Yuuzhan Vong

The Yuuzhan Vong were a humanoid species, which at first led some to speculate that they were a divergent branch of Human evolution. Nevertheless, distinct differences existed between the two species. For instance, Yuuzhan Vong typically lacked kidneys. Furthermore, they were considerably taller and more heavily built than the average Human, although this could be attributed to selective breeding practices. With an average lifespan of 76 standard years, their maximum lifespan could extend to two or three times that of a Human. While their genetic makeup shared similarities with Humans, a surprising characteristic given their extragalactic origin, a notable distinction lay in an element of their genetic structure that was present in all their biotechnology.

Their foreheads sloped back, appearing almost ridge-like. Some Yuuzhan Vong exhibited pointed ears, while others did not, possibly due to ritualistic mutilation or genetic variation, as there is no definitive evidence to establish the species' norm. The Yuuzhan Vong also possessed short, stubby noses, giving their faces a skull-like appearance. Their hair was typically black, though less abundant on both the head and body compared to Humans, and often worn longer or even completely absent. Small blue sacks beneath their eyes served as indicators of their mood, as they did not rely on the facial expressions commonly used by Humans. These eyesacks expanded and contracted, revealing whether an individual was experiencing delight or rage. The most prevalent skin tone among the Yuuzhan Vong was gray, followed by yellow. Another defining characteristic was their jet-black blood.

The Yuuzhan Vong nervous system was highly conductive, seemingly designed for heightened pain sensitivity. It contained elements not found in Humans, and vice versa. Their tissue also differed significantly from that of Humans, which complicated the use of Yuuzhan Vong Qah cells in Humans, as the human brain eventually rejected them.

Perhaps the most remarkable and unsettling trait of the Yuuzhan Vong, particularly for the Jedi and other inhabitants of the galaxy, was their existence outside of the Force as it was understood. They lacked a Force presence that could be sensed and were largely unaffected by Force powers directed at them. This made it impossible to discern their motives, truthfulness, or intentions. However, their lack of presence within the Force allowed one to detect their presence by reaching out and sensing the absence of the Force. Even a powerful telekinetic blast that would normally send an opponent flying would only cause a Yuuzhan Vong to stumble or lose balance temporarily. Although directly affecting the Yuuzhan Vong through the Force was generally impossible, indirect methods could be employed, such as telekinetically manipulating objects to strike them or controlling the air pressure to crush them. The only known Force techniques that seemed to bypass this limitation were variations of Force lightning/Emerald lightning, the dark side technique Force net, Dark Transfer, and, to some degree, Shatterpoint.

A select few Jedi developed the ability of Vongsense, which, in some ways, mirrored the Force, particularly in its detection and telepathic aspects, but was specific to the Yuuzhan Vong and their biots.

Yuuzhan Vong culture revolved around sacrifice and their deities, with warriors placing particular emphasis on the philosophy of pain. They glorified pain not as a means to an end, but as a way of life. This stemmed from their belief that, just as their gods had sacrificed their bodies to create the galaxy, the Yuuzhan Vong should sacrifice parts of their own bodies for a greater purpose. By altering their bodies, they believed they were drawing closer to their gods. However, they never mutilated themselves in a way that would permanently impair their function. This resulted in individual Yuuzhan Vong displaying mottling, scarring, and extensive tattoos. Elite individuals were known to graft organs from other creatures into their bodies. Devotional practices to the gods involved bloodletting during prayer times. Shamed Ones were prohibited from attending religious ceremonies.

As a Yuuzhan Vong achieved greater success in life, they would undergo the process of sacrificing body parts and replacing them with organs from other creatures to enhance their abilities. This occurred during the Escalatier Ceremony, where an engineered organism related to an Implanter would make cuts and incisions to insert the implants. If the implant was accepted by the body, the Yuuzhan Vong would be promoted to a higher rank. However, if the implant was rejected, it could lead to death or the individual becoming a despised Shamed One. These failures were attributed to the Yuuzhan Vong gods, although they could also be caused by the Shaper in charge of the Escalation ceremony.

Family played a significant role in their society. A Yuuzhan Vong was typically associated with a family group known as a Domain, with some Domains holding more power than others. In addition to this family structure, the Yuuzhan Vong also employed a caste system that included warriors, shapers, priests, intendants, and workers. Romantic relationships between members of different castes were forbidden. Domain loyalties ran deep, extending beyond simple likes or dislikes. A series of ritual statements were required from a member of a lower rank to a member of a higher rank as part of protocol. However, members of one caste were not obligated to salute a superior from another caste, such as intendants to higher-ranking members of the warrior caste.

Yuuzhan Vong children were raised in caste-specific crèches by designated caretakers, and likely did not know their biological parents until they were older. Their crèche parents gave them their names. Deformed children were killed at birth, but those with mild deformities, such as Ona Shai, were spared. Paranoia was a useful survival trait for these children in the harsh and competitive environment. Twin births were rare, with only a few cases known to the New Republic, each believed to be a portent of a great event. In each case, one twin killed the other as a prelude to a great destiny. Funeral processions did not preserve the dead, and Yuuzhan Vong mortuaries often involved mourners meeting with assigned priests. During these ceremonies, priests removed various body parts of the deceased to dedicate them to the gods.

According to an Imperial officer, the Empire and the Yuuzhan Vong shared certain commonalities, such as the need for strict discipline and obedience to superiors. However, at the time of the invasion, their ultimate goals were believed to be vastly different, with the Yuuzhan Vong seeking to fundamentally alter the way of life in the galaxy. One of their goals was the destruction and elimination of all forms of manufactured technology, a key strength of the Imperial Remnant. Their strong belief in discipline and obedience meant that subordinates never contradicted their leaders, although they could subvert or alter their commanders' will without directly pointing out errors. They were highly skilled warriors who never retreated in the face of defeat, fearing it would insult their gods. While this was generally true, some Yuuzhan Vong were known to act cowardly, resulting in them becoming Shamed Ones.

Yuuzhan Vong beliefs heavily influenced their actions and personalities. Their religion taught that life was suffering and death was the ultimate release. They believed that nothing could be learned without pain and willingly embraced death. Some, like Domain Shai, even inflicted pain on themselves to the point of enjoying it, believing it earned them favor with their deities. Furthermore, death in battle was considered the greatest glory. This fixation on death varied depending on the circumstances, as dying in the cold void between galaxies was considered disgraceful. Consequently, most Yuuzhan Vong fought to the death, limiting opportunities for other empires to explore their organic warships. The priests also claimed to only ask of others what they themselves did, sacrificing their own numbers as well as "infidels" as an act of service to their deities, who were believed to have sacrificed their body parts to create all of existence.

