

Over the years, there have been varying ways for how the clues have been given to the 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 hidden inside their prize.
  • 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. This was the first time a flushed idol was replaced with a new one.
  • In Micronesia, several mechanisms have been used:
    • The two people (one from each tribe) banished will be provided multiple 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 he was eliminated. With Ozzy's idol gone, a new one was placed on Exile Island, though its finder, Jason Siska, made 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 in the next episode. Parvati Shallow 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 idol while snorkeling 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 China, however, the member of the opposing tribe was forced to give the unopened clue to a member of the tribe they were visiting.
  • In South Pacific, the clue was also hidden at camp, providing more difficulty in finding the idol. The tribe that wins the Immunity Challenge will have a clue planted somewhere around their camp. The more Immunity Challenges a tribe wins, the more clues they get.
  • In One World and Caramoan, Hidden Immunity Idols would still be available, but clues were not provided, as Jeff Probst said that the contestants "do not need them" anymore.
  • In Philippines, the clues were hidden in the tribes' bags of rice, and the idol was actually on top of the bag of rice, disguised as the handle of the lid of the rice basket.
  • In Caramoan, several mechanisms have been used:
    • Malcolm Freberg bought "information" at the Survivor Auction on Day 29, which was a clue to an idol that he was allowed to read for 60 seconds.
    • As part of the individual Immunity Challenge on Day 31, the winner would be rewarded with "information", which was the clue to an idol. Andrea Boehlke won the Individual Immunity and the clue.
  • In Blood vs. Water, the person who finished first in the Redemption Island duel will give a clue to someone left in the game. At the return point, the returning contestant is allowed to give the clue to themselves.
  • At the beginning of Cagayan, the weakest castaway of each tribe (selected by the Tribe Leaders) were sent to their respective camps first. When they arrived, they were given an option to either take an extra sack of rice for their tribe, or to receive a clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol. However, clues were also known to be found on certain rewards the tribes won in Reward/Immunity Challenges.[3][4]
  • In Worlds Apart, before the castaways were sent to their camps, each tribe chose a representative to make a decision when they reached their respective camps. The representative would then have to choose another representative from the tribe, who would join them in making the decision. The representatives would then have to choose either "Honesty" or "Deception"; choosing the former would give the tribe a big bag of beans for the entire tribe, while choosing the latter would give the representatives a clue to their tribe's idol, but with only a small amount of beans for the tribe.
  • In San Juan del Sur, on Exile Island, there were two urns. Each castaway who arrived must choose one of them to open and get a note from inside. One urn contains nothing, while the other contains the clue to their tribe's idol (the clue is the same for both tribes' idol). During the merge, when only one player gets exiled, only one urn would be available but would be guaranteed to have the idol clue.
  • In CambodiaGame Changers and David vs. Goliath, instead of being hidden in the tribe camps, the Hidden Immunity Idols may be hidden in challenge venues instead, making it potentially harder for an idol to be hidden from others. However, clues are hidden at camp, indicating exactly where the idol is going to be located, which means each clue is only applicable for the immediate challenge. If no clue is found for a specific challenge, the idol is not hidden.
  • In Kaôh Rōng, a first clue was hidden in a tree, pointing to the location of a locked box. Along with the locked box, the player would find tools to build a pole to retrieve a key that was attached to the top of a tree. After retrieving the key, the player could unlock the box to get the idol.
  • In Millennials vs. Gen X, the Hidden Immunity Idols were once again hidden in plain sight. This time, they were hidden inside objects such as a coconut, log or shell, with their container being marked with their respective tribe insignias.
  • In Game Changers, the way the idols were hidden were varied and inconsistent, adding to the difficulty of finding them.
  • In Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, the clues to the Hidden Immunity Idols were written on objects such as trees and rocks, available for everyone to possibly see.

Rules

Hidden Immunity Idols are considered "personal items," and thus cannot be stolen from its owner, as stated in the Survivor Rulebook. If the owner hides his or her idol for safekeeping and someone else finds it, whoever finds the already-found idol may not take it.

If all countable votes are negated by idols, a vote restart would happen (see tiebreaker for details). Idols can only be played at the initial vote, not at any revotes.

Strategy

Several strategies regarding the idol have been developed by contestants. Here is a non-exhaustive list of how the idol was used over the series:

Strategy Successful Uses Unsuccessful Uses
Making the holder believe that he or she will not be voted out, but then blindsiding them (dubbed as "flushing") See list of blindsided contestants See list of successful idol usages
Splitting votes to defuse any power gained by playing the idol See Split Vote
Passing idols to another player to save them

"Banana Etiquette"
"Going Down in Flames"
"Zipping Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
"This Is My Time"
"Like Selling Your Soul to the Devil"
"Who's the Sucker at the Table?"
"The Tables Have Turned"
"You Get What You Give"

"I Was Born at Night, but Not Last Night"

"It's a Turtle?!"
"This Game Respects Big Moves"
"Double Agent"
"Cut Off the Head of the Snake"
"Head of the Snake"
"Million Dollar Gamble"
Discarding the idol itself to scare anybody who would want to get it "Apple in the Garden of Eden" N/A
Potentially removing the possibility of a tie vote "Going Down in Flames"
"Whiners Are Wieners"
None
Constructing and planting fake idols that have no value at Tribal Council "An Evil Thought"
"I'm Not as Dumb as I Look"
"I'm in Such a Hot Pickle!"
"Nothing Tastes Better than Five Hundred Dollars"
"I'm Going for a Million Bucks"
"I See the Million Dollars"
"The Good Things in Life Aren't Easy"
"Livin' on the Edge"
"Lie, Cheat and Steal"
"Not Going to Roll Over and Die"
Playing a fake idol at Tribal Council to gauge the others' reactions and determine whether or not a real idol should be played None "Are You Feeling Lucky?"
Feigning an object in their pocket as an idol, prompting the others to vote somebody else "A Sinking Ship"
"Hell Hath Frozen Over"
"Reap What You Sow"
"Make Some Magic Happen"
Taunting another player who has an idol to surrender or use the object, inducing indecision at the side of the owner "All Hell Breaks Loose"
"You're Looking at the New Leader of Your Tribe"
"Cut Off the Head of the Snake"
N/A
Handing out multiple idols to shield more potential targets "Going Down in Flames"
"Zipping Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
"No Good Deed Goes Unpunished"
"Quick on the Draw"
None

There have been several instances where a person that is caught looking for the idol (or even merely suspected of having looked for the idol) has become an immediate target, so it is crucial that searchers must be undetected when looking for it.

