Twist

A twist refers to certain game-changing alterations to the game's original format seen in Survivor: Borneo. Twists have been a part of Survivor since Survivor: The Australian Outback, helping the contestants learn that the game of Survivor is ever-changing. Several twists have been devised to keep contestants on their toes, as well as keep the game interesting to viewers.

The twists are normally pre-planned before the actual filming, although some unintended twists happen in certain seasons, such as the lack of a merge in Survivor: Palau.

List of twists by season

This table enumerates the twists to appear in Survivor seasons to mix up the classic game of Survivor. Bold signifies the first time the twist occurred.

A season's cast size, merged tribe size, and jury configuration are only mentioned if it is the first time it has occurred. Twists that later became permanent elements of the game are only mentioned in their first season.

Season	Twists/Changes
	Original Format
	Game lasted 42 days instead of the typical 39 Past votes tiebreaker introduced Jury votes revealed at Reunion Show
	Game reverted to 39-day format Tiebreaker challenge used for the first time Tribe Switch
	Marooning without food supplies Rock-drawing tiebreaker introduced Tribe Switch* Right to pass the Immunity Necklace to another player introduced
	Schoolyard Pick (Oldest contestants chose their tribe members) Mutiny Offered Fake Merge Rival tribes live together Pre-merge jury member Delayed merge / 8-person merged tribe Fire-making tiebreaker introduced (not yet used)
	Tribal Separation by Gender Tribe Switch
	Marooned with the clothes on their back Chance to buy supplies Kidnapping Looting Buried Treasure Eliminated contestants return for a second chance Double Tribal Council Absorption of the Outcasts Tribe Jury members competing in a challenge
	18 Contestants Returning Players Three Starting Tribes No supplies given (except a machete and a pot) Tribe Absorption* Kidnapping Tribe Switch* Individual challenge held before merge Delayed Merge / 9-person merged tribe
	Tribal Separation by Gender Double Tribal Council* Pre-merge Individual Immunity Challenge Individual immunity winner gives an extra immunity to a member of the other tribe Tribe Switch
	20 Contestants Schoolyard Pick (Contestants choose their own tribe members) Contestants Eliminated without a Tribe Double Tribal Council Pre-merge Individual Immunity Challenge Tribe votes to give a member of the other tribe individual immunity No Merge / Tribe Absorption Exile Island (one time only) Fire-making tiebreaker first used
	Returning Players as Unofficial Tribe Leaders Returning players mixed with new players Tribe Switch Double Tribal Council Pre-merge Individual Immunity Challenge Hidden Immunity Idol
	Four Starting Tribes Tribal Separation by Gender and Age Exile Island* Hidden Immunity Idol played after the votes are read Simultaneous Tribe Dissolve and Switch (Schoolyard Pick)
	Four Starting Tribes Tribes Divided by Ethnicity Simultaneous Tribe Absorption and Switch (Schoolyard Pick) Exile Island Hidden Immunity Idol Mutiny* Double Elimination (Two people voted out by the same tribe on the same day) 9-person merged tribe Final Three with 9-person jury Pre-merge jury members
	19 Contestants Tribes divided by one contestant Haves vs. Have Nots Exile Island Hidden Immunity Idol played after votes are cast* Tribe Switch Post-Merge Team Immunity Challenge Pre-merge jury members
	Tribe Switch Hidden Immunity Idol hidden in plain sight Kidnapping Final Three with 7-person jury
	Returning Contestants Fans vs. Favorites One-time use Immunity Idols Exile Island Hidden Immunity Idol Two contestants simultaneously exiled pre-merge Contestants exiled before an Immunity Challenge and given individual immunity for the round Tribe Switch Final Two with 8-person jury*
	Schoolyard Pick (Contestants choose their own tribe members) One-time use Immunity Idols Exile Island Hidden Immunity Idol Luxury Choice on Exile Two Tribe Switches* Double Tribal Council Pre-merge Individual Immunity Challenge Pre-merge jury member
	First Impressions One-time use Immunity Idols Exile Island Two contestants simultaneously exiled pre-merge Hidden Immunity Idol Mutiny offered to one of the two exiled contestants
