Metamorphosis Metamorphosis was a form of shapeshifting based not on species biology , but the Force . Through primitive magic or Force - imbued artifacts , a being could change its shape into that of another person , creature , or entity through the use of the Force . Apart from the masquerade technique , metamorphosis was uncommon among Force - using traditions like the Jedi and the Sith , but not among the mysterious witches known as the Nightsisters of Dathomir , who utilized Talismans of Transformation and traditional Dathomiri illusions to metamorphose . Artifact - based metamorphosis . On the planet Dathomir , Nightsister shamans were known to craft various Talismans of Transformation , rings or pendants enchanted through Allyan Magic to allow their wearer to metamorphose . Each of those talismans only allowed to turn into one specific creature by tapping into the energy of its " ur - spirit " — the single representative spirit for each species in the spiritual realm . The arcane powers of such artifact were a mystery to both Sith and Jedi scholars , who tried to explain their effects to no avail . The Nightsisters sometimes rode black stallions , which were also capable of shape - changing . Charal , the self - appointed Witch - Queen of Endor , possessed such an enchanted ring , lost on Dathomir under Talzin ' s rule , which gave her the ability to turn into a raven . Charal was known to use it extensively , as she did during the Ewok – Sanyassan conflict of 3 ABY . On one such occasion , she transformed into a beautiful princess - like young woman in order to capture Cindel Towani . In this case , however , it is possible that her ring was not involved , so either she used traditional illusion , her cloak was Force - imbued , or she transformed through some other means . Force - based metamorphosis . The Ones , a family of extremely powerful and immortal entities who lived on the planet Mortis , wielded the ability to assume the appearance of virtually anyone or anything . One of them , the Son , would often turn into a winged gargoyle , but he once used the features of the late Shmi Skywalker Lars when confronting her son , the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker . Another member of the Ones , the Daughter , would assume the form of a large , luminous griffin . Similarly , the Force entity known as Abeloth was capable of stealing the physical appearances of beings that she had consumed . Sister Ros Lai , the biological daughter of Clan Mother Zalem , was known to use the art of illusion to project an image of herself as a deformed hag known as " the Rancor " . She began transforming into the Rancor as a youth in order to avoid suspicion while plotting to avenge her dead father . When Lai stood away from her sisters ' prying eyes , she would assume her natural form . Around 31 BBY , Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos arrived on Dathomir on a mission from the Jedi Council to stop Zalem from using a Star Temple ' s Infinity Wave against Coruscant , and witnessed Ros Lai ' s abilities at metamorphosis firsthand . Another Nightsister stranded on planet Shira could use metamorphosis to take the shape of any being between 1 . 5 to 1 . 9 meters and 40 to 80 kilograms . She could retain this appearance for several hours .