The species also highly valued honor, with some members placing it above all else. Even under interrogation, a Yuuzhan Vong's word was considered binding, and they typically kept promises of respite to their victims in exchange for information. In one instance, a Yuuzhan Vong commander agreed to a personal duel to determine the fate of a planet, promising to spare the world if defeated. While the Yuuzhan Vong himself was sincere, his subordinates conspired with the Warmaster to undermine the honorable combat. Denying the right to honorable combat was seen as disrespectful and worthy of scorn from the warrior caste. Warriors even respected a single worthy opponent facing a single Yuuzhan Vong warrior at a time for their bravery and fighting skills. A concept similar to the Wookiee Life debt existed, known as Us-hrok, which signified eternal gratitude and loyalty, compelling the Yuuzhan Vong to fight to the death on that person's behalf. Regarding food, the Yuuzhan Vong derived no great joy from eating and were indifferent to gastronomic tastes, except when enjoyment came from an event like slaying a great beast during a ritual.

The Yuuzhan Vong's wartime psychology centered on aggressive attacks. This made them dangerous, but also somewhat predictable. They were often emboldened by an enemy's resistance and saw worthy foes as deserving of battle. Internally, they believed in competition as a means of fostering strength, but this led to internal feuds between Domains and castes seeking to elevate their positions. This had caused civil war in the past, and it was believed that the Invasion would provide an external enemy to fight, but the same divisions eventually resurfaced. They also held a deep belief in revenge and had no reservations about using aggressive emotions, unlike the Jedi. This often led to suicide attacks or ritual suicides when facing defeat in order to attain glory, a source of pride for the warrior caste. Their aggressive and warlike nature meant they lacked any concept of peace or remorse. In their language, peace meant willing submission to a conqueror. Furthermore, using profanities could lead to a blood challenge, where the two individuals would fight to the death. Insulting words, such as calling someone a "fool", justified the wounded party in killing their opponent. An attack on a Yuuzhan Vong's pride was grounds for demanding satisfaction, which could also be accepted as a sacrifice to their gods.

The Yuuzhan Vong had a fanatical hatred of machines, viewing them as abominations and an affront to their gods. They believed that combustion, the creation of fire through a machine, was the first abomination. This was because they deeply valued life, but believed that all life ended naturally, with one lifeform being consumed by another, which in turn was devoured by another predator until it died, replenishing the ecosystem. Machines, however, did not die and could replace organic life, which the Yuuzhan Vong would never allow.

The species had a saying: "Let the enemy fight", which reflected their racial psychology. They often expected combat and set up ambushes, baiting targets into their traps. Their interdiction forces often remained outside designated routes to ambush targets. Another saying was "A fleet that fights two battles loses twice." Their early relations with other races were based on domination, as they considered most other races unworthy. Those who impressed them and were deemed worthy were often granted a clean death, while the others were relegated to slavery.

Despite aspects of their society that seemed barbaric, the Yuuzhan Vong truly revered life in all its forms. Among the few infidel races of the 'Promised Land', they favored the Ho'Din, whose natural senses made them averse to advanced technology. Some primitive races who did not use technology also willingly allied with the Yuuzhan Vong, such as some of the inhabitants of Wayland. These "Wish-To-Bes" believed that the Yuuzhan Vong respected life, while most believed that the "Cut-Up-People" simply wished to harm and twist things to suit their needs. According to their religion, they had to prove themselves worthy creations of their deities, or they would be destroyed and replaced by a more worthy species. Their beliefs stated that this had happened three times, with a new species created each time, eventually leading to the creation of the Yuuzhan Vong.

In the post-War period, the Yuuzhan Vong became deeply spiritual and introspective. Many felt that they could never mend relations with the inhabitants of the galaxy due to the Yuuzhan Vong War, but a few heroic members believed that they needed to evolve to survive and that the journey to better relations was worth the effort. They still retained their unique form of honor, with custom and ritual remaining important aspects of their culture.

The Supreme Overlord held the highest position in their society, wielding authority over all other castes.

The priest caste held considerable power within the rigidly theocratic Yuuzhan Vong society. Members of the priest caste served the many lesser deities that governed the Yuuzhan Vong. Several sects existed, each dedicated to the worship of a different Yuuzhan Vong deity. Ranks within the priest caste included the Mosthigh priest, High Priest(ess), Priest(ess), and Seer.

The warrior caste served as the armies of the Yuuzhan Vong, forming one of the largest castes and functioning as the military branch of their race. Members of the caste were trained from an early age to excel in combat and were more aggressive than other Yuuzhan Vong. Notable members included Tsavong Lah and Nas Choka, both of whom served as Warmaster at different times. Their primary weapon was the amphistaff, a deadly serpent-like creature capable of spitting venom or coiling around foes. The warriors were devotees of Yun-Yammka, the Slayer, and sought honor in combat. They wore living vonduun crab armor that could resist blaster fire or lightsabers, although it had weak points at the armpits and inner hips where the shell's segments joined.

Ranks within the warrior caste included the Warmaster, Supreme Commander, Commander, Subaltern, and Warrior.

The Intendant caste maintained the functioning of Yuuzhan Vong society and was responsible for the Yuuzhan Vong economy. They were noted as the smallest of the castes and lacked a patron deity or a specific war cry compared to the others. This caste oversaw commerce, bureaucracy, trade, and the management of the sizable slave workforce employed by the Yuuzhan Vong. Notable Intendants included Nom Anor, the deadliest enemy of the Jedi. Members of the Intendant Caste could come from either the Shaper or Warrior castes. Shimrra Jamaane was formerly an Intendant before becoming Supreme Overlord. They were the government and politicians and favored Yun-Harla, the Trickster goddess.

Ranks within the Intendant caste included High Prefect, Prefect, Consul, Executor, and Attendant.

The worker caste was the largest and lowest caste, serving primarily as servants, slaves, and laborers. It included Shamed Ones, Yuuzhan Vong whose bodies had rejected organic implants and modifications, Yuuzhan Vong born into the worker caste, Yuuzhan Vong who had failed in other castes, and conquered or shaped species such as the Chazrach. Slaves and the Shamed Ones (fallen members of society) were part of the worker castes, but they were treated with contempt even by their fellow workers, though Yuuzhan Vong born into the worker caste were actually descended from Shamed Ones.

The Yuuzhan Vong religion, known as the True Way, was of paramount importance to the Yuuzhan Vong. They were devout and had many gods and, before their defeat, believed it was their duty to appease their gods' desires through conquest and genocide.

Yun-Yuuzhan, the creator, was the most powerful deity in the Yuuzhan Vong religion. He sacrificed most of his body parts to create the lesser deities and the Yuuzhan Vong galaxy. Only the Supreme Overlord could communicate directly with him.

