Survivor: Winners at War is the fortieth season of the CBS competitive reality television series Survivor.

This season featured twenty of the show's previous winners to commemorate its 20th anniversary. Tony Vlachos beat Natalie Anderson and Michele Fitzgerald in a 12-4-0 vote, making him the series' second two-time winner.

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Production

The season was filmed in May–June 2019, two weeks after Survivor: Island of the Idols.

Much like every previous season to feature an all-returning player cast, challenge producer John Kirhoffer revealed that classic challenges return to commemorate the show's 40th season and 20th anniversary.[4]

The pay scale for the season is significantly increased, with the receiving $2,000,000. The first person voted out is guaranteed to take home at least $25,000 instead of the standard $2,500.[5]

Rob Mariano and Sandra Diaz-Twine, who both appeared as mentors on Island of the Idols, only had two weeks to prepare for the upcoming season.

The announcement of the winner was done virtually due to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic. As such, there was no reunion show for the season.[3] Further, filming for seasons 41 and 42, which should have commenced during late spring to early summer of 2020, were suspended for similar reasons.

Casting

According to host Jeff Probst, the cast was assembled to equally represent winners from the earlier seasons, the middle, and the more recent seasons.[6]

The past winners who did not make the cast were:

Twists/Changes

Returning Winners: Twenty former Survivor winners return for a chance to win a second Sole Survivor title.

Twenty former winners return for a chance to win a second Sole Survivor title. Increased Prize Money: For this season, the winner will receive $2,000,000, the biggest prize given in the series and reality television history. [15]

For this season, the winner will receive $2,000,000, the biggest prize given in the series and reality television history. Fire Tokens: A new twist, Fire Tokens allow the castaways to purchase creature comforts, food, or game advantages.

A new twist, Fire Tokens allow the castaways to purchase creature comforts, food, or game advantages. Edge of Extinction: The Edge of Extinction returns this season with the same exact rules and premise. [15] Effort Tasks: To earn Fire Tokens, the players living on the Edge of Extinction will have to perform tasks requiring herculean effort. [16]

The Edge of Extinction returns this season with the same exact rules and premise. Hidden Immunity Idol: A Hidden Immunity Idol is hidden at each camp. However, these idols have two halves, one of which must be given to another castaway before sundown on the same day that it is found. The two halves can later be combined into an idol with full power.

A Hidden Immunity Idol is hidden at each camp. However, these idols have two halves, one of which must be given to another castaway before sundown on the same day that it is found. The two halves can later be combined into an idol with full power. Edge of Extinction advantages: The following game advantages were available thru the Edge of Extinction and sold by its finder to a castaway still in the game before sundown on the same day that it was found: Temporary Hidden Immunity Idols: These idols are only usable for three Tribal Councils after they are purchased. Safety Without Power: The castaway would be able to leave Tribal Council before the vote, effectively making them immune, at the cost of not voting. This advantage is usable until there are ten active castaways left. Vote Steal: A vote steal was hidden at the opposing tribe's camp, which the purchaser must retrieve the night after the transaction is completed. Idol Nullifier: The castaway would be able to void the use of a Hidden Immunity Idol. This advantage is usable until there are five active castaways left. 50/50 Coin: The castaway would be able to flip a coin once at any Tribal Council. If it lands on "Safe", the coin acts as a Hidden Immunity Idol. If it lands on "Not Safe", the user remains vulnerable. This advantage is usable until there are seven active castaways left. Extortion Advantage: The castaway who finds this on the Edge of Extinction may send this to an active castaway and extort them for a number of Fire Tokens of the finder's choosing. If the extorted castaway does not pay the given amount of Fire Tokens by the next Immunity Challenge, they must sit out of the challenge and will lose their vote at the next Tribal Council. Challenge Disadvantage: The castaway who finds this on the Edge of Extinction may send this to an active castaway for a number of Fire Tokens of the finder's choosing. The active castaway would be able to anonymously disadvantage another person at the Day 34 Immunity Challenge.

The following game advantages were available thru the Edge of Extinction and sold by its finder to a castaway still in the game before sundown on the same day that it was found: Tribe Expansion: With 15 active castaways left, a tribe expansion occurred, introducing the Yara ​ tribe.