	Official Tribe Leaders Hidden Immunity Idol Observing "Do-It-Yourself Challenge" Double Tribal Council* Joint Tribal Council* 12-person merged tribe
	Returning Players 3-Time Returning Players Tribal Separation by Notoriety Hidden Immunity Idol Double Tribal Council Pre-merge Individual Immunity Challenge Pre-merge jury members
	Tribal Separation by Age* Medallion of Power Hidden Immunity Idol Tribe Switch Double Tribal Council Pre-merge Individual Immunity Challenge
	Redemption Island Returning Players as Unofficial Tribe Leaders 4-Time returning contestant Double Elimination* Hidden Immunity Idol
	Redemption Island Returning Players as Unofficial Tribe Leaders Double Elimination Hidden Immunity Idol
	Tribal Separation by Gender Tribes living together on one camp for a limited time* 2 Hidden Immunity Idols at one camp (one for each tribe); if one tribe member finds the other tribe's idol, he/she must hand the idol to a member of the other tribe before the next Tribal Council No clues to the Hidden Immunity Idol "Do-It-Yourself" Challenges Tribe Switch Joint Tribal Council
	Three Starting Tribes Returning Players as Unofficial Tribe Leaders Hidden Immunity Idol hidden in plain sight Tribe Absorption 11-person merged tribe Final Three with 8-person jury
	Returning Players Fans vs. Favorites Hidden Immunity Idol Tribe Switch
	Contestants competing against their loved ones Day Zero Redemption Island Returning Players Hidden Immunity Idol First Impressions* Rock-drawing tiebreaker used*
	Three Starting Tribes Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty First Impressions Official Tribe Leaders (at First Impressions only) Tribe Dissolve Hidden Immunity Idol Merged tribe's Hidden Immunity Idol can be played after the votes are read* Final Two with 9-person jury
	Blood vs. Water Day Zero Exile Island Hero Duels Hidden Immunity Idol Tribe Switch
	Three Starting Tribes Tribe Division by Profession Tribe Leaders (on Day 1 only) Hidden Immunity Idol Tribe Dissolve Extra Vote
	Returning Players Tribe Expansion Hidden Immunity Idol hidden at challenges Vote Steal 13-person merged tribe Consensus tiebreaker used for the first time Final Three with 10-person jury
	Three Starting Tribes Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty Hidden Immunity Idols can be combined to form an idol playable after the votes are revealed Tribe Switch One-time Exile Extra Vote Juror Removal
	Millennials vs. Gen X Hidden Immunity Idol Legacy Advantage Summit Tribe Expansion Three tribes merging into one Reward Steal
	Returning Players Hidden Immunity Idol No revotes after a tie Legacy Advantage Tribe Expansion Three-tribe Immunity Challenge with only 1 winner* Joint Tribal Council (with 1 person voted out) One-time Exile Advantage Menu fake Hidden Immunity Idol kit Extra Vote tribal challenge advantage Vote Steal Tribe Dissolve Reformatted Final Tribal Council
	Three Initial Tribes Tribe Division by Profession Hidden Immunity Idol Idol which can be played after the votes are revealed, but only at the first Tribal Council Three-tribe Tribe Switch without dissolution Vote Blocker Right to abstain from voting at Tribal Council, with right to an Extra Vote at a future Tribal Council Simplified final four Tribal Council
	Ghost Island (variant of Exile Island) Legacy Advantage Extra Vote Meager Supplies Tribe Leader (on Day 1 only) Hidden Immunity Idol Idol that expires after a set number of Tribal Councils* Tribe Expansion Double Elimination with merged tribe split into two teams Final Tribal Council tiebreaker used for the first time
	Tribes Divided by Success in Life Hidden Immunity Idol Tribe Expansion Idol Nullifier Vote Steal
	Edge of Extinction (variant of Redemption Island) Returning Players as Unofficial Tribe Leaders Advantage Menu Reward Steal Extra Vote Individual immunity to be used similar to a Hidden Immunity Idol Hidden Immunity Idol Tribe Expansion Extra Vote Joint Tribal Council
	Island of the Idols (variant of Exile Island) Hidden Immunity Idol Vote Blocker Tribe Switch Safety Without Power Pre-merge jury member

Controversy

See Survivor Rulebook: Controversial Rule Changes