Hidden Immunity Idol History

Season Hiding Place Episode Found Found By Given To Episode Used Successful? Victim Pertinent Notes
Survivor: Guatemala Xhakúm​ camp "Secrets and Lies and an Idol Surprise" S11 gary t
Gary Hogeboom
None "Secrets and Lies and an Idol Surprise" N/A
  • It is unknown whether Gary would have been voted out had he not played the idol.
  • This idol was not rehidden.
Survivor: Panama Exile Island "Starvation and Lunacy" S12 terry t
Terry Deitz
None Never used
  • On Day 36, Terry was considered effectively immune by the other contestants as he held the idol at the last time idols could be played.
Survivor: Cook Islands Exile Island "Dire Strengths and Dead Weight" S13 yul t
Yul Kwon
None Never used
  • On Day 38, Yul was considered effectively immune by the other contestants as he held the idol at the last time idols could be played.
Survivor: Fiji Moto camp "An Evil Thought" S14 yauman t
Yau-Man Chan
None "I Wanna See If I Can Make a Deal" Yes!
negated 4 votes
[4-2]
S14 stacy bw
Stacy Kimball
  • This was the first modern idol found in Survivor history, and the first idol of any kind played successfully.
Ravu camp "So You Think You Can Meke?" S14 mookie t
Mookie Lee
S14 alex t
Alex Angarita
"It's a Turtle?!" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This was the first modern idol played in Survivor history, and the first idol of any kind played unsuccessfully.
Bula Bula camp "I Wanna See If I Can Make a Deal" S14 earl t
Earl Cole
None "You've Got That Puzzled Look" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This was the rehidden Ravu idol.
  • This was the first idol played "by default" at the last time idols could be played.
Survivor: China Fei Long camp "That's Love, Baby! It Makes You Strong!" S15 todd t
Todd Herzog
S15 james t
James Clement
Never used
Zhan Hu camp "I'm Not as Dumb as I Look" S15 james t
James Clement
None Never used
  • Knowing where the Fei Long idol was found, James found the Zhan Hu idol at the same spot in their camp.
  • Both idols were flushed upon James' exit and were not rehidden.
  • These are the first idols "flushed" while the holder still possessed them.
Survivor: Micronesia Exile Island "That's Baked, Barbecued and Fried!" S16 ozzy t
Ozzy Lusth
None Never used
  • A new idol was planted upon Ozzy's exit.
"I'm Ruthless... and Have a Smile on My Face" S16 jason t
Jason Siska
None Never used
  • A new idol was planted upon Jason's exit.
Dabu camp "I'm Gonna Fix Her!" S16 amanda t
Amanda Kimmel
None "I'm Gonna Fix Her!" Yes!
negated 4 votes
[4-2]
S16 alexis bw
Alexis Jones
  • The clues were on Exile Island, but the idol was hidden back at camp.
  • This idol was rehidden on Exile Island after it was played.[5]
Exile Island "If It Smells Like a Rat, Give It Cheese" S16 parvati t
Parvati Shallow
None Never used
  • Parvati found this idol, but felt she did not need it and left it on Exile Island.[6]
  • This is the first idol to be found on Exile Island, but not taken back to camp.
Survivor: Gabon Exile Island "She Obviously Is Post-Op!" S17 sugar t
Sugar Kiper
S17 ace tS17 sugar tS17 matty t
Ace Gordon → Sugar Kiper → Matty Whitmore
"The Good Guys Should Win in the End" No!
negated 2 votes
[4-2]
None
  • Sugar gave this idol to Ace, and later reclaimed it from him.
  • This idol was played "by default" by Sugar for Matty at the last time idols could be played.
Fake Merge feast "Apple in the Garden of Eden" S17 randy t
Randy Bailey
None Never used
  • The castaways deliberately threw the idol at sea upon finding it. Randy offered possession of the idol, but everyone refused.
Survivor: Tocantins Timbira camp "Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This" S18 brendan t
Brendan Synnott
None Never used
  • After finding this idol, Brendan shared with Taj the location of the other idol at Jalapao camp.
Jalapao camp "You're Going to Want That Tooth" S18 taj t
Taj Johnson-George
S18 stephen t
Stephen Fishbach
Never used
  • Taj immediately gave the idol to Stephen for safekeeping.
Survivor: Samoa Foa Foa camp "Taking Candy from a Baby" S19 russellh t
Russell Hantz
None "All Hell Breaks Loose" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This was the first modern idol found without any clues.
Galu camp "Hungry for a Win" S19 erik t
Erik Cardona
None Never used
  • No one knew Erik found this idol until after he had been voted out.
Aiga camp "Tastes Like Chicken" S19 russellh t
Russell Hantz
None "Tastes Like Chicken" Yes!
negated 7 votes
[7-4]
S19 kelly bw
Kelly Sharbaugh
  • This is either the rehidden Foa Foa or Galu idol; it is unknown which because both were removed from play at the previous Tribal Council.
"The Day of Reckoning" S19 russellh t
Russell Hantz
None Never used
  • None
Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains Heroes camp "Tonight, We Make Our Move" S20 tom t
Tom Westman
None "Tonight, We Make Our Move" Yes!
negated 3 votes
[3-3-2]
S20 cirie bw
Cirie Fields
  • This was the first idol played before the merge.
Villains camp "Knights of the Round Table" S20 russell t
Russell Hantz
S20 parvati t
Parvati Shallow
"Banana Etiquette" Yes!
negated 4 votes
[4-3-2]
S20 tyson bw
Tyson Apostol
  • Russell presented the idol at Tribal Council, but he handed it to Parvati, allowing her to use it.
Heroes camp "Expectations" S20 jt t
J.T. Thomas
S20 russell tS20 parvati tS20 sandra t
Russell HantzParvati ShallowSandra Diaz-Twine
"Going Down in Flames" No!
negated 0 votes
S20 jt bw
J.T. Thomas
  • After finding the re-hidden Heroes idol, J.T. handed this idol to Russell, who then gave it to Parvati, who gave it to Sandra at Tribal Council.
  • This idol was the most passed, having four different owners prior to its use.
  • This was the first idol passed across tribes before the merge.
  • While technically "unsuccessful", this was part of a double idol play by Parvati on Sandra and Jerri Manthey, and the latter idol was successful.
Villains camp "Survivor History" S20 parvati t
Parvati Shallow
S20 jerri t
Jerri Manthey
"Going Down in Flames" Yes!
negated 5 votes
[5-5]
  • At Tribal Council, Parvati gave away both her idols, one to Jerri and one to Sandra.
  • In a post-game interview, Parvati revealed that she gave Jerri an idol before she gave Sandra an idol.[citation needed] As a result, without any evidence either way, this wiki considers the first idol given away to have been the first idol Parvati obtained.
Yin Yang camp "Jumping Ship" S20 russell t
Russell Hantz
