Twist

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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, although some unintended twists happen in certain seasons, such as the lack of a merge in 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.

Season	Twist/Changes
	Original Format
	Extended Game (42 Days instead of 39) Live Finale
File:Africa.png	Tribe Switch Game reverted to 39-day format
File:Marquesas.png	Marooning without food supplies Tribe Switch Right to pass the Immunity Necklace to another player Purple Rock tiebreaker introduced
File:Thailand.png	Schoolyard Pick (Oldest contestants chose their tribe members) Mutiny Offered Fake Merge—Rival tribes live together Delayed Merge Pre-Merge Jury Members
File:Amazon.png	Tribal Separation by Gender Tribe Switch
File:Pearl Islands.png	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 Jury members competing in a challenge
File:All-Stars.png	18 Contestants Returning Players Three Initial Tribes No supplies given (except a machete and a pot) Tribe Absorption Kidnapping Tribe Switch Delayed Merge
File:Vanuatu.png	18 Contestants Tribal Separation by Gender Double tribal council Free Immunity Tribe Switch Pre-Merge Individual Immunity Challenge
File:Palau.png	20 Contestants Contestants Eliminated without a Tribe Pre-Merge Individual Immunity Challenge Schoolyard Pick (Contestants choose their own tribe members). Double tribal council No Merge/Tribe Absorption Exile Island (temporary; one time only) Free Immunity Fire-making tiebreaker first used
File:Guatemala.png	2 Returning Players (initially referred as "Additional Tools") 18 Contestants Tribe Switch Double tribal council Hidden Immunity Idol Pre-Merge Individual Immunity Challenge
File:S12.png	Four Initial Tribes Tribal Separation by Gender and Age Exile Island Hidden Immunity Idol on Exile Island Simultaneous Tribe Absorption and Switch  (Schoolyard Pick)
File:Cook Islands.png	20 Contestants Four Initial Tribes Tribes Divided by Ethnicity Simultaneous Tribe Absorption and Switch (Schoolyard Pick) Exile Island  Hidden Immunity Idol on Exile Island Mutiny Double Elimination Delayed Merge Final Three Jury of Nine Pre-Merge Jury Members
	Schoolyard Pick by one contestant Haves vs Have-Nots 19 Contestants Exile Island 2 Hidden Immunity Idols Clue on Exile, Idol at Camp ​Tribe Switch Post-Merge Tribal Immunity Challenge Final Three Jury of Nine Pre-Merge Jury Members
File:China.jpg	Tribe Switch Hidden Immunity Idol hidden in plain sight Kidnapping Kidnapped Contestant giving a Hidden Immunity Idol clue to a member of the rival tribe Final Three
File:Micronesia.PNG	20 Contestants Fans vs Favorites Returning Contestants 2 Contestants on Exile Island, Pre-Merge Hidden Immunity Idol on Exile Post-Merge, Solo Exile Tribe Switch Jury of Eight
	18 Contestants Schoolyard Pick (Contestant choose their own tribe members) Exile Island Hidden Immunity Idol on Exile Luxury Choice on Exile Tribe Switch Fake Merge with Second Tribe Switch Delayed Merge Pre-Merge Jury Members Final Three Pre-Merge Individual Immunity Challenge
File:Tocantins.png	2 Contestants Sent to Exile Island, Pre-Merge Hidden Immunity Idol; one for each tribe Mutiny offered (if clue is received) First impressions
File:Samoa.png	20 Contestants Official Tribe Leaders Member of the Winning Tribe Sent to Losing Tribe During Reward to Receive Hidden Immunity Idol Clue "Do-It-Yourself Challenge" Early Merge Hidden Immunity Idol Final Three Jury of Nine
File:Season20 Logo.jpg	20 Contestants 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 Final Three Jury of Nine
File:Survivor Nicaragua Logo.jpg	20 Contestants Tribal Separation by Age Medallion of Power Hidden Immunity Idol Tribe Switch Early Merge Double tribal council Jury of Nine Final Three Pre-Merge Individual Immunity Challenge
	18 Contestants 4-Time returning contestant Redemption Island Double Elimination Hidden Immunity Idol Early Merge Jury of Nine Final Three
File:Survivor south pacific logo.jpeg	18 Contestants Redemption Island Returning Contestants as Unofficial Leaders Double Elimination Hidden Immunity Idol Early Merge Jury of Nine Final Three
File:One world logo.jpg	18 Contestants Tribes living together on one camp for a limited time Tribal Separation by Gender Tribe Switch Early Merge "Do-It-Yourself" Challenges 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 Jury of Nine Final Three No clues to the hidden immunity idol
File:SurvivorPhilippinesLogo.jpg	18 Contestants Three Initial Tribes Returning Players as Unofficial Leaders Hidden Immunity Idol hidden in plain sight Early Merge Tribe Absorption Final Three Jury of Eight
	20 Contestants Fans vs. Favorites Returning Players Hidden Immunity Idol Tribe Switch Final Three Jury of Eight
File:Survivor-Blood-Vs-Water-logo.png	20 Contestants Contestants competing against their loved ones Returning Players Redemption Island 4-time returning contestant Hidden Immunity Idol Day Zero First Impressions Rock drawing tie-breaker
	Three Initial Tribes Brawn vs Brains vs Beauty Official Tribe Leaders First Impressions Merge tribe's Hidden Immunity Idol that can be played after the votes are read. Tribe Dissolve

References

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