Yun-Harla was the Trickster, the Cloaked Goddess, and the goddess of deception and aggression. She represented the political caste. Upon learning this, the New Republic military assigned their top pilot, Jaina Solo, the codenames "Trickster" and "Goddess" as a form of psychological warfare against the Yuuzhan Vong invaders, who would believe they were fighting the living embodiment of one of their most powerful deities.

Yun-Yammka was the Slayer and the god of war. His image was that of a multi-tentacled being and served as the inspiration for the form of the yammosk. He was primarily worshipped by the warrior caste. He was in actuality created by the priest caste when the Yuuzhan Vong turned to war.

Yun-Ne'Shel was the Modeler, overseeing natural life cycles and worshipped by the shaper caste.

Yun-Txiin and Yun-Q'aah were the Lover Gods and twins. Relationships outside one's caste were forbidden in Yuuzhan Vong society, and disobedience automatically resulted in sacrifice to the Lover Gods.

Yun-Shuno was the Pardoner. She had a thousand eyes and watched over and spoke for the Shamed Ones, who were shunned by every other Yuuzhan Vong deity. She was the only deity the Shamed Ones were allowed to worship.

The Yuuzhan Vong originated as displaced people from a far-off galaxy. Their original home planet, known as Yuuzhan'tar, was a tropical world encircled by a substantial asteroid belt. This planet met its end thousands of standard years prior to their invasion of the galaxy.

Within the Yuuzhan Vong language, Yuuzhan'tar translates to "Crèche of the gods," and this living planet served as a blueprint for the Yuuzhan Vong's divine figures. It's plausible that Yun-Yuuzhan, the Yuuzhan Vong's creator deity, was inspired by Yuuzhan'tar.

While details of their early history are scarce, it appears the Yuuzhan Vong once existed in a symbiotic relationship with their planet and possessed Force-sensitivity. Their technology was predominantly organic. At some point, the Yuuzhan Vong found themselves embroiled in a catastrophic galactic war between two droid civilizations—thought to be the Silentium and the Abominor. This conflict cemented their aversion to mechanical technology and their xenophobia toward other sentient beings.

To aid them in the conflict, their living homeworld gifted them with the knowledge to create living weapons. However, as the war progressed, the Yuuzhan Vong became increasingly violent and inclined towards warfare. Ultimately, they triumphed over their adversaries, compelling both droid factions to flee their galaxy.

In the aftermath of the war, the Yuuzhan Vong embarked on a mission to purge their galaxy of all mechanical technology. They conquered vast stretches of their galaxy, either exterminating or enslaving the species they encountered. Among these subjugated species were the reptilian Chazrach, who were forced into service as slave soldiers for the Yuuzhan Vong.

With control over much of their galaxy, the various Domains (akin to clans or families in Yuuzhan Vong society) descended into infighting, leading to the devastating Cremlevian War. This conflict resulted in widespread destruction across the Yuuzhan Vong's galaxy, including the demise of their homeworld, Yuuzhan'tar. The precise circumstances surrounding the planet's destruction have been lost to time. Nevertheless, a seed from Yuuzhan'tar survived, eventually becoming Zonama Sekot, which was later colonized by the Langhesi and Ferroans.

Having lost their symbiotic connection with their homeworld, the Yuuzhan Vong were severed from the Force, resulting in intense suffering. Consequently, they came to view pain as the sole means of restoring that symbiosis and began practicing body modifications on themselves. Replacing their homeworld, the Yuuzhan Vong embraced belief in numerous deities, who subsequently governed nearly every facet of their civilization.

Near the end of the war, Steng rose to prominence as the first Warmaster. A rival Warmaster, Yo'gand, developed the Yo'gand's Core tactic, employing it to obliterate the planet Ygziir and its moon. The destruction of Ygziir led to Steng's death and the war's conclusion. Ultimately, Yo'gand unified the Domains into a single socio-political entity, becoming the first Supreme Overlord of the Yuuzhan Vong.

With much of their galaxy in ruins, the Yuuzhan Vong embarked on a lengthy journey to another galaxy in search of a new home. For what may have been centuries, the species was compelled to traverse the Intergalactic Void aboard massive worldships. During this period, the Yuuzhan Vong nearly self-destructed. Violence and competition were inherent aspects of their society, and lacking an external target, they turned their aggression inward. While conflicts on the scale of the Cremlevian War did not occur, the Domains continued to vie for the favor of the Supreme Overlords.

The duration of the Yuuzhan Vong's voyage after leaving their galaxy, or whether they even knew their destination, remains unknown. One account suggests their journey spanned several millennia; however, by 26 ABY, one of the oldest worldships (deemed 'ancient' and nearing its end) was less than 1000 years old. It seems that by 3997 BBY, sometime after Exar Kun became the new Dark Lord of the Sith, the Praetorite Vong's slivilith probe creatures had arrived. As of 3963 BBY, at least one scout had reached the Wild Space region of the known galaxy. In that year, a group of Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders under the command of Canderous Ordo encountered what would later be identified as a Yorik-stronha, disguised as an asteroid in the Crispin system, while pursuing pirates in the system's asteroid belt. When Ordo used a thermal generator to melt the frozen methane covering the "asteroid", the Yorik-Stronha, in Ordo's words, "woke up". The asteroid began spinning rapidly and fired plasma at the Mandalorians. The extragalactic weaponry easily penetrated the Mandalorian's armor. This attack marked the "first contact" with the Known Galaxy. The probe quickly fled after the brief encounter with Ordo's Mandalorians. Ordo pursued, but couldn't keep up. The Mandalorians tracked the probe's hyperspace wake to the galaxy's edge, where they turned back, assuming the mysterious ship was on a suicide mission into the void. Around the same time, a female Shaper arrived in the galaxy in suspended animation, crashing on Lorrd and surviving there for decades, interacting with locals who mistook her for a demon.

Between 229 and 89 BBY, the living planet Zonama Sekot—a seed of Yuuzhan'tar—arrived in the Gardaji Rift. In 33 BBY, a Yuuzhan Vong was captured and imprisoned in Cog Hive Seven, a prison colony known for its deadly gladiatorial contests. The Yuuzhan Vong, who had already killed two inmates during transport, quickly became the station's champion. For six months, the warrior defeated every opponent until matched against Sith Lord Darth Maul, who was undercover on Cog Hive Seven. After a brutal fight (where Maul was under orders not to use the Force and couldn't sense his opponent's moves), Maul killed the warrior. As the Yuuzhan Vong only spoke in their native language, the colony's systems failed to identify its species, origin, or even gender, although some guards suspected it was female.