None "Jumping Ship" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This was either the rehidden Heroes or Villains idol, it is unknown which because both were removed from play at the previous Tribal Council.
"A Sinking Ship" S20 sandra t
Sandra Diaz-Twine
None "Loose Lips Sink Ships" No!
negated 2 votes
[4-2]
None
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time idols could be played.
Survivor: Nicaragua Espada camp "Fatigue Makes Cowards of Us All" S21 marty t
Marty Piombo
S21 sash t
Sash Lenahan
"This Is Going to Hurt" No!
negated 1 vote
[5-1]
None
  • While in possession of this idol, Marty was part of a tie vote between himself and Kelly Bruno. Marty is the first contestant to survive a revote while possessing an idol.
  • Sash demanded the idol from Marty to keep himself longer in the game, promising he would not vote him out next.
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time idols could be played.
La Flor ​camp "Pulling the Trigger" S21 naonka t
NaOnka Mixon
S21 chase t
Chase Rice
"This Is Going to Hurt" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • NaOnka passed the idol to Chase the afternoon before she quit the game.
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time idols could be played.
Survivor: Redemption Island Ometepe camp "You're Looking at the New Leader of Your Tribe" S22 kristina t
Kristina Kell
None "You Own My Vote" No!
negated 2 votes
[4-2-2]
None
  • This idol was found on Day 2, which at the time was the earliest an idol had been found.
Zapatera camp "You Own My Vote" S22 ralph t
Ralph Kiser
S22 mike t
Mike Chiesl
"This Game Respects Big Moves" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • None
Ometepe camp "Don't You Work for Me?" S22 rob t
Rob Mariano
None "Seems Like a No Brainer" No!
negated 1 vote
[4-1]
None
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time idols could be played.
Survivor: South Pacific Savaii camp "He Has Demons" S23 ozzy t
Ozzy Lusth
S23 cochran tS23 ozzy tS23 whitney t
John Cochran → Ozzy Lusth → Whitney Duncan
"Double Agent" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This idol was given to Cochran when Ozzy decided to intentionally send himself to Redemption Island, then passed back to Ozzy upon his return from Redemption Island, then given to Whitney at Tribal Council.
Upolu camp "Taste the Victory" S23 coach t
Coach Wade
None Never used
  • None
Survivor: One World One World camp
(Manono idol)
"Two Tribes, One Camp, No Rules" S24 sabrina t
Sabrina Thompson
S24 colton t
Colton Cumbie
Never used
  • Sabrina is the first contestant to find another tribe's idol and be forced to give it to a member of that tribe.
  • This is the first idol to be "flushed" by an evacuation.
  • Colton wanted to give the idol to Jay Byars of the rival Salani tribe, but the rules of this season barred a tribe's idol from being passed to a member of the other tribe.
Salani camp "A Bunch of Idiots" S24 kim t
Kim Spradlin
None Never used
  • The Salani camp used to be the One World camp, but after winning the first post-swap Reward Challenge, Salani kept the beach to themselves, forcing the rival Manono tribe to move out.
  • Kim became the first player to be immune the last time idols could be played.
Tikiano camp "The Beauty in a Merge" S24 troyzan t
Troyzan Robertson
None "Go Out with a Bang" No!
negated 2 votes
[5-2-2-1]
None
  • This was the rehidden Manono idol.
Survivor: Philippines Kalabaw​ camp "Don't Be Blinded by the Headlights" S25 jonathan t
Jonathan Penner
None "Not the Only Actor on This Island" Yes!
negated 5 votes
[5-4-2]
S25 rc bw
RC Saint-Amour
  • This is the first idol to be played successfully, but not successfully eliminate the person the user voted for.
Tandang camp "This Isn't a 'We' Game" S25 abimaria t
Abi-Maria Gomes
None "Whiners Are Wieners" Yes!
negated 3 votes
[3-3-2]
S25 pete bw
Pete Yurkowski
  • None
Matsing camp "Got My Swag Back" S25 malcolm t
Malcolm Freberg
None Never used
  • Malcolm was immune the last time idols could be played.
Survivor: Caramoan Gota​ camp "Honey Badger" S26 reynold t
Reynold Toepfer
None "Kill or Be Killed" No!
negated 1 vote
[6-1]
None
  • None
Bikal camp "There's Gonna Be Hell to Pay" S26 malcolm t
Malcolm Freberg
S26 eddie t
Eddie Fox
"Zipping Over the Cuckoo's Nest" Yes!
negated 4 votes
[4-4-2]
S26 phillip bw
Phillip Sheppard
  • This idol was found prior to the previous Tribal Council; as a result, events were shown out of order to avoid having Bikal camp scenes immediately prior to Gota's Tribal Council.
  • Malcolm explicitly mentioned at Tribal Council that the idol he was giving to Eddie was his original idol.
Gota​ camp "Persona Non Grata" S26 reynold t
Reynold Toepfer
S26 malcolm t
Malcolm Freberg
"Cut Off the Head of the Snake" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • Malcolm still had his original idol at the time Reynold gave this one to him.
Enil Edam​ camp "Zipping Over the Cuckoo's Nest" S26 malcolm t
Malcolm Freberg
None "Zipping Over the Cuckoo's Nest" No!
negated 2 votes
[4-4-2]
None
  • This was the rehidden Gota idol.
  • While technically "unsuccessful", this was part of a double idol play by Malcolm on himself and Eddie, and the latter was successful.
"The Beginning of the End" S26 erik t
Erik Reichenbach
S26 andrea t
Andrea Boehlke
Never used
  • Erik immediately gave the idol to Andrea, who kept it.
  • Andrea was the first woman to be voted out with an unused Hidden Immunity Idol in her possession.
Survivor: Blood vs. Water Kasama camp "Skin of My Teeth" S27 tyson t
Tyson Apostol
None "Gloves Come Off" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This was originally the Tadhana idol, and the first idol to be hidden pre-merge, but not found until the merge (along with the Galang​​​ idol, which was never found).
"Rustle Feathers" S27 tyson t
Tyson Apostol
S27 gervase t
Gervase Peterson
"It's My Night" No!
negated 2 votes
[3-2]
None
  • Tyson was immune the last time idols could be played and gave the idol to Gervase at Tribal Council.
Survivor: Cagayan Luzon camp "Hot Girl with a Grudge" S28 garrett t
Garrett Adelstein
None Never used
  • This was the first idol to be found on Day 1.
Aparri camp "Hot Girl with a Grudge" S28 tony t
Tony Vlachos
S28 lj t
LJ McKanas
"Head of the Snake" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • None
Solana camp "Cops-R-Us" S28 lj t
LJ McKanas
S28 tony t
Tony Vlachos
"Head of the Snake" No!
negated 0 votes
  • None
Solarrion camp "Mad Treasure Hunt" S28 spencer t
Spencer Bledsoe
