Hidden Immunity Idol

The **Hidden Immunity Idol** (also known as the "Hidden Idol" or simply as "the idol") is a pocket-sized talisman that prevents the user from being voted out from Tribal Council. Since its introduction in *All-Stars*, critical strategic decisions revolved around the idol, from when to use it, who to use it for, or how to minimize its effect in the game.

## Overview

Not to be confused with the tribal Immunity Idol or the individual Immunity Necklace, the Hidden Immunity Idol, as the name implies, is difficult to obtain, and its hiding places vary from Exile Island or any its variants, tribe camps, challenges, or in rarer cases, in Tribal Council itself. Clues to the whereabouts of the idol may exist at camp or may be given to the winners of a Reward Challenge.

The purpose of an idol is to negate votes against its user. 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 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 usable until a given deadline (Final Five). A player may hold more than one idol if available.

### Super Idol

**Appeared in:** *All-Stars*, *Egypt* *(combining two negating idols),*

**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. Under 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.

In *Khao Laem*, 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:** *Mexico* onwards

**Played:** Before the reading of regular votes.

The current iteration of the idol, one idol hidden in each of the tribe camps. To work around the loophole in the idol's rules from the previous format. 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 refer to 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.

Per the current tiebreaker rules, those who play an idol (or had an idol played for them) are exempted from the deadlock-breaking 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.

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

Over the years, there have been varying ways for how the clues have been given to the contestants:

* In *All-Stars* and *Polynesia*, aside from the prize 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 *Mexico*, *Caribbean*, and *Malakula*, one idol was hidden at Exile Island. The banished castaway will be handed clues of its whereabouts. Additionally, in *Malakula*, a second idol was revealed, hidden somewhere near the feast table during the fake merge feast. *Mexico* was also the first time a flushed idol was replaced with a new one.
* Starting in *Kiribati*, more than one Immunity Idol became available, with one hidden at each camp. The exiled castaways will receive clues. After the merge, a rehidden Idol would be hidden somewhere at Exile. This trend would continue in *Venezuela*.
* In *Japan*, one player of the opposing tribe will visit the camp and they would be forced to give the unopened clue to a member of the tribe they were visiting.
* In *Khao Laem*, 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.

## 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 ballots are negated by idols, the votes will restart happen *(see tiebreaker for details)*. Idols can only be played at the initial vote, not at any revotes; it is unknown whether they can be played at vote restarts, as no contestant has ever played an idol at a restart.

If Redemption Island is in play, idols remain in the holder's possession upon the holder being voted out, and can be brought back into the game if the holder returns.

## Hidden Immunity Idol History

This is a complete list of Hidden Immunity Idols obtained in Survivor.

## Gallery

*Mexico* Hidden Immunity Idol, a shrunken head.*Caribbean* Hidden Immunity Idol, a broken compass.*Kiribati* Hidden Immunity Idol, an Ifugao fertility charm.*Polynesia* Hidden Immunity Idol, a balinese medallion.*Japan* Hidden Immunity Idol, a plaque.*Malakula* Hidden Immunity Idol, a carved turtle.
## Trivia

### Firsts

* Rob Bigman (*All-Stars*) is the first castaway to possess a super idol, the first to possess an idol overall, and the first to possess an idol after its expiration.
* Victoria Bolmondo (*Mexico*) is the first castaway to possess an idol in its current format, and the first to transfer her possession of the idol to someone else.
* Domenic Luis (*Mexico*) is the first castaway to use a Hidden Immunity Idol, and the first castaway to play an idol successfully.
* Kathy Mark (*Caribbean*) is the first castaway to play an idol unsuccessfully.
* Phil Grayson (*Kiribati*) is the first castaway to be voted out with a Hidden Immunity Idol in his possession.
* Emily Drew (*Kiribati*) is the first castaway to play the idol by default at the last time idols could be played.
* Kara Willson (*Polynesia*) is the first castaway to find two Hidden Immunity Idols, and the castaway to play two Hidden Immunity Idols in the same season.
* Cameron Pratt (*Polynesia*) is the first castaway to possess two Hidden Immunity Idols at the same time.
* Roman Konieckov (*Malakula*) is the first castaway to use an idol and only receive minority votes.

### Records

* The earliest use of a Hidden Immunity Idol was on Day 19 (*Japan*) when Matt Kavery played it on himself successfully.
* The latest use of a Hidden Immunity Idol was on Day 48, in *Venezuela* by Seth Sykes. It was the last day idol could be played in that season.
* Cameron Pratt (*Polynesia*) is the youngest castaway to find an idol, being 19 at the time he found his first idol.
* Maya Nolan (*Kiribati*) is the oldest castaway to find an idol, being 46 at the time she found her idol.

### Miscellaneous

* Cameron Pratt (*Polynesia*) holds the record for holding a single idol for the longest continuous timespan, having the Taravai idol from Day 10 up to Day 45 (35 days total).
* Simpson Jahan (*Egypt*) holds the record for most votes negated at one Tribal Council using an idol, with 8.

Battle of the Sexes · Blood vs. Water · Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty · Old vs. Young · Returning Players · Schoolyard Pick

**Tribal Council-Related**
Double Elimination · Double Tribal Council · Extra Vote · **Hidden Immunity Idol** · Idol Nullifier · Joint Tribal Council · Juror Removal · Safety Without Power · Vote Blocker · Vote Steal

**Miscellaneous**
Advantage Menu · Buried Treasure · Day Zero · Exile Island · Fake Merge · Fire Token · First Impressions · Haves vs. Have Nots · Kidnapping · Legacy Advantage · Mutiny · One World · Reward Steal · Summit · The Outcasts · Tribe Leader · Tribe Raid · Tribe Switch