Hidden Immunity Idols were first introduced in Season 11 of Survivor and have since become a staple of the game. The advantage keeps the game interesting and makes it harder to eliminate players. I’ll never grow tired of watching a player foil a majority alliance’s plans with a secret Immunity Idol. We’ve seen countless clever Idol plays in the last 47 seasons, but some reign supreme among the pack.
Let’s take a look at the best Idol plays in Survivor history.
Amanda Kimmel saves herself with a surprise Idol on Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites
In Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites, Amanda Kimmel saved herself from elimination on Day 33 by playing an Immunity Idol. The California native found the Idol on Exile Island but kept it a secret. She played the secret advantage at the final six, foiling the group’s plan to vote her out and ending Alexis Jones’ time on the island.
Amanda’s Idol was unique because production chose to keep viewers in the dark as to whether she found it or not. The decision not to show her finding the Idol made the episode much more suspenseful. We were just as surprised as the castaways when she pulled out the advantage at Tribal Council.
Russell Hantz gives Parvati Shallow his Idol on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
In Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, Russell Hantz managed to keep him and his number one ally, Parvati Shallow, in the game with the help of an Immunity Idol. The Villain tribe suspected Russell had an Idol, so they devised a plan to split the vote between Parvati and Russell to (hopefully) flush the Immunity Idol. Russell caught wind of the plan and convinced Tyson Apostol to vote for Parvati instead of him. At Tribal, Russell gave his Idol to Parvati, nullifying the majority of votes cast against her. Tyson’s stupid decision cost him the game. He received the second most votes at Tribal and was sent to Ponderosa.
Natalie Anderson gives her Idol to Jaclyn Schultz on Survivor: Blood vs. Water
In Survivor: Blood vs. Water, Natalie Anderson made the bold decision to use her Idol to save Jaclyn Schultz. When Jeff Probst asked if anyone wanted to play an Idol, Natalie stood up and asked Jaclyn, “Did you vote for who I told you to vote for?” Jaclyn nodded, which gave Natalie enough reassurance to give her the Idol. The play resulted in Baylor Wilson’s elimination from the game. The move turned the game on its head. Up to that point, Baylor and her mom Missy Payne were an unstoppable duo in the game.
Kelly Wentworth saves herself on Survivor: Second Chance
If Russel is the king of Immunity Idols, Kelley Wentworth is the queen. The Washington native is known for being the first woman to find multiple Immunity Idols in a season. My favorite Idol play by Kelley is in Survivor: Second Chance when she used her Idol to nullify the nine votes cast against her. She found the Idol in Episode 1 and didn’t tell a soul of its existence, so naturally, her fellow castaways were shocked when she pulled it out at the second Tribal Council post-merge. The Idol saved Kelley’s game and solidified her reputation as a master strategist.
Parvati Shallow’s Double Idol play
Russell’s Idol play in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains was impressive, but it pales in comparison to Parvati’s double Idol move. The Heroes tribe was determined to weaken the Villain tribe post-merge, so they devised a plan to target one of them at Tribal Council.
Earlier in the season, James “J.T.” Thomas gave Russell his Idol after he suspected there was a woman’s alliance with the Villain tribe. Russell gave the Idol to Parvati, who he believed was in danger. Parvati took the Idol and didn’t tell him she already had an Immunity Idol in her possession. The Heroes tribe worried that Parvati had an Idol, so they decided to throw the votes on Jerri Manthey. At Tribal, Parvati shocked everyone when she gave one Idol to Jerri and the other to Sandra Diaz-Twine. The move saved Jerri from elimination and resulted in J.T. being eliminated by his own Idol.
Rachel LaMont Saves herself with an Idol
Rachel LaMont survived her own funeral on Survivor 47. The Michigan native was the number one target at final six. She won multiple Immunity challenges, found advantages, and played a savvy social game. Her fellow castaways planned to vote her out at Tribal Council and didn’t hide their intentions. Multiple players told her she was going home tonight barring a miracle. Lucky for her, she had a miracle in her back pocket.
At Tribal, Rachel foiled the group’s plan where she played a secret Immunity Idol, nullifying the votes cast against her.
Survivor airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
DO YOU AGREE WITH OUR LIST? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE IDOL PLAY IN SURVIVOR HISTORY?