Survivor: The 5 Best Idol Plays (& The 5 Dumbest) Ever

On each season of Survivor, Immunity Idols are hidden on the island, and the lucky contestant who stumbles upon one can use it to guarantee safety for themselves or another competitor, and gains a powerful bargaining chip. This secret promise of safety can be used to seal alliances, garner trust, and threaten the rest of the competitors’ gameplay.

However, trust is a luxury Survivor contestants can’t afford. Whether the contestant is foolishly naive or calculating and clever, using the life-saving totem to save another castaway is exceptionally risky. Dollar signs drive the competitors to make huge—and, sometimes, catastrophic—Idol plays in order to become the Sole Survivor and win that bank.

Best: Parvati Shallow: Plays Two Idols

Parvati Shallow may be a “villain,” but to Jerri and Sandra, she’s a true hero. In one of the most shocking moves in Survivor history, Parvati saved the two fellow castaways with Hidden Immunity Idols, thereby forcing a “Hero” out of their midst.

The three-time Survivor veteran hedged her bets by playing two Idols on Jerri and Sandra, the players in the most danger. Because of the Idol, Parvati threw the day’s Immunity Challenge to ensure the safety of tribemate Danielle. Russell, a fellow Villain, mistook Parvati’s position and gave her another Castaway’s (J.T.) Idol, all without knowing she already had one. In an unprecedented move, Parvati doled out safety to two fellow Villains, Jerri and Sandra. Tying with J.T. with five votes, Jerri’s new safety effectively allowed the mastermind to force a very blindsided J.T. packing. Ironically, his own Immunity Idol sent J.T. home. So does this make Parvati the Hero of the Villains or the worst of them all?

Worst: Jason Siska: The Stickler Of Survivor: Micronesia

As the only play on this list to involve a forgery, Jason Siska’s "Exile Island Idol” move is as unique as it is foolish. While serving his time on Exile Island, the gymnastics coach stumbled upon what he believed to be a Hidden Immunity Idol. You can imagine how surprised Jason was when his “Exile Island Idol” was simply a stick carved by previously exiled fellow castaway Ozzy Lusth. Jason committed to keeping Eliza Orlins and promised her his newfound "Exile Island Idol” should he win the Immunity Challenge. True to his word, Jason produced what he thought to be her saving grace, only to see Eliza’s face fall. Like any rational fake-Immunity Idol-finder, Jason doubled down and went through with the masterplan to eliminate the very man behind the mixup.

As projected, Eliza was voted off the island. Playing what she already knew to be "a f***ing stick,” Eliza hoped to expose Ozzy, who she believed had an "Exile Island Idol.” Ozzy coughed up the truth when Eliza was voted off the island: He found the original Exile Island Idol and created a forgery to throw off the scent.

Best: Spencer Bledsoe: Called Out Kimmi & Almost Sent Home Keith

While competing on Survivor: Cambodia, Spencer Bledsoe won back-to-back Immunity Challenges, allowing him to crack the opposing alliance's armor. Sound risky? It was.

At the Tribal Council following his third Immunity Challenge win, Bledsoe forced both Kelley and Jeremy to use their Hidden Immunity Idols by candidly announcing to the entire group who his two allies were. Jeremy’s use of the Idol proved fruitful for both men, as the former negated the votes against him and forced a second vote amongst the remaining Castaways. After the dust settled, the remaining competitors attempted to sit on their high horses by telling host Jeff Probst there was no point in holding a second vote, as they would not change their minds.

The angry Survivor host sent back a much scarier threat. Instead of forcing the proud and loyal crew to disband and vote, Probst would make both Kimmi and Tasha immune, forcing the only other possible option, Keith, to be sent packing. It took less than a minute for everyone flipped on Kimmi.

Worst: Erik Reichenbach: The Fan-Favorite Fool

Making it to the final five and winning three Immunity Challenges in a row, Erik quickly proved himself to be more of a threat than an asset.

He also proved to be one of the biggest suckers in Survivor history. Considering the four remaining contestants to be his allies, Erik allowed himself to be spun into the ironically named Black Widow Alliance’s web. Cirie set a plan in motion, tapping Natalie to manipulate Erik into giving her his immunity by playing up his safety. Amanda ed in by persistently guilting him for not helping out a fellow super fan. Caving to their web of lies, Erik gave his Immunity Idol to Natalie - only to see himself blindsided. Realization dawned on the now-vulnerable Erik as Jeff Probst read out the unanimous vote to eliminate him.