With 15 active castaways left, a tribe expansion occurred, introducing the ​ tribe. Double Tribal Council: On Day 16, only the first place tribe would win immunity, sending both losing tribes to Tribal Council to vote out one person each.

On Day 16, only the first place tribe would win immunity, sending both losing tribes to Tribal Council to vote out one person each. Early Merge: This season merged with twelve castaways in the game; eleven in the main game and one from the Edge of Extinction.

This season merged with twelve castaways in the game; eleven in the main game and one from the Edge of Extinction. Simplified Final Four Tribal Council: Instead of a traditional vote, the person who wins the final four Immunity Challenge will get to choose one person to take with them to the Final Three. The remaining two castaways would compete in a fire-making challenge to determine who would be eliminated.

Instead of a traditional vote, the person who wins the final four Immunity Challenge will get to choose one person to take with them to the Final Three. The remaining two castaways would compete in a fire-making challenge to determine who would be eliminated. Final Three and Expanded Jury: Three finalists faced a sixteen-person jury.

Three finalists faced a sixteen-person jury. Reformatted Final Tribal Council: Instead of having each jury member speak one by one, an open forum was held to ensure a more insightful rapport between the jury and finalists.

Castaways

Season Summary

Twenty former Survivor champions returned to commemorate the series' 20th year and 40th season. A new twist called Fire Tokens added a layer of economy where active players paid tokens in exchange for advantages that inactive castaways found on the Edge of Extinction.

Relationships outside the game heavily affected the early days of the game, attributing to several eliminations. During the pre-merge, allies-turned-enemies Sarah Lacina and Tony Vlachos made amends and resurrected their Cops-R-Us alliance, while controversial winners like Ben Driebergen and Michele Fitzgerald fought for validation. The earlier winners found themselves employing familiar strategies, whereas the more recent winners capitalized the modernized style of game play, leading to the "old-schoolers" getting sent to the Edge of Extinction to compete for Fire Tokens which they used to buy advantages come the return challenge. Every person eliminated took the challenge of the Edge, with the exception of Sandra Diaz-Twine, the first two-time winner, who raised the sail on Night 16. Tyson Apostol won the return challenge on Day 19, rejoining the game at the merge. Despite not winning the return challenge, Natalie Anderson, who was the first person voted out, dominated the Edge of Extinction, finding and selling game advantages and getting paid Fire Tokens in return.

At the merge, the fluidity of alliances and fast-paced game play led to multiple last-minute plotting at Tribal Council, leading to several blindsides. Tony, who had kept a low profile pre-merge in stark contrast to his trademark brash game play in his previous outings, began to seize control of the game post-merge, finding a Hidden Immunity Idol, and winning critical Immunity Challenges. On Day 35, Natalie's perseverance earned her enough Fire Tokens to buy a Hidden Immunity Idol and three advantages at the return challenge, which ultimately allowed her to return to the game.

On Day 36, Natalie reunited with her early ally Michele, who was an outsider from the majority alliance of Ben, Sarah, Tony, and Denise Stapley. In an attempt to break the quartet, Natalie revealed that Tony was popular among the jury, which Sarah resented as she was Tony's voice of reason and equally had a hand in their decision-making. With Michele winning immunity, the majority alliance decided to pile their votes on Natalie despite Tony's objections because he believed that she had an idol coming back into the game. Natalie played her idol, forcing Ben and Tony to use theirs, leading to a stalemate. Denise and Sarah, the only players eligible to receive votes, were up for elimination where Denise took the fall. Despite still being in the majority, Ben, who had formed a close bond with Sarah, allowed her to vote him out to set herself up better against Tony at the finals.

Natalie won the Final Immunity Challenge and chose to pick Michele to join her in the Final Three, leaving Sarah and Tony to compete in the fire-making challenge. In a close match, Tony defeated Sarah, joining Michele and Natalie in the Final Three. At the Final Tribal Council, the jury praised all three finalists for their distinct strategies: Tony for his improvement from being reckless in his first season to being patient and calculated, Michele for her strong social game and resilience despite being left out from the vote numerous times, and Natalie for conquering the Edge of Extinction and making the most of her second chance. In the end, it was Tony who was awarded the title of Sole Survivor in a 12-4-0 vote, making him the second two-time winner of the series.