None "Sitting in My Spy Shack" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This was either the rehidden Aparri, Luzon, or Solana idol, it is unknown which because all were removed from play at previous Tribal Councils.
Solarrion camp
(super idol)
"Sitting in My Spy Shack" S28 tony t
Tony Vlachos
None Never used
  • On Day 36, Tony was effectively immune as he held the idol at the last time it could be played.
  • Tony used this idol to "bluff" having immunity at the final four.
Solarrion camp "Chaos Is My Friend" S28 tony t
Tony Vlachos
None "Straw That Broke the Camel's Back" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time idols could be played. Tony also had the special idol in his possession at the time.
Survivor: San Juan del Sur Coyopa camp "Method to This Madness" S29 john t
John Rocker
None Never used
  • None
Hunahpu camp "We're a Hot Mess" S29 keith t
Keith Nale
None "This Is Where We Build Trust" Yes!
negated 3 votes
[4-3-2]
S29 wes bw
Wes Nale
  • None
Exile Island "Wrinkle in the Plan" S29 jon t
Jon Misch
None "This Is Where We Build Trust" Yes!
negated 4 votes
[4-3-2]
  • None
Huyopa​ camp "This Is Where We Build Trust" S29 natalie t
Natalie Anderson
S29 jaclyn t
Jaclyn Schultz
"This Is My Time" Yes!
negated 3 votes
[3-2]
S29 baylor bw
Baylor Wilson
  • This was the rehidden Coyopa idol.
  • This idol was played "by default" by Natalie for Jaclyn at the last time idols could be played.
Exile Island "Kind of Like Cream Cheese" S29 jon t
Jon Misch
None Never used
  • None
Survivor: Worlds Apart Masaya camp "It's Survivor Warfare" S30 carolyn t
Carolyn Rivera
None "My Word Is My Bond" Yes!
negated 5 votes
[5-2]
S30 dan bw
Dan Foley
  • None
Nagarote camp "Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner" S30 jenn t
Jenn Brown
None "The Line Will Be Drawn Tonight" Yes!
negated 7 votes
[7-4-1]
S30 kelly bw
Kelly Remington
  • None
Merica camp "Keep It Real" S30 mike t
Mike Holloway
None "Holding On for Dear Life" Yes!
negated 4 votes
[4-3]
S30 tyler bw
Tyler Fredrickson
  • None
Survivor: Cambodia Quest for Fire challenge
(Ta Keo​​ idol)
"Second Chance" S31 kelley t
Kelley Wentworth
None "You Call, We'll Haul" Yes!
negated 9 votes
[9-3]
S31 andrew bw
Andrew Savage
  • None
Draggin' the Dragon challenge
(Bayon idol)
"We Got a Rat" S31 jeremy t
Jeremy Collins
S31 stephen t
Stephen Fishbach
"Like Selling Your Soul to the Devil" Yes!
negated 5 votes
[5-3-2]
S31 ciera bw
Ciera Eastin
  • None
Orkun​​ camp "Witches Coven" S31 jeremy t
Jeremy Collins
None "Lie, Cheat and Steal" Yes!
negated 3 votes
[3-3]
S31 kimmi bw
Kimmi Kappenberg
  • This was the rehidden Ta Keo idol.
  • This was the first idol in Cambodia to be planted at camp rather than the challenge venue.
  • Both Kelley and Jeremy played their idols at the final six Tribal Council, negating all votes. A new vote led to a deadlocked 3-3 tie between Kimmi and Tasha Fox. After much debate, Kimmi was voted out in a unanimous decision.
"My Wheels Are Spinning" S31 kelley t
Kelley Wentworth
None "Lie, Cheat and Steal" Yes!
negated 3 votes
[3-3]
  • This was the rehidden Bayon idol.
  • The clue was hidden at a challenge, and the idol was found at camp.
Survivor: Kaôh Rōng Gondol camp "The Circle of Life" S32 tai t
Tai Trang
None Never used
  • Tai never had to use his idol, as the last Tribal Council in which idols could be played was cancelled when Joe del Campo was evacuated.
To Tang camp "The Circle of Life" S32 jason t
Kyle Jason
S32 tai tS32 jason tS32 scot t
Tai Trang → Kyle Jason → Scot Pollard
Never used
  • Though Scot dislodged the key from the canister in the tree, Jason managed to race Alecia Holden to the idol and claimed it for himself.
  • At the final nine Tribal Council, Jason and Scot gave the idol to Tai so that he could combine it with his own to form a super idol. However, Tai did not receive any votes, and he gave the idol back to Jason after Tribal Council.
  • After Jason won the final eight Immunity Challenge, he gave Scot the idol for the upcoming Tribal Council. When host Jeff Probst asked for his torch, Scot did not react, thinking Tai would combine his own idol with it after the vote. When Tai refused, Scot was voted out with Jason's idol.
Chan Loh camp "The Devils We Know" S32 neal t
Neal Gottlieb
None Never used
  • This is the second idol to be "flushed" by an evacuation.
  • Neal did not give his idol to anyone when he left.
Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X Takali camp "Love Goggles" S33 david t
David Wright
S33 jessica t
Jessica Lewis
"Who's the Sucker at the Table?" Yes!
negated 5 votes
[5-2-1]
S33 lucy bw
Lucy Huang
  • None
Vanua camp "Who's the Sucker at the Table?" S33 adam t
Adam Klein
S33 hannah t
Hannah Shapiro
"About to Have a Rumble" No!
negated 4 votes
[5-4]
None
  • None
Takali camp "Idol Search Party" S33 david t
David Wright
S33 ken t
Ken McNickle
"Million Dollar Gamble" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • Although Ken did not receive any votes, the idol protected him from the rock draw tiebreaker.
Ikabula camp "The Truth Works Well" S33 jay t
Jay Starrett
None "Slayed the Survivor Dragon" No!
negated 1 vote
[4-2-1]
None
  • None
Vinaka camp "I'm Going for a Million Bucks" S33 adam t
Adam Klein
None "I'm Going for a Million Bucks" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This was either the rehidden Ikabula, Takali, or Vanua idol, it is unknown which because all were removed from play at previous Tribal Councils.
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time idols could be played.
Survivor: Game Changers Austin's Elemental
Obstacle Course
challenge
(Tavua idol)
"Survivor Jackpot" S34 troyzan t
Troyzan Robertson
None "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" No!
negated 0 votes
S34 cirie bw
Cirie Fields
  • While Troyzan received no votes, the idol prevented him from being vulnerable after all votes were nullified. Cirie was eliminated by default.
Mana camp "The Tables Have Turned" S34 tai t
Tai Trang
S34 sierra t
Sierra Dawn Thomas
"The Tables Have Turned" Yes!
negated 6 votes
[6-5]
S34 malcolm bw
Malcolm Freberg
  • None
Nuku camp "Dirty Deed" S34 jt t
J.T. Thomas
None Never used
  • None
Mana camp "Vote Early, Vote Often" S34 tai t
Tai Trang
S34 aubry t
Aubry Bracco
"No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" Yes!
negated 1 vote
[3-2-1]
S34 cirie bw
Cirie Fields
Nuku camp "Vote Early, Vote Often" S34 tai t
Tai Trang
None "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" Yes!