In 32 BBY, during the Invasion of Naboo, an advance force of Yuuzhan Vong—called "Far Outsiders" by the planet's inhabitants—discovered Zonama, noting its similarity to Yuuzhan'tar (without making the connection) and attempted to colonize it. However, when the Yuuzhan Vong tried to settle, Zonama Sekot's biosphere killed off the Yuuzhan Vong flora and fauna, provoking them. Despite Sekot's attempts to negotiate, they launched an assault upon the planet. After two years of costly fighting, the assault ended with the arrival of Jedi Knight Vergere, who convinced the Yuuzhan Vong to leave on the condition that she would travel with them. The Galactic Republic received only vague reports of the attack; even after Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan Anakin Skywalker investigated Vergere's disappearance, they only learned that an unknown race of biotech-based aliens from a distant place, armed with unfamiliar weapons, had attacked the world.

In 29 BBY, after learning of Zonama Sekot, Supreme Overlord Quoreal's resolve to invade wavered. The Yuuzhan Vong soon discovered that Zonama Sekot was no longer in its original system, and there was no evidence of its destruction. Concerned about the threat posed by the powerful planetary entity, he announced that it would be best to move on to another galaxy. However, Shimrra Jamaane, influenced by Onimi and supported by more aggressive domains, launched a coup, murdered Quoreal, and took his place, ensuring the invasion would proceed as planned. But preparations would still take time.

Information about Yuuzhan Vong activity within the galaxy for the next few decades is limited. By 27 BBY, at the start of the Outbound Flight Project, Palpatine had somehow learned of the approaching Yuuzhan Vong fleet, but intended to withhold this information from the Republic until after his New Order was established. At least one of his subordinates, Kinman Doriana, was informed. The distant threat of invasion was also a reason Palpatine ordered the destruction of Outbound Flight, preventing its occupants from falling into Yuuzhan Vong hands (and eliminating six Jedi Masters and twelve Jedi Knights). Following the end of the Clone Wars, Emperor Palpatine hinted about the Yuuzhan Vong to the public. One of his official justifications for maintaining the Imperial Navy after the war was to defend against extra-galactic invasion.

Around this time, another small reconnaissance force of Yuuzhan Vong engaged the Chiss Defense Fleet on the edge of the Chiss Ascendancy. Although Chiss Admiral Ar'alani defeated them, the Yuuzhan Vong fought better than the Chiss expected. The appearance of Outbound Flight shortly after led the CEDF high command to briefly suspect the invaders and the Republic were allies.

Sometime between 27 BBY and 22 ABY, some Chiss speculated that the Yuuzhan Vong had allied with the Vagaari against the Chiss.

Yuuzhan Vong scouts returned dozens of kidnapped sentients to the fleet from the galaxy, including Humans, Verpine, and Talz. They were interrogated and experimented on, with many dying or being sacrificed. Survivors (like Vergere) were given as familiars. Around 25 BBY, three years before the Clone Wars, the Yuuzhan Vong established a small outpost on Bimmiel. After the formation of the Galactic Empire, Imperial scientists established a base on the same planet, suggesting Palpatine might have had direct contact with the invaders. However, the remains of the Yuuzhan Vong outpost remained undisturbed until their discovery during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. Yuuzhan Vong scouts were also active in the galaxy during the Clone Wars.

The Yuuzhan Vong advance scouts shared this sentiment. After the formation of the Imperial Interim Council in 11 ABY, following the final death of the reborn Emperor Palpatine, Yuuzhan Vong executor Nom Anor was tasked with infiltrating the Council. He succeeded and manipulated its leader, Xandel Carivus, arranging the deaths of many Councilors and exacerbating internal strife among the leaders of the fracturing Empire.

Simultaneously, the Yuuzhan Vong began interfering in the high politics of the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium. They installed E'thinaa, one of their agents, in a high-ranking military position and manipulated the rise of the Keeramak, intending to use the Ssi-ruuvi to create confusion and disorder during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion.

In 24 ABY, Yuuzhan Vong agent Yomin Carr infiltrated the ExGal Society, stationing himself at the ExGal-4 base on Belkadan along Vector Prime.

In 25 ABY, Yuuzhan Vong executor Nom Anor made a deal with Boba Fett to have him and a select group of Mandalorians aid the invasion force. Fett, realizing that openly resisting the Yuuzhan Vong would result in the enslavement of Mandalore, agreed. He secretly aided the New Republic by allowing personnel to escape with information from doomed worlds. This led to the escape of Jedi Knight Kubariet on New Holgha.

On Rhommamool, Yuuzhan Vong executor Nom Anor, disguised as the leader of the Red Knights of Life, instigated a war between Rhommamool and its neighbor, Osarian. He also infected Mara Jade Skywalker and a hundred other diplomats with a deadly Yuuzhan Vong disease. As a result, the New Republic didn't notice when the first of the invasion force, the Praetorite Vong, landed on the distant Helska IV and brought down Sernpidal's moon upon the planet, killing millions, including the famous Wookiee Chewbacca, and shattering the planet. The Yuuzhan Vong also encountered the Jedi, whom they considered the worst of a galaxy of infidels, largely due to the Jedi's ability to control a supernatural force denied to the Yuuzhan Vong. The Praetorite Vong were eventually defeated by galactic heroes Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa Solo, and Lando Calrissian.

The main Yuuzhan Vong fleet arrived soon after, quickly conquering many worlds in their invasion corridor. Bimmiel, Dantooine, Dubrillion, and Obroa-skai were among the captured worlds, while Ithor was consumed by firestorms and rendered uninhabitable. Sheltering refugees from the invaded planets became such a problem that the New Republic government could no longer ignore the Yuuzhan Vong threat. The political leadership was ineffective in countering the invaders and initially blamed the Jedi for starting the conflict. The Yuuzhan Vong, viewing the Jedi as their worst enemies, exploited this by luring natives to turn in Jedi, promising they would be spared. The Peace Brigade emerged as an organization of such individuals.

The Yuuzhan Vong also made a deal with the Hutts, allowing them to pass through Hutt Space unmolested. However, the Hutts secretly played both sides, passing information on Yuuzhan Vong fleet movements to the New Republic. In return, the Yuuzhan Vong ruthlessly conquered their worlds. Moving through Hutt Space allowed the invaders to attack Fondor on the far side of the galactic core. However, they suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Fondor when Han Solo's cousin, Thrackan Sal-Solo, fired [Centerpoint Station](/article/centerpoint_station] against them, destroying much of the defending Hapan fleet as well.

Following the conquest of Duro, Warmaster Tsavong Lah offered the New Republic a cease-fire if they turned over every Jedi in the galaxy. The Jedi became more hated than ever, with several planetary governments collaborating with the Yuuzhan Vong in hunting them down, even resulting in the New Republic temporarily issuing an arrest warrant for Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker.

