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 *Peru*, 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.

## 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:** *Peru*; *All-Stars*; *Guyana* *(users' first Tribal Council)*; *Hawaii*, *Unfinished Business* *(users' first Tribal Council)*, *Fans vs. Favorites* *(users' first Tribal Council)*; *Blood vs. Water* *(users' first Tribal Council)*; *Mexico* *(users' first Tribal Council)*; *Polynesia* *(users' first Tribal Council)*

**Played:** Before the regular votes are cast.

This type of Hidden Immunity Idol, which can be used before the votes are cast, appeared during the twist's debut in *Survivor: Guyana*, where its existence was revealed via Tree Mail. Sometimes this version of Idol can be used only at users' first Tribal Council. After its use, the idol is discarded.

### Super Idol

**Appeared in:** *Honduras*; *Survivor*; *Japan* *(combining two negating idols)*; *Malakula*

**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 *Egypt*, 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:** *Guyana* 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 *Guyana*, *Honduras*, *Peru*, *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. Additionally, in *Polynesia*, another idol was revealed, hidden somewhere near the feast table during the fake merge feast.
* 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* and *India*. *Kiribati* was also the first time a flushed idol was replaced with a new one.
* In *Caribbean* and *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 *Japan* and *Mexico*, on Day 1, two castaways, one from each tribe, get to ride to camp in the chopper and get there faster. At their campt they could choose between a big bag of rice for their tribe or a clue to the One-time use Immunity Idol.
* In *Caribbean*, *Mexico*, and *Malakula*, one idol was hidden at Exile Island. The banished castaways will be handed clues of its whereabouts. Additionally, in *Malakula*, a second idol was revealed, hidden somewhere near the feast table during the merge feast.
* In *Khao Laem* and *Hawaii*, 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.
* In *Egypt*, the clue was 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 *Second Chance*, 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.

## 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.

## Trivia

### Miscellaneous

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

**Tribal Council-Related**
50/50 Coin • Advantage Amulet • Divided Tribal Council • Double Elimination • Double Tribal Council • Extra Vote • **Hidden Immunity Idol** • Idol Nullifier • Joint Tribal Council • Juror Removal • Knowledge is Power • Legacy Advantage • Shot in the Dark • Split Tribal Council • Tied Destinies • Tribal Council Pass • Vote Blocker • Vote Steal

**Miscellaneous**
Advantage Menu • Beware Advantage • Buried Treasure • Day Zero • Diplomatic Immunity • Do or Die • Exile Island • Fake Advantage • Fake Merge • Fire Token • First Impressions • Haves vs. Have Nots • Infiltration • Kidnapping • Moral Dilemmas • Mutiny • One World • Reward Steal • Summit • The Outcasts • Tribe Leader • Tribe Raid • Tribe Switch