Voting History

Survivor: Winners at War Voting History Tribes Original Tribes Expanded Tribes Merged Tribe Episode #: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Voted out:

Natalie

Amber

Danni

Ethan

Tyson

Rob

Sandra

Parvati

Yul

Wendell

Adam

Tyson

Sophie

Kim

Jeremy

Nick Null

Denise

Ben

Sarah

Michele

Natalie

Tony Vote: 7-2-1 6-3-1 8-1 4-3-1 7-1-1 4-1 1-01,2 3-2 3-1 9-3 8-2-1 5-2-01 4-3-2 5-3 3-2-06 4-2 1,2,7 0-0 4-0 3-22 No Vote8 12-4-0 ► ► Tony — Kim — — Tyson — Denise — — Wendell Adam Tyson Sophie Kim Jeremy Nick Natalie Denise Michele — Jury Vote ► Natalie Denise Ben Denise Ben — ► ► Michele Denise — Danni Ethan — — — Wendell Yul Adam Adam Tyson Sophie Jeremy Ben Denise Ben Denise Ben — ► ► Sarah — Kim — — Tyson Rob — — Wendell Nick Tyson 4 Michele Kim Michele Nick Natalie None Ben Eliminated Tony Denise 4 ► ► Ben Natalie — Danni Ethan — Rob — — Wendell Adam Tyson Jeremy Kim Jeremy Nick Natalie Denise Michele Tony ► ► Denise Natalie — Danni Ethan — — Sandra — — Wendell Nick None 5 Jeremy Jeremy Michele Nick Natalie None Tony ► ► Nick — Amber — — Kim — — Parvati Yul Adam Adam Tyson Sophie Kim Jeremy Denise Eliminated Tony ► ► Jeremy Adam — Danni Ethan — — Denise — — Wendell Adam None 3 Sophie Kim Ben Eliminated Natalie ► ► Kim — Amber — — Tyson — Denise — — Wendell Adam Sophie Michele Jeremy Eliminated Tony ► ► Sophie — Kim — — Tyson Rob — — Wendell Adam Denise Jeremy Eliminated Tony ► Tyson — Amber — — Nick Wendell Adam Sophie Eliminated Natalie ► ► Adam Natalie — Danni Parvati — Rob — — Wendell Sarah Eliminated Tony ► ► Wendell — Amber — — Tyson — — Parvati Yul Adam Eliminated Tony ► Yul — Amber — — Tyson — — Parvati Wendell Eliminated Tony ► Parvati Natalie — Danni Adam — — — Wendell Eliminated Natalie ► Sandra — Amber — — Tyson — Denise Quit ► Rob Natalie — Danni Adam — Sarah Eliminated Tony Ethan Natalie — Danni Adam Eliminated Natalie Danni Natalie — Parvati Eliminated Tony Amber — Nick Eliminated Tony Notes: ^1 A Hidden Immunity Idol was played, negating all votes against its user.

^2 A Hidden Immunity Idol was played, however, no votes were cast against its user.

^3 Jeremy used the Safety without Power advantage, allowing him to abstain from Tribal Council without voting and making him ineligible to be voted out.

^4 This castaway used the Vote Steal advantage, allowing them to steal another castaway's vote to vote twice at Tribal Council.

^5 This castaway's vote was stolen by the Vote Steal.

^6 Michele used the 50/50 Coin advantage and it landed on "Safe", negating all votes against her.

^7 All votes cast were negated, causing a null vote. Per the rules of Survivor, a vote restart occurred. Since Denise and Sarah were the only two castaways eligible to recieve votes, they would not vote, since they could only vote for each other.

^8 Instead of a traditional vote, the person who won the Immunity Challenge, Natalie, would choose someone to take with them into the Final Three. She chose Michele. The remaining two castaways, would compete in a fire-making challenge to determine the last finalist.

Trivia