The Star Wars universe is home to a number of mysterious and powerful species, some of which have a natural ability to wield the force in unexpected ways. Hailing from Dathomir, the Nightsisters are a well-known species of witches with skills and knowledge beyond that of the Jedi.
Dipping into both the light and dark sides of the force, the Nightsisters have been big players thanks to their appearances in series like Clone Wars and their connection to characters such as the complex Asajj Ventress and Darth Maul. They are easily some of the most dangerous warriors in the galaxy, with spells and potions that could render even the most powerful force wielder vulnerable.
The Nightsister's Origins
There are a number of conflicting myths and stories in regards to how the Nightsisters were born. Their knowledge of the force certainly could have come from their own discoveries, but there have been rumors that a rogue Jedi was involved in their creation.
After being exiled by the Jedi, a warrior named Allya sought to pass on her gift for the magic of the force to another species. She trained the earlier Nightsisters, helping them understand the immense power they had access to. But even some Nightsisters doubt this origin tale.
Dathomir's Ichor
These witches are known to generate fantastical spells, using abilities that most of the galaxy has very little knowledge of. There's actually a relatively practical reason as to why the Nightsisters hold secrets that most of the universe does not.
Dathomir basks in a very different energy compared to many other planets. Not only is the force incredibly strong, but strange magic flows at its very core. It contains an ichor, strong enough for the Nightsisters to use within their enchantments. They are far more dangerous on Dathomir than anywhere else, meaning few want to visit the planet.
Mother Talzin's Interference
Mother Talzin is a well-known member of the Nightsisters, becoming the mother to the other witches. Before her rule, the Nightsisters maintained neutrality in the goings-on of the rest of the galaxy. But Talzin got involved with the wrong side.
She allied herself with Count Dooku before his betrayal when he took his apprentice, Darth Maul, away from her. Years later, he would betray Asajj Ventress too, allowing for a well-crafted revenge mission involving the Nightbrother Savage Oppress which ultimately failed.
Dark Consequences
Multiple assassination attempts on Count Dooku lead to the destruction of Dathomir, at the hands of General Grievous. The destruction of the Nightsisters was a dark time and very little remains from the height of these witches.
What's more, there was no victory to be had against Dooku. Asajj Ventress, their most famous member, died in a fight against Dooku. She and her Jedi lover, Quinlan Vos, faced him in the novel Dark Disciple, where the secrets of Dathomir were seemingly closed off forever.
Maul's Legacy
Darth Maul was obsessed with legacy. He went his whole career looking to make his mark on the galaxy. From trying to bring in the constantly improving Ezra as his apprentice, to training Savage Oppress to be his partner. But his legacy extends to his own people.
As a Dathomir born warrior himself, he cared for the history of the Nightsisters. While his acts of Empire building on Mandalore might not have protected the Nightsisters, his later quest to try to revive them on Dathomir with a blood sacrifice was met with resistance and defeat.
The Undead
Force ghosts are a well-known aspect of the mythology of the Jedi and the Nightsisters discovered a similar way to use these gifts, albeit in a slightly more corrupted way. In fact, the Nightsisters could restore aspects of the soul to a corpse, creating a zombie-like creature.
What's more, these souls could even possess living beings. Sabine and Kanan discovered this in Rebels when they were both possessed by the spirits of the dead, while on Dathomir. This was part of Maul's plan to save the sisters from extinction.
A New Future
Death and destruction often change how a species operates. With so few Nightsisters left their future really was in jeopardy. Indeed, a number of Nightbrothers also survived, but not nearly enough for the species to thrive.
The Nightsister Merrin, joined with Cal Kestis in Jedi: Fallen Order, assisting him in rebuilding the Jedi itself and protecting its younglings. She boarded his ship, the Mantis, pledging loyalty and seeking a new direction for her species.
The Sleeper
As revealed in Dark Disciple by Christie Golden, the Nightsisters had a dangerous initiation that allowed them to join this elite group of witches. First, they had to be incredibly powerful with the ways of the force.
They had to then bring the Sleeper under their control and remove a piece of its body to use in an enchantment. Only then would they be able to unlock their full potential. Asajj Ventress put Quinlan Vos through a similar situation when training him in the ways of Dathomir.
Rancors
Dathomir is known to have some dangerous and large species living within its deserted landscapes. In fact, the Nightsisters started to understand how to control such wildlife, to use it as both a weapon and to protect themselves.
Rancors are said to be one of the most ferocious species in the galaxy, but the Nightsisters found a way to tame them. The magic of these witches was so influential, that they could bring even a beast such as the Rancor under their spell.
Uprising
Star Wars: Uprising was a canon video game created for mobile devices. The app featured an original story that saw the rise of a rebellious group, during the downfall of the Galactic Empire.
A Smuggler, who had come to be a key figure within the Uprising, was actually trained by a Nightsister named Shelish. She taught this Smuggler how to use the force, trying to guarantee the future of her planet in the new galaxy he was going to build.