The Peace Brigade also attacked the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4 in an unsuccessful attempt to capture the children being trained there. The Yuuzhan Vong arrived shortly after, complicating the situation for the remaining Jedi on the moon. The Yuuzhan Vong captured the Jedi trainee Tahiri Veila and began shaping her like their biological creations. However, before the experiment was complete, she was rescued by her best friend, Anakin Solo, with the help of the shamed Yuuzhan Vong, Vua Rapuung, redeeming the Shamed One. As a result, a heretical movement that worshiped the Jedi as saviors gained popularity among the Shamed Ones (later led by Nom Anor), despite the ruling castes' efforts to exterminate it. Shortly after, the Yuuzhan Vong broke the cease-fire by launching a surprise attack on Yag'Dhul.

Two years into the war, the Yuuzhan Vong unleashed a new biological creation, the voxyn, to hunt down the Jedi. In response, Anakin Solo formed an all-Jedi strike team to hunt down the Voxyn Queen, from which the Yuuzhan Vong cloned all the other voxyn. The mission succeeded, but at the cost of nearly half the team's lives, including Anakin Solo, and resulted in his brother, Jacen Solo, being captured by the Yuuzhan Vong. Meanwhile, the Yuuzhan Vong launched a massive attack on Coruscant, conquering the New Republic's capital and killing Chief of State Borsk Fey'lya. They renamed the planet Yuuzhan'tar and began Vongforming it in the image of their lost homeworld. Jacen Solo sabotaged the Vongforming of Coruscant before escaping captivity with Vergere's help. The Yuuzhan Vong also began to experience internal problems as the stresses of maintaining an Empire strained their resources.

The New Republic, having moved its capital to Dac, elected Cal Omas to replace Fey'lya, who also created the High Council, coordinating the Jedi's role in the war. At the same time, the Jedi discovered the NRI's secret project to create Alpha Red, a biological weapon that would wipe out the Yuuzhan Vong and their creations. The Jedi couldn't convince Cal Omas to abandon the weapon as an option, but Vergere destroyed the project herself. However, the incident strained the relationship between the Jedi and the New Republic.

Forced to pursue conventional warfare while the Alpha Red team restarted, the New Republic planned to lure the Yuuzhan Vong into a trap in the Deep Core, centered around Ebaq 9. Using Jaina Solo as bait, the trap was sprung on the Yuuzhan Vong fleet, destroying it. On Ebaq 9, Tsavong Lah was killed by Jaina Solo, and Vergere sacrificed herself to eliminate the remaining Yuuzhan Vong troops. Omas, fearing the Senate would hijack control of the war, drafted a new constitution that stripped the Senate of executive power, turning the New Republic into the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances (Galactic Alliance or GFFA).

After achieving victory, Luke Skywalker assembled a team to investigate the information provided by Vergere regarding the sentient world known as Zonama Sekot. Venturing into the Unknown Regions, they secured assistance from both the Imperial Remnant and the Chiss Ascendancy, but only after fulfilling certain obligations. Ultimately, they located the living planet and engaged in discussions aimed at persuading it to aid in ending the conflict.

Simultaneously, Executor Nom Anor, disgraced due to his involvement in the Ebaq 9 catastrophe, adopted the guise of the prophet Yu'Shaa and initiated subversive activities on Yuuzhan'tar (formerly Coruscant). Upon learning of Zonama Sekot, he successfully organized an expedition to the living planet, comprising himself (still disguised), the Shaper Nen Yim, the Yuuzhan Vong priest Harrar, and the Jedi Knights Tahiri Veila and Corran Horn. Reaching Zonama Sekot, Nom Anor revealed his true intentions, murdering Nem Yim and casting Harrar off a cliff before attempting to sabotage the planet's hyperdrive. While the two Jedi failed to thwart his sabotage or prevent his escape, Zonama Sekot seemingly knew what action to take, launching itself into hyperspace and positioning itself in orbit around the same star as Yuuzhan'tar, the former galactic capital.

During this period, the Galactic Alliance prepared an offensive to reclaim Yuuzhan'tar, aiming to cripple the Yuuzhan Vong's war-making capabilities by eliminating the Supreme Overlord. In the end, Supreme Overlord Shimrra was exposed as a mere puppet controlled by the true leader of the Yuuzhan Vong, the Force-sensitive Shamed One Onimi. Luke Skywalker killed Shimrra, and Jacen Solo subsequently killed Onimi during the second battle of Coruscant. Nas Choka, Lah's replacement as Warmaster, then assumed the role of de facto Supreme Overlord, ordering the remaining Yuuzhan Vong warriors to lay down their arms.

A condition of the Yuuzhan Vong's surrender included their participation in rebuilding Coruscant to serve as the Galactic Alliance's capital. The Galactic Alliance temporarily established its base on Denon while reconstruction efforts were underway, eventually returning to Coruscant upon completion.

Zonama Sekot also revealed itself to be the seed of the original, long-lost Yuuzhan Vong homeworld. Following the war's conclusion, the remaining Yuuzhan Vong were summoned from across the galaxy to Zonama Sekot, where they were to be confined (except for designated Vong tasked with repairing the damage inflicted by their people; those refusing exile faced execution). Zonama Sekot, now populated by the Yuuzhan Vong, vanished back into the Unknown Regions, allowing the Yuuzhan Vong to reside peacefully and revitalize their connection with Sekot. Their plans included abolishing their caste system, and they had already disbanded the positions of Warmaster and Supreme Overlord (although Choka appeared to remain the species' de facto leader).

The Bothans, however, remained unforgiving for Fey'lya's death and persisted in their declared state of ar'krai genocide against the Yuuzhan Vong, dispatching vessels into the Unknown Regions to locate Zonama Sekot. By 36 ABY, their endeavors had been partially thwarted by the Galactic Alliance, which had confiscated the ship intended for the expedition.

The Yuuzhan Vong War represented arguably the most catastrophic crisis the galaxy had ever encountered. The loss of life was immense, with estimates placing the number of deaths throughout the known galaxy at approximately 300 trillion sentients.

The Galactic Alliance gradually recovered in the years that followed, but it was never the same as the pre-invasion New Republic. Sometime after 41 ABY, as a gesture to improve relations between the Yuuzhan Vong and the wider galaxy, the Galactic Alliance's New Jedi Order authorized Yuuzhan Vong Shapers, led by Master Shaper Nei Rin, to utilize a desolate area of Ossus, one of the order's oldest strongholds, as a testing ground.

The intention of those who advocated for the project—such as Jedi Master Kol Skywalker, a prominent member of the Jedi Council—was to determine whether Vong terraforming techniques, similar to those that had once transformed Coruscant into the species' temporary homeworld of Yuuzhan'tar (27-29 ABY), could revitalize the barren and ravaged world. Although most of the species had departed for the Unknown Regions on Zonama Sekot, enough shapers remained to initiate a pilot program on the planet. The experiment appeared successful, restoring vibrant life to Ossus, and when the Jedi revealed the results to the galaxy, numerous worlds competed for the opportunity to restore planets devastated by the Yuuzhan Vong War.