negated 2 votes
[3-2-1]
  • After being switched to Nuku, Tai found this idol at the same spot as he did at the Mana camp.
Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers Marooning
(super idol)
"I'm Not Crazy, I'm Confident" S35 ryan t
Ryan Ulrich
S35 chrissy t
Chrissy Hofbeck
Never used
  • This idol was planted in the marooning supplies. It was revealed that this idol could only be used at the first Tribal Council. Ryan anonymously sent it to Chrissy after his tribe won the first Immunity Challenge, but she decided not to use it.
Soko camp "I'm a Wild Banshee" S35 joe t
Joe Mena
None "I Don't Like Having Snakes Around" Yes!
negated 2 votes
[2-2]
S35 alan bw
Alan Ball
  • The idol prevented a 2-2 tie between Joe and Alan.
Yawa camp "The Past Will Eat You Alive" S35 mike t
Mike Zahalsky
None "Fear of the Unknown" No!
negated 2 votes
[7-2-1]
None
  • None
Levu camp "This Is Why You Play Survivor" S35 joe t
Joe Mena
None "Get to Gettin'" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • None
Solewa​ camp "Playing with the Devil" S35 ryan t
Ryan Ulrich
None "Buy One, Get One Free" No!
negated 2 votes
[4-2-2]
None
  • This was either the rehidden Levu or Soko idol, it is unknown which because both were removed from play at previous Tribal Councils.
"Buy One, Get One Free" S35 ben t
Ben Driebergen
None "Not Going to Roll Over and Die" Yes!
negated 6 votes
[6-1]
S35 lauren bw
Lauren Rimmer
  • This was the rehidden Yawa idol.
  • Ben's vote was the only one to count at that Tribal Council.
Solewa camp
(first half)
"Not Going to Roll Over and Die" S35 lauren t
Lauren Rimmer
None Never used
  • This was a two-part idol. Lauren found the first half and was instructed to find the second half during the Immunity Challenge. The idol was put out of play after Lauren gave one half to Mike, who threw it in the fire.
This Much challenge
(second half)
Solewa camp "The Survivor Devil" S35 ben t
Ben Driebergen
None "The Survivor Devil" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • As it was played before voting, it de facto prevented Ben from receiving any votes.
"Million Dollar Night" S35 ben t
Ben Driebergen
None "Million Dollar Night" Yes!
negated 3 votes
[3-1-1]
S35 mike bw
Mike Zahalsky
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time idols could be played.
  • This was the first idol play to result in a tie, between Mike and Devon Pinto. Mike was voted out on the revote.
Survivor: Ghost Island Naviti camp "Can You Reverse the Curse?" S36 domenick t
Domenick Abbate
None "It Is Game Time Kids" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This was Andrea Boehlke's unused idol from Caramoan.
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time idols could be played.
Malolo​​​​ camp "Only Time Will Tell" S36 michael t
Michael Yerger
S36 stephanie t
Stephanie Johnson
"Trust Your Gut" No!
negated 0 votes
None
"Gotta Risk It for the Biscuit" S36 michael t
Michael Yerger
None "The Sea Slug Slugger" Yes!
negated 7 votes
[7-4-1]
S36 libby bw
Libby Vincek
Yanuya camp "Gotta Risk It for the Biscuit" S36 wendell t
Wendell Holland
S36 laurel t
Laurel Johnson
"It Is Game Time Kids" No!
negated 1 vote
[4-1]
None
  • This was the Immunity Necklace that Erik Reichenbach gave away in Micronesia.
  • Wendell was immune the last time idols could be played and played the idol "by default" for Laurel at Tribal Council.
Ghost Island "Fear Keeps You Sharp" S36 chris t
Chris Noble
None Never used
  • This was J.T. Thomas's unused idol from Game Changers.
  • This idol was only good for the next Tribal Council, but Chris was given the opportunity to play a game of chance to extend the idol's power for up to five more Tribal Councils. Chris was able to extend the idol's power for one more Tribal Council before losing the game of chance, thereby losing his vote at the next Tribal Council.
Lavita camp "It's Like the Perfect Crime" S36 donathan t
Donathan Hurley
None "The Finish Line Is in Sight" No!
negated 1 vote
[3-1-1]
None
Survivor: David vs. Goliath Goliath camp "Appearances Are Deceiving" S37 dan t
Dan Rengering
S37 angelina t
Angelina Keeley
"You Get What You Give" No!
negated 2 votes
[7-3-2]
None
  • Without any evidence either way, this wiki considers the idol given away to have been the first idol Dan obtained.
David camp "The Chicken Has Flown the Coop" S37 davie t
Davie Rickenbacker
S37 christian t
Christian Hubicki
"You Get What You Give" Yes!
negated 7 votes
[7-3-2]
S37 john bw
John Hennigan
  • None
A Bridge You
Must Cross
challenge
(Tiva​ idol)
"Jackets and Eggs" S37 dan t
Dan Rengering
None "Breadth-First Search" No!
nullified
[6-3-2]
None
Kalokalo camp "Breadth-First Search" S37 christian t
Christian Hubicki
None "So Smart They're Dumb" Yes!
negated 5 votes
[5-2-1]
S37 gabby bw
Gabby Pascuzzi
  • This was either the rehidden David or Goliath idol, it is unknown which because both were removed from play at the previous Tribal Council.
"Tribal Lines Are Blurred" S37 nick t
Nick Wilson
None "Are You Feeling Lucky?" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This was the rehidden Tiva idol.
"Are You Feeling Lucky?" S37 davie t
Davie Rickenbacker
None "Are You Feeling Lucky?" No!
negated 2 votes
[3-2-2]
None
  • This idol was only good for the next Tribal Council, but Davie was given the opportunity to play a game of chance to extend the idol's power for up to two more Tribal Councils. Davie elected not to play the game of chance, thereby preserving his vote at the next Tribal Council.
"With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" S37 angelina t
Angelina Keeley
None "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time idols could be played.
Survivor: Edge of Extinction Manu camp "One of Us Is Going to Win the War" S38 lauren t
Lauren O'Connell
S38 chris t
Chris Underwood
"I See the Million Dollars" No!
negated 1 vote
[3-2-1]
None
  • None
Kama camp "Betrayals Are Going to Get Exposed" S38 aubry t
Aubry Bracco
None Never used
  • Even though Aubry remained in the game due to the Edge of Extinction twist, her idol was voided after she was voted out.[7]
Lesu camp "It's Like the Worst Cocktail Party Ever" S38 kelley t
Kelley Wentworth
None Never used
  • Even though Kelley remained in the game due to the Edge of Extinction twist, her idol was voided after she was voted out.
given to Edge of Extinction returnee "There's Always a Twist" S38 rick t
Rick Devens
S38 david t
David Wright
"Y'all Making Me Crazy" No!
negated 1 vote
[9-1-1]
None
