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, with Jeff Probst stating that he writes a "Bible" for each season detailing how he expects the twists and themes to be executed.^[1] However, some unintended twists have happened 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* Summit 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 Summit
	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 Summit 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 (Schoolyard Pick) Group Tribal Council 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 (Schoolyard Pick) 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* Fake Merge 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 Tribal Separation 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 Starting Tribes Tribal Separation 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 Split Tribal Council Final Tribal Council tiebreaker used for the first time
	Tribal Separation 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 Final Three with 13-person jury Pre-merge jury members
	Island of the Idols (variant of Exile Island) Hidden Immunity Idol Idol that expires after a set number of Tribal Councils Vote Blocker Tribe Switch Safety Without Power Pre-merge jury member Split Tribal Council Advantage Option Idol Nullifier ~~Extra Vote~~ Hidden Immunity Idol that must be played for another player
	Returning Players Increased prize money Edge of Extinction Fire Tokens Hidden Immunity Idol Idol that expires after a set number of Tribal Councils Safety Without Power Vote Steal Tribe Expansion Idol Nullifier Double Tribal Council 50/50 Coin Extortion Advantage Final Three with 16-person jury
	Game lasted 26 days instead of the typical 39 Three Starting Tribes with no Tribe Switch Beware Advantage Hidden Immunity Idol Vote Steal Shot in the Dark Summit Extra Vote Knowledge is Power Double Tribal Council Earn the Merge Exile Island Hourglass Split Tribal Council Do or Die
	Game lasted 26 days instead of the typical 39 Three Starting Tribes with no Tribe Switch Beware Advantage Hidden Immunity Idol Knowledge is Power Shot in the Dark Advantage Amulet, whose power depends on the number of people holding onto it: ~~Extra Vote~~ ~~Vote Steal~~ Hidden Immunity Idol Summit Extra Vote Idol Nullifier Earn the Merge Exile Island Hourglass Split Tribal Council Do or Die
	Game lasted 26 days instead of the typical 39 Three Starting Tribes with no Tribe Switch Beware Advantage Hidden Immunity Bracelet Shot in the Dark Summit Idol that expires after a set number of Tribal Councils Vote Steal Knowledge is Power Earn the Merge Split Tribal Council Choose Your Champion
	Game lasted 26 days instead of the typical 39 Three Starting Tribes Hidden Immunity Idol Shot in the Dark Summit Bank Your Vote Advantage Inheritance Advantage Earn the Merge Group Tribal Council Control a Vote Advantage (variant of Vote Steal)
	Game lasted 26 days instead of the typical 39 Returning Player Three Starting Tribes Amended Sit-out Rules Hidden Immunity Idol Shot in the Dark Observing Summit Safety Without Power Goodwill Advantage Tribe Switch Earn the Merge Split Tribal Council
	Game lasted 26 days instead of the typical 39 Three Starting Tribes Hidden Immunity Idol Shot in the Dark Summit Extra Vote Earn the Merge Split Tribal Council
	Game lasted 26 days instead of the typical 39 Three Starting Tribes Hidden Immunity Idol Shot in the Dark Summit Extra Vote Amulet Idol Vote Blocker Earn the Merge Group Tribal Council Advantage Option Vote Blocker Safety Without Power
	Game lasted 26 days instead of the typical 39 Three Starting Tribes Hidden Immunity Idol Shot in the Dark Summit Extra Vote Vote Steal Vote Blocker Tribe Switch Earn the Merge

Controversy

See Survivor Rulebook: Controversial Rule Changes

References

↑ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-theme/id1673596832?i=1000608702167

Survivor Gameplay
Challenges		Challenge Advantage · Do-It-Yourself Challenge · Duel · Family Visit · Immunity Challenge (Final Immunity Challenge) · Immunity Idol · Immunity Necklace · Medallion of Power · Reward Challenge · Survivor Auction
Elimination		Edge of Extinction · Ejection · Evacuation · Final Tribal Council · Jury · Null Vote · Quit · Redemption Island · Snuffer · Sole Survivor (Perfect Game) · Tiebreaker · Torch · Tribal Council · Urn
Strategy		Alliance · Goat Strategy · Pagonging · Split Vote
Social Dynamics		Final Two · Final Three · Merge · Tribe
Twists	Casting	Battle of the Sexes · Blood vs. Water · Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty · Old vs. Young · Returning Players · Schoolyard Pick · Tribes Divided by Ethnicity
	Tribal Council	Advantage Amulet · Do or Die · Double Elimination · Double Tribal Council · Extra Vote · Group Tribal Council · Hidden Immunity Idol (History) · Idol Nullifier · Joint Tribal Council · Juror Removal · Legacy Advantage · Knowledge is Power · Safety Without Power · Shot in the Dark · Split Tribal Council · Vote Blocker · Vote Steal
	Game Mechanics	Advantage Menu · Buried Treasure · Day Zero · Earn the Merge · Exile Island · Fake Merge · Fire Token · First Impressions · Ghost Island · Haves vs. Have Nots · Hourglass · Island of the Idols · Kidnapping · Looting · Mutiny · One World · Reward Steal · Summit · The Outcasts · Tribe Leader · Tribe Switch
Post-Game		Contestants on other programs · Fan Favorite Award · Lawsuits and Legal Action · Ponderosa · Reunion Show
Miscellaneous		Buff · Camp · Confessional · Luxury Item · Rites of Passage · Survivor Rulebook · Ulonging

[1] ttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-theme/id1673596832?i=1000608702167

[1]