Ultimately, one hundred planets were selected for terraforming. Yuuzhan Vong Shapers, accompanied by Jedi, commenced their work, and initially, the results were astonishing. Regrettably, no one had anticipated interference from the One Sith. Under the direction of the cult's leader, Darth Krayt, the Sith secretly sabotaged the terraforming process on these worlds. Plants grew deformed, and agonizing bony growths, reminiscent of those seen when the Vong forcibly enslaved populations, erupted from the skin of the inhabitants, resulting in millions of deaths.

The Jedi suspected sabotage but could not identify the perpetrators. However, throughout the galaxy, blame fell upon the Yuuzhan Vong. Lingering animosity towards the former invaders was too strong for many to believe they had genuinely abandoned their ambitions of conquest. The Jedi, however, were certain of the Yuuzhan Vong's innocence and persuaded the Galactic Alliance to defend the Yuuzhan Vong against domestic criticism.

This proved to be a breaking point for the Empire. The signing of the Pellaeon–Gavrisom Treaty (19 ABY) had established peace between the Imperial Remnant and the New Republic, and the war against the Yuuzhan Vong had largely united the former adversaries. However, the Moff Council still harbored numerous hardliners who sought to restore the Empire to its position as the dominant galactic power. Citing retribution and invoking the Treaty of Anaxes, they declared war on the Galactic Alliance. The peace that so many had fought and died for in decades past was undone in an instant, as the Sith had planned.

Anticipating the potential consequences, the Jedi High Council ordered the construction of the Hidden Temple at the war's outset, its location chosen by Nat Skywalker to provide the Jedi with a refuge.

From the beginning, the Alliance was at a disadvantage. Its defense of the Yuuzhan Vong had alienated numerous member worlds, whose populations still held bitter memories of the Vong invasion, and many refused to support the GA. The Alliance suddenly faced a secessionist movement in addition to a general war. The Empire exploited this situation, enticing some of these disgruntled worlds into the Imperial camp and weakening the GA government. Other worlds, such as Hapes, declared neutrality. Consequently, the war began with the Empire holding all the advantages, except for one: Despite this, Emperor Roan Fel himself was less than enthusiastic; he had only reluctantly declared war and thus never fully committed to it, even preventing his Imperial Knights from participating.

At this time, things were not progressing smoothly for the Fel Empire: despite the Alliance's handicap, the Jedi were more than compensating for it. Furthermore, because Roan Fel refused to allow the Imperial Knights to participate in the war, the Empire lacked the necessary strength to counter the Jedi. Soon, the Sith intervened in the war, offering to compensate for the lack of Force users that was the major weakness in Imperial warfare. Through Moff Nyna Calixte, the ruthless and ambitious Director of Imperial Intelligence, the Sith approached the Empire and allied themselves with the Imperial cause. When the Sith openly declared themselves, the Jedi quickly realized that they were responsible for sabotaging the Yuuzhan Vong terraforming projects, although the Order was never able to definitively prove it. As events unfolded, even members of the Imperial regime—including Emperor Fel himself—recognized the truth: they had been used as pawns in the One Sith's plan for galactic domination. Sadly, by the time the true motivations of the Sith had become clear to Emperor Fel, it was too late to stop the designs already set in motion. The Yuuzhan Vong, upon learning the truth, were initially relieved that it was not the work of their gods, and then determined to reverse the damage caused by the sabotage. Shaper Nei Rin traveled from Ossus to try to discover the Sith's method of sabotage, hoping that this knowledge could help discredit the Sith and end the war.

After three years of bloody conflict, the Galactic Alliance was exhausted, while the Sith only grew in power and strength, even independently manufacturing and deploying their own starfighters. Imperial forces had even retaken Coruscant after more than a century. The Alliance finally surrendered, and its territory was absorbed into the Empire. It is unknown if the Empire made any efforts to exterminate the Yuuzhan Vong. The Emperor called on the Jedi Order to surrender and submit to the will of the Empire. Some complied, becoming the Imperial Knights. However, the remainder, remaining true to the will of the Force, refused to ally themselves with the Sith and withdrew from Coruscant to their temple on Ossus. The Sith eventually followed the Jedi there. Darth Nihl, a former Nagai warlord turned Sith, led a brutal assault on Ossus, aided by Imperial forces under the command of Moff Rulf Yage. The Massacre at Ossus scattered the Jedi across the galaxy, although the order was not yet completely defeated. Nei Rin returned to Ossus the day after with proof that the Sith had been behind the projects sabotage, but unfortunately too late to stop either the war or the massacre.

Shortly thereafter, the Sith, determined to rule the galaxy themselves, turned against Emperor Roan Fel and his Imperial Knights. After killing what he later determined to have been a double of the Emperor, Darth Krayt assumed the Imperial throne himself, restoring, for the first time in over a century, the rulership of a Sith as Emperor, and becoming the first Sith Lord since Darth Caedus to rule over most of the galaxy.

Although most of the Yuuzhan Vong who accompanied the Jedi in the Ossus Project were killed, three managed to survive, remaining beneath the Jedi Temple and guarding the remains of the dead Jedi out of respect for the Jedi Order. Master Shaper Nei Rin had been off-world investigating why the project had gone wrong but arrived back at Ossus with her findings too late to stop the War or the massacre. Shortly afterwards, Rin, her guards, and a few Jedi who had returned to the world were hiding from an Imperial patrol under the temple when the patrol's Sith commander ordered the Academy destroyed from orbit. Luckily, thanks to Jedi Master K'Kruhk, the occupants managed to survive.

After some time, it was revealed that a fanatical Yuuzhan Vong named Zenoc Quah had survived the war and had hidden on Wayland for over a century before allying with the One Sith to sabotage the Ossus Project. Seven years later, he was part of Darth Maladi's plot to overthrow Darth Wyyrlok from the rule of the Empire and install a new, more powerful Dark Lord at the helm. Quah and Maladi worked at creating a new weapon that would secure their hold on the galaxy from dissident Sith. For this purpose, Maladi and Quah set up a trap to capture Cade Skywalker as their test subject.

Due to their deeply held convictions, the Yuuzhan Vong were fundamentally opposed to technological advancements, from basic machinery to sophisticated droids, viewing them as a contaminating influence. Consequently, all examples of their technology were comprised of living biots: organisms specifically bred and trained for designated functions. They favored these biological entities over inanimate machines, which they considered devoid of spirit. Yuuzhan Vong technology, encompassing starships, weaponry, and everyday tools, was exclusively biological in nature. They harbored a strong aversion to droids, machines, electronics, and anything manufactured. This biotechnology was cultivated by the Shapers and exhibited greater resilience compared to conventional technology.