  • This was a two-part idol. After returning from the Edge of Extinction, Rick was granted two idol halves. He was instructed to give one half to another castaway, and if they both survived the first merge Tribal Council, they could combine the halves to make a regular idol. He chose to give half to David, and they both survived Tribal Council.
  • David gave his half of the idol back to Rick at Tribal Council on Day 23, enabling Rick to form a regular idol, which he then played for David.
Vata camp "Awkward" S38 rick t
Rick Devens
None "Awkward" Yes!
negated 4 votes
[4-3-1]
S38 ron bw
Ron Clark
  • This was either the rehidden Kama or Lesu idol, it is unknown which because both were removed from play at previous Tribal Councils.
"Idol or Bust" S38 rick t
Rick Devens
None "I See the Million Dollars" Yes!
negated 3 votes
[3-2-1]
S38 victoria bw
Victoria Baamonde
  • None
given to Edge of Extinction returnee "I See the Million Dollars" S38 chris t
Chris Underwood
None "I See the Million Dollars" Yes!
negated 3 votes
[3-2]
S38 lauren bw
Lauren O'Connell
  • This was a two-part idol. After returning from the Edge of Extinction, Chris was granted two idol halves. He was instructed to give one half to another castaway, and if they both survived the following Tribal Council, they could combine the halves to make a regular idol. He chose to give half to Rick, and they both survived Tribal Council.
  • Rick gave his half of the idol back to Chris on Day 37, enabling Chris to form a regular idol, which he then played for himself.
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time idols could be played.
Vata​ camp "I See the Million Dollars" S38 rick t
Rick Devens
S38 gavin t
Gavin Whitson
"I See the Million Dollars" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time idols could be played.
Survivor: Island of the Idols Lairo camp "YOLO, Let's Play!" S39 chelsea t
Chelsea Walker
None Never used
  • None
Island of the Idols "YOLO, Let's Play!" S39 kellee t
Kellee Kim
S39 dean t
Dean Kowalski
"I Was Born at Night, but Not Last Night" Yes!
negated 5 votes
[5-2]
S39 jack bw
Jack Nichting
  • This idol was initially only good for the next two Tribal Councils Kellee would attend if she correctly answered four out of five questions about Rob and Sandra's personal lives, but after she hesitated over taking the test, Rob decreased the goal to three correct answers and increased the value of the idol to three Tribal Councils. Kellee then won the test and the idol.
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time it could be played.
"Honesty Would Be Chill" S39 vince t
Vince Moua
None Never used
  • This idol was only good for the next Two Tribal Councils Vince would attend if he could sneak into the other tribe's camp and get fire without getting caught, which he successfully did.
Vokai camp "Plan Z" S39 jamal t
Jamal Shipman
S39 noura t
Noura Salman
"I Was Born at Night, but Not Last Night" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • None
Lairo camp "We Made It to the Merge!" S39 kellee t
Kellee Kim
None Never used
  • None
Lumuwaku​ camp "We Made It to the Merge!" S39 kellee t
Kellee Kim
None Never used
  • This was the rehidden Vokai idol.
"We Made It to the Merge!" S39 janet t
Janet Carbin
None "We Made It to the Merge!" No!
negated 2 votes
[6-3-2]
None
  • None
"Two for the Price of One" S39 karishma t
Karishma Patel
None "Bring On the Bacon" Yes!
negated 7 votes
[7-1-1]
S39 elizabeth bw
Elizabeth Beisel
  • This idol play resulted in a tie between Elizabeth and Janet. Elizabeth was voted out on the revote.
Island of the Idols "Bring On the Bacon" S39 lauren t
Lauren Beck
None "Bring On the Bacon" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This idol was only good for the next Two Tribal Councils Lauren would attend if she could correctly predict who would win that episode's Immunity Challenge. She originally had to choose one person, but after she hesitated over taking the test, Rob allowed her to choose two people instead of one. She chose Noura and Elizabeth. Noura won, therefore Lauren received the idol.
Lumuwaku camp "A Very Simple Plan" S39 elaine t
Elaine Stott
None "A Very Simple Plan" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • None
"Just Go for It" S39 janet t
Janet Carbin
None "Mama, Look at Me Now" No!
nullified
[4-1]
None
  • This idol was played "by default" at the last time idols could be played.
  • Janet successfully played an idol on herself, but Dean Kowalski played an Idol Nullifier, cancelling out her idol.
new Lumuwaku​ camp
(formerly Island of the Idols)
"Mama, Look at Me Now" S39 dean t
Dean Kowalski
None Never used
  • Dean was immune the last time idols could be played.
Survivor: Winners at War Edge of Extinction "Greatest of the Greats" S40 natalie t
Natalie Anderson
S40 sandra tS40 denise t
Sandra Diaz-TwineDenise Stapley
"Quick on the Draw" Yes!
negated 4 votes
[4-1]
S40 sandra bw
Sandra Diaz-Twine
  • Natalie found this idol on the Edge of Extinction and was required to sell it to a member of the tribe that lost the next Immunity Challenge. She sold it to Sandra, who purchased it for one Fire Token. Sandra would then give the idol to Denise in exchange for one Fire Token prior to the last Tribal Council for which it was valid.
  • This idol was only good for the next three Tribal Councils Sandra would attend.
Sele camp "It's Like a Survivor Economy" S40 denise t
Denise Stapley
S40 jeremy t
Jeremy Collins
"Quick on the Draw" No!
negated 0 votes
None
  • This is a two-part idol. Denise was required to give half of it to another tribe member before sundown, and the idol could only gain full power if the two halves were combined. Denise gave half of the idol to Adam, who later gave it back to Denise before Tribal Council on Day 6.
Dakal camp "It's Like a Survivor Economy" S40 kim t
Kim Spradlin-Wolfe
TBD TBD
  • This is a two-part idol. Kim was required to give half of it to another tribe member before sundown, and the idol could only gain full power if the two halves were combined. Kim gave half of the idol to Sophie, who later gave it back to Kim before the Tribe Switch on Day 12.
Yara camp "The Buddy System on Steroids" S40 sophie t
Sophie Clarke
TBD TBD
  • This is a two-part idol. Sophie was required to give half of it to another tribe member before sundown, and the idol could only gain full power if the two halves were combined. Sophie gave half of the idol to Sarah, who gave it back to Sophie before Tribal Council on Day 14.

