Hidden Immunity Idol

The **Hidden Immunity Idol** (also known as the "Hidden Idol" or simply "The Idol") is perhaps the biggest twist to ever occur in TradeMarkN Survivor ORGS. Its purpose is to, one way or another, give the holder immunity when they choose to play it. The idol has influenced many of the contestants' strategies, whether they utilize the object, or defuse its powers. The Hidden Immunity Idol made its debut in *Survivor: Guatemala.*

It is not to be confused with with the Tribal Immunity Idol or Individual Immunity Necklace, as the Hidden Immunity Idol is not available at challenges. However, clues to the whereabouts of the idol are often given to the survivors at the start of a season.

## **Overview**

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 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 Until the final 5 or 6). A player may hold more than one idol (if available).

## **Development / Format**

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. Contestants must draw the idol at a Tribal Council where they are sure to receive votes, or else, they will either waste the idol (if they had either no votes against them or if they have votes, there may 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 usually rehidden. From this point forward, the idols are valid up until the Tribal Council where there are only five or six contestants remain.

When the castaway is voted out as a direct result of the use of the Hidden Immunity Idol, that person is said to have been "Idoled out".

## **Rules**

* Hidden Immunity Idols are considered "personal items," and thus cannot be stolen from its owner
* If all countable votes are negated by idols, a vote restart would happen. Idols can only be played at the initial vote, not at any revotes.

## **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 has already been found or not. These clues can be shared to others by the finder/s' choosing. But it is also possible (however extremely unlikely) to find an idol without a clue.

These clues may be a cryptic message similar to Tree Mail, or advice as to how to find the idol.

Over the years, the clues for the Hidden Immunity Idol have varying ways of how they were given to contestants:

* In *Guadeloupe*, the castaways had to solve a four-digit code from a possible of six digits; during the merge that changed. The castaways then had to solve a six-digit code from a possible of eight digits.

## **Strategy**

### **Survivor Guadeloupe**

* Nathan (Gave away to Oli) (Got voted out in I'm Looking Forward To Being On The Jury)
* Oli (Used to protect himself
* Jacob (Didn't use and was voted out)
* Cole (Used to protect João, later won)