Notable technological components included their dreaded yammosks, referred to as war coordinators due to their function as a biological Battle Analysis Computer capable of coordinating Yuuzhan Vong forces with remarkable precision. Through their villips, they established a communication network comparable to the galactic HoloNet. Various breeds of these organisms could also generate living light holograms, a technique the Yuuzhan Vong had mastered for centuries. Their collision avoidance systems were known to be as effective as those of other galactic inhabitants. Furthermore, their equivalent of an antenna consisted of spiral fibers embedded in a yorik coral hull, designed to be highly sensitive to incoming communications. Additionally, they utilized nutrient feeds for various biots, serving a similar purpose to power lines in conventional technology. Similar to navigation computers, Yuuzhan Vong vessels possessed navibrains essential for plotting hyperspace jumps. Their vessels also required rearming after combat, a process noted to be marginally superior to that of technologically advanced species.

Yuuzhan Vong personal weaponry included living serpentine weapons called amphistaffs, capable of altering their form to function as either a spear or a whip. They also wore Vonduun Skerr Kyrric armor, providing protection against weapon fire and lightsaber strikes. Their larger coral-shaped vessels employed Yaret-Kor plasma weapons that could melt through the hulls of enemy ships, while shielding was provided by dovin basals, which manipulated gravity to generate singularities that protected the craft from enemy fire and could also strip the shields of enemy vessels. These organisms were grown separately and later grafted onto other organisms in an imperfect symbiosis. Additionally, they generated powerful gravitic fields capable of creating interdiction fields that rendered living occupants unconscious after being pulled from hyperspace. Larger, more insidious weapons included biological plagues capable of eradicating entire worlds. Some plagues were unleashed, leaving planetary systems barren and incapable of sustaining life.

The primary construction method employed by the Yuuzhan Vong for creating their living vessels involved the use of yorik coral. This coral-like substance formed the hull and internal structure of their ships. While several other races had mastered bioengineering, the Yuuzhan Vong were among the few to have developed a mass production method for creating such organisms. They could grow coralskippers in less than a month, matching the production rate of the Incom Corporation X-wing but without producing any waste material from conventional industrial processes. The outer skin of these craft, despite being alive, felt nothing in the vacuum of space because the nerves were not exposed to the cold void. They were designed to lack nerve endings in these areas. Although the outer hull lacked nerve endings, the inner hull did possess them, and any breach triggered alarms, alerting the Yuuzhan Vong to intruders. It was not widely known that the nerves near the dovin basals were compromised due to the creatures' gravitic nature. As the dovin basals were grown independently, they were nurtured separately and later grafted onto their host vessels. However, the symbiosis was imperfect, and the gravitic distortion created by the dovin basals desensitized the nerve clusters adjacent to them. In warships or other vessels, the Yuuzhan Vong compensated for this problem by implanting special nerve biots around the dovin basal to create a complete tactile net that would not be confused by the gravitic anomaly. However, certain low-priority ships were not afforded this amenity, creating blind spots for breaching actions. Inside these ships, many of the systems had technological equivalents, such as a central biotic computer like the targeting brain. However, sensor systems were the most distinct, as instead of externally mounted observatory sensors, the Yuuzhan Vong employed a method of sensing the gravitational distortions of distant objects as a means of scanning.

A key interface element within Yuuzhan Vong biots that linked them to their organic ships and technology were cognition hoods. These organic helmets simply slid onto an individual's head and were connected by an organic cord linked to the ship itself. Through this connection, a pilot could directly interface with the ship and communicate with it. This applied to both organic pilots and droids, which could process the data being sent to the hood. Onboard larger carrier ships, a central cognition hood was used by the ship's commander to issue commands to the vessel. However, should this hood be severed, secondary cognition hoods located on smaller craft such as coralskippers could send commands from the fighter to the carrier vessel, allowing for some level of control. By wearing the hood, a pilot could experience the memories of the ship they were linked to, thus becoming a part of the ship in question. Yuuzhan Vong ships communicated in the Yuuzhan Vong language, creating a language barrier between foreign pilots and the vessel. However, it was possible to impart images and thoughts through the hood to the ship, allowing it to be controlled. A much larger and more powerful version of these biots was the cognition throne.

Some of their more famous technologies were the amphistaff, the yorik-et, the dovin basal, the gnullith, the grashal, the ooglith cloaker, the ooglith masquer, the villip, and the yammosk.

• Blast bug (thrown)
• Magma pebble (thrown)
• Nang hul (thrown)
• Plaeryin bol
• Plasma Eel (thrown)
• Razor bug (thrown)
• Snap bug (thrown)
• Yaret-Kor

• Amphistaff (mid-range)
• Claws (short range)
• Coufee (short range, common Chazrach weapon)
• Tsaisi (mid-range)

• Nom Anor served as an espionage operative within the Intendant Caste. He bore responsibility for a significant portion of the Yuuzhan Vong's assault on the galaxy and ranked among the most formidable adversaries of the New Jedi Order. He inflicted a near-fatal illness upon Mara Jade Skywalker. His life concluded during the Liberation of Coruscant.
• Prior to the invasion, Quoreal held the position of Supreme Overlord for the Yuuzhan Vong. Shimrra brought about his demise.
• During the invasion, Shimrra Jamaane reigned as the Supreme Overlord of the Yuuzhan Vong, until Luke Skywalker ended his life.
• Onimi, a Shamed One and Shimrra's jester, once held the title of Master Shaper. By incorporating yammosk tissue into his brain, Onimi gained power, but also the stigma of being "shamed." Seeking a path to redemption, Onimi manipulated Shimrra, an Intendant, turning him into a puppet and secretly ruling from the shadows. Jacen Solo ultimately killed him.
• Nen Yim, a Shaper, journeyed to the living planet Zonama Sekot alongside Jedi Master Corran Horn, as well as Tahiri Veila, Nom Anor disguised as the Prophet Yu'shaa, and the Yuuzhan Vong priest Harrar. There, she discovered that Zonama Sekot, a peaceful world, originated as a seed of the original Yuuzhan'tar, and that her species had deviated significantly from its original path. Nom Anor ended her life.
• Shedao Shai engaged in a battle with Corran Horn for dominion over Ithor, ultimately losing, although the planet suffered destruction regardless.
• Tsavong Lah, the Warmaster of the Yuuzhan Vong, was a particularly dangerous enemy of the New Jedi Order. He even proposed ceasing the invasion in exchange for the New Republic surrendering the Jedi. His appearance was grotesque, marked by numerous organic implants. Jaina Solo killed Tsavong Lah during their duel in the Battle of Ebaq.
• Harrar served as a Priest of Yun-Harla. He recognized the Jedi as a threat early on and consistently advocated for their annihilation. He accompanied Nen Yim to Zonama Sekot, where the planet's beauty profoundly affected him. He became the first to reject his species' violent ways, instead advocating for an end to the War.
• Nas Choka held the position of Supreme Commander of the Yuuzhan Vong fleet and succeeded Lah as Warmaster. Following the deaths of Shimrra and Onimi, Choka commanded the Yuuzhan Vong to surrender, effectively ending the war. He took over leadership of the Yuuzhan Vong after Shimrra and Onimi.
• Nei Rin was a Master Shaper within the Shaper Caste and an ally of the Jedi before, during, and after the Sith–Imperial War.
• Zenoc Quah was a member of the Shaper Caste and a collaborator with the One Sith.
• Viull Gorsat served within Garik Loran's reformed Wraith Squadron in 44 ABY. Gorsat, known as Scut, stood apart from other Vong due to being raised by a human family.