Fake idols

Created by the contestants, these idols have been used as a foil for players to use them under the assumption that they have been helped out by one of their tribemates. They have no value at Tribal Council, and when a fake idol is presented, Jeff Probst throws it into the fire pit stating that it is not a Hidden Immunity Idol.

Contestants Making Fake idols

  • In Survivor: GuatemalaGary Hogeboom made the first fake idol after finding his own Hidden Immunity Idol. He took a small piece of wood, carved a star on it and hid it where he found the real one. Nobody found it and it was never aired.[citation needed]
  • In Survivor: Panama, Austin Carty made a fake idol when he was marooned on Exile Island with Danielle DiLorenzo. He intended to use it as a bluff to avoid his ouster in that same episode, but had a change of heart. The secret scene was revealed in his interview with Julie Chen on The Early Show.
  • In Survivor: Fiji, Yau-Man Chan made a fake idol after finding his own Hidden Immunity Idol. He took half of a coconut shell and drew a face on it with paint, and to make sure that whoever found it was sure that it was indeed a Hidden Immunity Idol, he wrote "II" ("Immunity Idol") on it.
  • In Survivor: Micronesia, Ozzy Lusth made a fake idol on Exile Island after finding his own Hidden Immunity Idol. He referenced Yau-Man in Fiji as his inspiration for this move. He took a decent-sized stick and carved a face on it. It was later found by Jason Siska and played by Eliza Orlins.
  • In Survivor: Gabon, Bob Crowley made two fake idols. He gave one to Randy Bailey, who eventually played it, but was voted out the same night. He used the other to attempt to sway Ken Hoang and Crystal Cox into flipping to vote out Matty Whitmore and save his ally, Corinne Kaplan, however, this plan failed when Ken and Crystal decided to split their votes in order to flush the idol. Bob's fake idols were noted as being very ornately-crafted and very convincing.
  • In Survivor: Tocantins, Taj Johnson-George also made a fake idol after finding the Jalapao Hidden Immunity Idol. Joe Dowdle found the idol, but since he was evacuated, he never played it.
  • Russell Hantz made a fake idol and gave it to Jerri Manthey, but she did not use it.[8] (Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains)
  • Also in Heroes vs. Villains, Rupert Boneham feigned a rock in his pocket as a fake idol, with Russell believing Rupert really had one.
  • Abi-Maria Gomes never made a fake idol either, but feigned the scroll container that contained the advantage she bought during the Survivor Auction as an idol. (Survivor: Philippines)
  • In a secret scene for Survivor: San Juan del Sur, Val Collins made a fake idol after bluffing about finding two Hidden Immunity Idols to keep her safe in the game, and try to divert votes away from her.
  • Also in San Juan del Sur, Dale Wentworth found a small emblem he thought could possibly be the idol on the well on Day 3. He eventually learned that John Rocker had possessed the real Coyopa idol, but used his fake idol as leverage in the game anyway.
  • In Survivor: Worlds Apart, Joe Anglim, using his expertise as a jewelry designer, made a fake idol using wood from a crate and pieces from his torch. Joe made a deal to give Mike Holloway the idol if Mike could swing the votes in his favor to stay in the game and send Jenn Brown home. Mike played the idol on Will Sims II at Tribal Council and learned that it was indeed a fake.
  • In Survivor: Cambodia, Kelley Wentworth created a fake idol and gave it to Keith Nale as one final attempt to scare the alliance of Jeremy Collins, Tasha Fox, and Spencer Bledsoe in order to protect Keith as she had individual immunity. Although Keith feigned having an actual idol around camp, he didn't pull out the fake idol at Tribal Council thinking it would not change anything, and was voted out in a 3-2 vote.
  • In Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X, David Wright created a fake idol after coming back from the Day 35 Tribal Council, using various beads and parts he collected throughout the game in order to "fish" someone out. Jay Starrett ultimately found the fake idol the next day, relieved knowing he needed it to survive the next vote, and played it at that night's Tribal Council. It was revealed to be a fake idol, and he was voted out unanimously.
    • This particular fake idol would return in Survivor: Ghost Island, again as a counterfeit. Domenick Abbate found it at the Lavita camp, and feigned it as an authentic idol at the final six Tribal Council, even going as far as to "play" it before the votes were cast. He survived with only one vote cast against him.
  • In Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, Ben Driebergen created a fake idol which he planted with the intention of tricking Chrissy Hofbeck in the event of an idol search. Ultimately, he withdrew from the plan and took the fake idol away.
  • In Ghost Island, Jacob Derwin made a fake idol while on Ghost Island to keep him off the chopping block for the next vote and showed it off to his tribe under the guise of being open with his teammates. Instead, his tribe called his bluff, and he became the main target of the split vote. He was blindsided at the next Tribal Council in a 5-2-1 vote.
  • Again in Ghost Island, Domenick Abbate created a fake idol to distract anyone who suspected him of having the real idol (which he did possess). He used the authentic idol parchment as well as some beads, a shell, and cloth to create it. He showed it to Chris Noble to gain his trust and later used the same tactics with the original Malolo members after the Tribe Switch.
  • Also in Ghost Island, Wendell Holland created a fake idol using various pebbles and beads. Donathan Hurley witnessed the secret transferring of the object between Wendell and Domenick Abbate, leading to his distrust in the two.
  • In Survivor: David vs. Goliath, Nick Wilson created a fake idol out of string and various other materials he had collected, and wrapped it in the note that came with his real Hidden Immunity Idol. He "found" the idol under the raft in an attempt to dissuade the other castaways from looking for the real idol. This backfired once the news reached Davie Rickenbacker. Believing that Nick could actually have two idols, he began to try to turn the vote against him, until Nick eventually told him the idol was fake. At the next Tribal Council, Nick played his fake idol as a means of gauging the other castaway's reactions. He ultimately played his real idol afterwards, although no votes had been cast against him.
  • Also in David vs. Goliath, after finding her real idol, Angelina Keeley crafted a fake idol and planted it for Alison Raybould to find, in order to make the upcoming Tribal Council have more "fireworks." Alison believed that it was fake but attempted to play it anyways. Jeff confirmed it was fake and Alison was voted off in a 4-1 vote that night.
  • In Survivor: Edge of Extinction, Rick Devens created two fake idols and held onto them until the final five. After winning individual immunity, he planted both idols with the parchments from two idols that he found, including rehiding a clue for one of them as well. Julie Rosenberg and Lauren O'Connell each found one of Rick's fake idols and simultaneously tried to play them at the following Tribal Council. Jeff revealed that both were fake, and after Rick played his own idol on Gavin Whitson and Chris Underwood played one on himself, Lauren was voted out 2-0-0.

