What wins a season of Survivor? Being great at challenges? Being a great strategist? Being a great social player? I'm going to go down all of the recent seasons and see which one works the best.
NOTE: This is all based off of statistics, not opinion. "Challenge Beast" is decided on how many challenges the castaway has won, tribal immunities count as a fraction of 1. "Strategic Mastermind" is determined by how many times they voted for the castaway voted out divided by the total votes cast at all of their tribal councils. "Social Butterfly" is determined by how many votes they receive, divided by the total votes cast at all of the tribal councils. Data retrieved from truedorktimes.com
Cambodia - Second Chance
Challenge Beast: Joe Anglim - 8th Place
Strategic Mastermind: Jeremy Collins/Spencer Bledsoe - Winner/Runner Up
Social Butterfly: Jeremy Collins - Winner
Worlds Apart
Challenge Beast: Mike Holloway - Winner
Strategic Mastermind: Mike Holloway/Carolyn Rivera - Winner/Runner Up
Social Butterfly: Mike Holloway - Winner
San Juan Del Sur
Challenge Beast: Keith Nale - 4th Place
Strategic Mastermind: Natalie Anderson - Winner
Social Butterfly: Natalie Anderson - Winner
Cagayan
Challenge Beast: Spencer Bledsoe - 4th Place
Strategic Mastermind: Tony Vlachos - Winner
Social Butterfly: Kass McQuillen - 3rd Place
Blood vs. Water
Challenge Beast: Monica Culpepper - Runner Up
Strategic Mastermind: Monica Culpepper - Runner Up
Social Butterfly: Tyson Apostol - Winner
Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites
Challenge Beast: John Cochran - Winner
Strategic Mastermind: Sherri Biethman - Runner Up
Social Butterfly: John Cochran - Winner
Philippines
Challenge Beast: Malcolm Freberg - 4th Place
Strategic Mastermind: Denise Stapley - Winner
Social Butterfly: Michael Skupin/Lisa Whelchel - Runners Up
One World
Challenge Beast: Kim Spradlin - Winner
Strategic Mastermind:Kim Spradlin/Sabrina Thompson/Chelsea Meissner-Winner/Runners Up
Social Butterfly: Sabrina Thompson - Runner Up
South Pacific
Challenge Beast: Ozzy Lusth - 4th Place
Strategic Mastermind: Coach Wade - Runner Up
Social Butterfly: Coach Wade - Runner Up
Redemption Island
Challenge Beast: Rob Mariano - Winner
Strategic Mastermind: Rob Mariano/Natalie Tenerelli/Phillip Sheppard - Winner/Runners Up
Social Butterfly: Natalie Tenerelli - Runner Up
Nicaragua
Challenge Beast: Jud Birza - Winner
Strategic Mastermind: Chase Rice - Runner Up
Social Butterfly: Chase Rice/Sash Lenahan - Runners Up
Amount of times the "Challenge Beast" was also the Winner: 5
Amount of times the "Strategic Mastermind" was also the Winner: 7
Amount of times the "Social Butterfly" was also the Winner: 5
There you have it folks. It turns out a great strategic game is needed most to win the game of Survivor, and being good at challenges is just as important as being a good social player, according to the stats. Btw, I have too much time on my hands. I might do a part 2 with seasons 11-20.