Best: Russell Hantz: Doubled Down

Not many contestants find, or stumble upon, an Immunity Idol - let alone two! After wasting one during the previous tribal council, no one could have imagined the Flipped Off actor had two up his sleeve. Because no votes were cast against the Texas native, his first Idol was rendered effectively useless - unless you count painting a target on his back. Unaware of the notoriously dirty player’s second secret saving grace, the other Sole Survivor contenders aimed to oust him at the following Tribal Council - and missed.

Hantz’s second Immunity Idol prevented his elimination and allowed him to go on to become Survivor: Samoa’s runner-up.

Kelly Sharbaugh was as surprised as any of the other contestants - but she’s the one who paid for it. The Galu Alliance member was blindsided when the notorious villain negated his seven votes, leaving Kelly with 4-0 against and a one-way ticket to the jury.

Worst: J.T. Thomas: Plays For Both Teams And Gets Saved By Neither

After the Heroes received a clue to find the coveted Hidden Immunity Idol, the fivesome agreed to look together and split its power. After finding the Idol and forced into sharing with the tribe, a shift in behavior piqued his suspicions as the female castaways seemed to get cozier by the day. Too cozy. Sensing an all-female Final Five alliance, Hero J.T. turned to Villain Russell Hantz for help, giving Russell his team’s found Idol as a show of good faith and to ensure Russell’s safety, should he need to use it.

In a Tribal Council so epic it appears threes times on this list alone, Parvati used both of the Hidden Immunity Idols in her possession, including J.T.’s own Idol. As Jeff Probst read out the votes, you can see J.T.’s gears turning. By the time he connected Russell to the Idol, the Tribe had spoken, and J.T.’s game was over.

The man literally played himself.

Best: Natalie Anderson: Used Jaclyn To Flex Her Way To The Top

At Tribal Council, Natalie used her Hidden Immunity Idol on Jaclyn, but not before flexing in front of her remaining competitors, effectively reminding them she held their fates in her hands. How? The Amazing Race star didn’t just hand Jeff her Idol, she stood and asked, in front of the entire Tribal Council, "Jaclyn, did you vote for who I told you to vote for?”

When the Las Vegas-native confirmed her query, Natalie played the Idol in Jaclyn’s favor, blindsiding the remaining players - particularly mother-daughter combo Missy and Baylor. Splitting the pair was essential to her gameplay and, as a result of that risky move, Natalie was one step closer to being named the Sole Survivor.

Worst: Tyson Apostol: Rocks The Vote

Much like the rest of his fellow castaways, Apostol fell victim to Parvati's double-idol blindside in Survivor: Heroes vs Villains. Banking on Parvati and Danielle voting to eliminate Russell, he directed his alliance to split their votes between the double-crossing duo, theoretically ensuring that, regardless of who played the Hidden Immunity Idol, either Parvati or Russell would be sent packing.

Apostol effectively voted himself out by believing Russell would play an Idol to ensure his own safety. As a result, Apostol deviated from his own plan, opting to vote out Parvati instead of Russell. In the wake of the Survivor veteran's epic blindside, Apostol slowly realized if he had just stuck with his alliance's plan and voted for Russell, he would have been safe.

Best: Yau-Man Chan: The Idol Who Started It All

As his season’s best all-around contender and eventual Sole Survivor, Yau-Man Chan understandably had a target on his back. Once the season whittled down to five castaways, the four remaining turned on Yau-Man Chan, while lying to his face about his safety.

Not one to be fooled, his fellow contestants' behavior gave Yau-Man a “bad vibe.” The season’s runner-up decided to air on the safe side and play his Immunity Idol. The play, fruitful as two castaways had turned against him, was the first (barring Guatemala) time an Immunity Idol was played correctly. What’s crazier? The fumbling four knew Yau-Man held the key to immunity but banked on him saving it until after the final five.

Worst: James Clement: The Two-Time Loser

In what can only be defined as a million dollar lesson in humility, James Clement managed to leave Survivor with two significant keepsakes - both of which could have saved his game. In his first appearance on the series, he had two Immunity Idols in his possession, which made him an immediate target.

Becoming one of the most popular contestants in Survivor history for his two-for-one epic fail, the gravedigger (I’m not kidding) made it to the final seven before he was hit with a blindside. Though Erik tried to convince the prideful player to his final four alliance, James put his trust in his own fivesome. With more Immunity Idols than hubris, James couldn’t possibly have predicted his team’s betrayal.

NEXT: 10 Reality Shows That Aren't Real At All (And 10 That Totally Are)