Fake Idol Kit

During Survivor: Game Changers, a fake idol kit was one of the advantages offered as part of an Advantage Menu to whoever was sent to Exile Island after the second Tribe Switch. The exiled castaway, Debbie Wanner, chose an Extra Vote instead of a fake idol kit (or a tribe challenge advantage).

Gallery

Trivia

Firsts

  • Gary Hogeboom (Guatemala) is the first castaway to possess and use a Hidden Immunity Idol.
  • Terry Deitz (Panama) is the first castaway to possess a vote-negating idol, and the first to possess an idol after its expiration.
  • Yau-Man Chan (Fiji) is the first castaway to possess an idol in its current format, and the first to play an idol successfully.
  • Mookie Lee (Fiji) is the first castaway to transfer his possession of the idol to someone else. The recipient, Alex Angarita, is the first castaway to use a Hidden Immunity Idol under the current format, and the first to play an idol unsuccessfully.
  • James Clement (China) is the first castaway to be voted out with a Hidden Immunity Idol in his possession. In the same instance, he is also the first castaway to be voted out with two idols in his possession.
  • Parvati Shallow (Micronesia) is the first castaway to find a Hidden Immunity Idol but choose to leave it hidden.
  • Randy Bailey (Gabon) is the first castaway to deliberately discard an idol. He would be followed by Mike Zahalsky, who discarded half of the idol found by Lauren Rimmer in Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers.
  • Matty Whitmore (Gabon) is the first castaway to use an idol and only receive minority votes.
  • Colton Cumbie (One World) is the first person to be medically evacuated while in possession of a Hidden Immunity Idol. He would later be followed by Neal Gottlieb (Kaôh Rōng).
  • Galang (Blood vs. Water) and Angkor (Cambodia) are the only pre-merge tribes whose idols were never found.
    • Galang is the only tribe to have an idol hidden but never found, as Angkor's idol was never hidden.

Records

  • The earliest use of a Hidden Immunity Idol was on Day 5 (Redemption Island), when Kristina Kell played it on herself unsuccessfully.
  • The earliest successful use of a Hidden Immunity Idol was on Day 11, in several seasons.
  • The latest use of a Hidden Immunity Idol was on Day 37, in several seasons. In all such seasons, it was the last day idols could be played.
  • Michael Yerger (Ghost Island) is the youngest castaway to find an idol, being 18 at the time he found his first idol.
  • Janet Carbin (Island of the Idols) is the oldest castaway to find an idol, being 59 at the time she found her first idol.

Miscellaneous

  • Mike Holloway (Worlds Apart) is the first eventual Sole Survivor to use a Hidden Immunity Idol successfully in the season they won. He was followed by Jeremy Collins (Cambodia), Ben Driebergen (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers), and Chris Underwood (Edge of Extinction).
    • Ben Driebergen (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers) is the first eventual Sole Survivor to use multiple Hidden Immunity Idols successfully in the season they won.
  • Lauren O'Connell (Edge of Extinction) holds the record for holding a single idol for the longest continuous timespan, having the Manu idol from Day 2 up to Day 36 (35 days total).
  • Kelley Wentworth (Cambodia) holds the record for most votes negated at one Tribal Council using an idol, with 9, beating out Russell Hantz (Samoa) and Jenn Brown (Worlds Apart), the previous record holders, with 7.
  • Kelley Wentworth (Cambodia) is the first castaway to play idols successfully at two Tribal Councils in the same season. She was followed by Ben Driebergen (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers), Christian Hubicki (David vs. Goliath), and Rick Devens (Edge of Extinction).
  • Adam Klein (Millennials vs. Gen X) is the first castaway to find a Hidden Immunity Idol on the last day it could be played (Day 37). He was followed by Ben Driebergen (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers) and Rick Devens (Edge of Extinction).
  • Tai Trang (Game Changers) and Kellee Kim (Island of the Idols) are the only castaways to find two idols in the same episode.
  • Cirie Fields (Heroes vs. Villains and Game Changers) is the only castaway to be idoled out of multiple seasons.
    • In addition, her elimination from Panama involved an idol indirectly, as Terry Deitz had de facto immunity, possessing an idol at the last opportunity in which it could be used.
  • Ben Driebergen (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers) is the first castaway to negate a unanimous vote with an idol. Denise Stapley (Winners at War) is the first female castaway to negate a unanimous vote with an idol.
  • Dan Rengering (David vs. Goliath) is the first castaway to have their idol negated by an Idol Nullifier.

References

Survivor Gameplay
Challenges Challenge Advantage · Do-It-Yourself Challenge · Duel · Family Visit · Immunity Challenge (Final Immunity Challenge) · Immunity Idol · Immunity Necklace · Medallion of Power · Reward Challenge · Survivor Auction
Elimination Edge of Extinction · Ejection · Evacuation · Final Tribal Council · Jury · Null Vote · Quit · Redemption Island · Snuffer · Sole Survivor (Perfect Game) · Tiebreaker · Torch · Tribal Council · Urn
Strategy Alliance · Goat Strategy · Pagonging · Split Vote
Social Dynamics Final Two · Final Three · Merge · Tribe
Twists Casting Battle of the Sexes · Blood vs. Water · Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty · Old vs. Young · Returning Players · Schoolyard Pick · Tribes Divided by Ethnicity
Tribal Council Advantage Amulet · Do or Die · Double Elimination · Double Tribal Council · Extra Vote · Hidden Immunity Idol (History) · Idol Nullifier · Joint Tribal Council · Juror Removal · Legacy Advantage · Knowledge is Power · Safety Without Power · Shot in the Dark · Vote Blocker · Vote Steal
Game Mechanics Advantage Menu · Buried Treasure · Day Zero · Exile Island · Fake Merge · Fire Token · First Impressions · Ghost Island · Haves vs. Have Nots · Hourglass · Island of the Idols · Kidnapping · Looting · Mutiny · One World · Reward Steal · Summit · The Outcasts · Tribe Leader · Tribe Switch
Post-Game Fan Favorite Award · Lawsuits and Legal Action · Ponderosa · Reunion Show
Miscellaneous Buff · Camp · Confessional · Luxury Item · Rites of Passage · Survivor Rulebook · Ulonging
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