Metamorphosis
The Talisman of the Raven being utilized.
Shapeshifting, specifically Metamorphosis, was a technique rooted not in the biological makeup of a species, but rather in the power of the Force. By using ancient magic or artifacts infused with the Force, an individual had the capability to alter their physical form, adopting the appearance of another person, creature, or entity through the manipulation of the Force.
Besides the masquerade approach, metamorphosis was relatively rare among Force-sensitive groups like the Jedi and Sith. However, this was not the case for the enigmatic witches known as the Nightsisters hailing from Dathomir. These Nightsisters employed Talismans of Transformation and traditional Dathomiri illusions to achieve metamorphosis.
Metamorphosis Achieved Through Artifacts
On the planet of Dathomir, Nightsister shamans were known for their skill in creating Talismans of Transformation. These were rings or pendants imbued with Allyan Magic, granting the wearer the ability to metamorphose. Each talisman allowed transformation into a single, specific creature by harnessing the energy of its "ur-spirit"—the unique spiritual representation of each species within the spiritual dimension. The arcane properties of these artifacts remained a puzzle to both Sith and Jedi scholars, who were unable to fully comprehend their workings. The Nightsisters were sometimes seen riding black stallions, which also possessed the ability to change their shape.
Charal, who proclaimed herself the Witch-Queen of Endor, had an enchanted ring, which was lost on Dathomir during Talzin's reign. This ring enabled her to transform into a raven. Charal frequently used this ability, particularly during the Ewok–Sanyassan conflict of 3 ABY. On one occasion, she morphed into a beautiful, princess-like young woman to capture Cindel Towani. It is uncertain whether her ring was used in this instance; she may have employed traditional illusion, a Force-imbued cloak, or another method of transformation.
Force-Based Metamorphosis
The Ones, a family of incredibly powerful and immortal beings residing on the planet Mortis, possessed the power to assume the guise of virtually anyone or anything. The Son among them often transformed into a winged gargoyle, and once took on the appearance of the deceased Shmi Skywalker Lars when confronting her son, the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. The Daughter, another member of the Ones, frequently appeared as a large, radiant griffin. Similarly, the Force entity known as Abeloth had the ability to steal the physical forms of those she had consumed.
Sister Ros Lai, the biological daughter of Clan Mother Zalem, was known for using the art of illusion to project an image of herself as a deformed hag called "the Rancor". She began transforming into the Rancor during her youth to evade suspicion while plotting revenge for her dead father. When Lai was away from her sisters' watchful eyes, she would revert to her natural form. Around 31 BBY, Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos arrived on Dathomir on a mission from the Jedi Council to prevent Zalem from using a Star Temple's Infinity Wave against Coruscant, and personally witnessed Ros Lai's metamorphic abilities.
Another Nightsister stranded on the planet Shira possessed the ability to use metamorphosis to assume the form of any being with a height between 1.5 and 1.9 meters and a weight between 40 and 80 kilograms. She could maintain this altered appearance for several hours.