The Yuuzhan Vong made their debut in Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, a book series published by Del Rey from 1999 to 2003. Subsequently, they appeared in various other Expanded Universe materials.

Initially, the editors at Lucasfilm and Del Rey envisioned villains for the New Jedi Order that were less unconventional, specifically villains who harnessed the dark side of the Force. George Lucas vetoed this concept, pointing out in his commentary on the story overview that dark siders would be unable to function cohesively as a group because of their insatiable desire for power. Lucas, in his critique, forbade the story team from pursuing this route, urging them to "be more original" and refrain from making the villains dark side users. This feedback directly led to the Yuuzhan Vong's creation as distinct antagonists for the series.

The name "Yuuzhan Vong" originated at Vong, a French-Thai restaurant in New York City frequented by several Del Rey employees. While Shelly Shapiro perused a menu, the Yunnan region was mentioned in a list of teas, giving rise to "Yunnan Vong," the initial version of the name that would eventually be assigned to the intergalactic invaders.

R. A. Salvatore conceived the idea of the Yuuzhan Vong's exclusive reliance on biotechnology, and their penchant for pain, initially limited to Domain Shai, was broadened to encompass the entire species, partly due to their religious convictions and relationship with Yun-Yuuzhan, as outlined in the story bible.

During their war with the Jedi, it became apparent that the Yuuzhan Vong were seemingly "absent" from the Force. James Luceno's book, The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force, offers an explanation. The Yuuzhan Vong are not merely "absent" from the Force; their entire species has been severed from it. The novel suggests that the intelligence of their homeworld, the seed that would eventually become Zonama Sekot, implemented this disconnection due to their warmongering and hostile conquest of other species.

Mesoamerican cultures significantly influenced Yuuzhan Vong culture and religion. James Luceno had recently returned from a Mayan expedition to Guatemala just before the Skywalker Ranch meeting in 1998, and he had a longstanding interest in Mesoamerican societies. Recognizing this, Del Rey editor Steve Saffel proposed drawing inspiration from the eventual fates of Mayan and Aztec indigenous cultures ("cultures of inherent tragedy") and prompted Luceno with the idea. Luceno then educated the rest of the story team on Mayan and Aztec cosmology and history. Luceno suggested portraying the Yuuzhan Vong as "tragic wanderers rather than hateful invaders," with the concept of an invading people being a wandering tribe in search of their "promised land," directly inspired by the Aztec quest for Aztlán. The story team embraced the concept, with Michael Stackpole commenting, "I specifically remember Jim Luceno saying, using the Aztecs, or the cosmology as a model, that that would work out pretty cool... And man, I concurred."

Further inspiration from, and parallels to, Mesoamerican cultures emerged as Luceno began writing the story bible. He specifically based the mythology of the god Yun-Yuuzhan on that of the Aztec god Tlaltecuhtli. The Yuuzhan Vong's practice of sacrificing parts of themselves or others as offerings to the gods was directly derived from Aztec and Mayan practices and beliefs, rooted in the belief in a creator god who sacrificed themselves to create the universe. Mesoamerican ritual tattooing and body modifications also served as direct inspirations for the Vong. Additionally, Luceno drew inspiration from the Mayan mythology of the Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, for the roles of Anakin, Jacen, and Jaina Solo and the Yuuzhan Vong's mythological connection to them.

The notion of the invading force initially dispatching those using deception and disguise, arriving as merchants, traders, or other professionals, to infiltrate, spy, and instigate conflict, as characters like Yomin Carr and Nom Anor do throughout the series, was directly inspired by the pochteca of Aztec society, who fulfilled that role for the expansion of the Aztec Empire into surrounding territories. Furthermore, aspects of Yuuzhan Vong culture, such as the Shamed Ones and the caste system in general, were inspired by the Dalit people of India, commonly referred to as the "untouchables," as well as the caste system of Mayan society.

Greg Keyes' own anthropological background, in which he had previously studied the oral traditions and beliefs of the Choctaw people, informed the development of the shaper caste. Specifically for the shapers, Keyes drew upon his experiences in Malaysia, where he was exposed to elements of the indigenous culture. In developing the shapers, Keyes looked to the ancient Austronesians for inspiration, as well as to their descendants, including the various Melanesian and Polynesian peoples. Some of the naming conventions of the shapers in his novels were drawn from names and mythologies of Pacific origin, such as for Mezhan Kwaad. Elements of these cultures also influenced the appearance of characters like Nen Yim and Vua Rapuung, with Greg Keyes advising artist Terese Nielsen on how to depict them.

The Yuuzhan Vong exhibit several parallels with other species introduced in the novels. They share a fanaticism akin to the Yevetha, a caste system similar to the [Ssi-ruu], and an exclusive reliance on biotechnology as seen in the Charon.

At Celebration Anaheim in 2015, Dave Filoni and Pablo Hidalgo revealed at their The Untold Clone Wars panel that before the show's cancellation, there had been plans for the Yuuzhan Vong to potentially appear in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series. Filoni's sketches of the species for the show were displayed at the panel. The Vong were intended to be featured in a The X-files_-_esque episode in which the Yuuzhan Vong aboard their scout ship would carry out an abduction to assess the strength of the Galactic Republic and the Jedi. However, according to Hidalgo, the story would have only hinted at the Yuuzhan Vong's origins, and they would not have been immune to the Force.

While the Yuuzhan Vong are no longer considered part of the Star Wars canon and are now classified as Star Wars Legends, a comparable species known as the Grysk made their debut in Timothy Zahn's 2018 canon novel Thrawn: Alliances. Like the Yuuzhan Vong, they posed a threat to the Chiss Ascendancy and an invasion of the galaxy was imminent, mirroring the Yuuzhan Vong War from The New Jedi Order book series. However, the Grysk did not employ biotechnology, were not immune to the Force, and originated in the Unknown Regions rather than an extra-galactic location.