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Ysalamiri were lizard-like tree-dwellers about 50 centimeters in length native to the planet Myrkr, most known for their ability to repel the Force by creating a Force-neutral bubble. This ability evolved in response to predation by the Force-sensitive vornskrs. Many ysalamiri grouped together would expand their Force-neutral bubble by varying distances – sometimes by kilometers.
Contents
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
- "I hate that thing."
- ―Jaina Solo, complaining about the ysalamir's ability to repel the Force

Ysalamir on Myrkr.
Adult ysalamiri grew up to 50 centimeters and hatched their young from bubble-like eggs.[1]
Ysalamiri sank their claws into the Olbio trees on which they lived and drew nutrients.[3] It was very difficult to remove a ysalamir from its tree without killing it, although Talon Karrde's smugglers found a way, enabling Grand Admiral Thrawn to do it as well. Thrawn used ysalamiri for defense by attaching them to a back harness or a nutrient frame which allowed him and his men to remain safely inside the ysalamiri's Force repelling bubble. He used this trick to gain the attention of cloned Dark Jedi Master Joruus C'baoth and accelerated the Spaarti cloning process without the usual side-effects (which occurred when similar Force imprints interfered with one another).
Ysalamiri did not actually negate the Force; since all existence was infused with Force energy,[4] this would not be possible. Rather, they projected a bubble inside which users were unable to exert any influence over the Force. A single bubble measured up to 10 meters in diameter; large groups of ysalamiri could extend their collective bubble by kilometers, but only in great numbers.[5]
Miriskin was a commodity supposedly made from ysalamir skin.[6]
Ysalamiri in culture[edit | edit source]
Having long admired the tenacity of the ysalamiri, the Jedi Order named a form of lightsaber combat, Makashi, after the creature.[7]
Tyber Zann was known for keeping ysalamiri in cages to prevent Force users from being able to cause too much damage.
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
- "The first thing that occurred to me […] was the idea of the ysalamiri creatures that could reduce the Force to a point where Jedi could not access it."
- ―Timothy Zahn on his initial idea for ysalamiri
Ysalamiri first appeared in the 1991 novel Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn.[8] According to Zahn, the idea of a creature that could impede a Jedi's access to The Force was the first idea he had for the story after hearing from his agent about the offer to write a book series that continued the story of Star Wars after Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.[9] The author initially received many complaints from readers regarding Thrawn's explanation in Heir to the Empire that ysalamiri could "push back" the Force on the grounds that the Force was created by all living beings and could not be "pushed back" in that manner. He would clarify that Thrawn's explanation was inaccurate and ysalamiri simply supress the level of the Force present, a distinction that was later shown more clearly.[10]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Darth Plagueis (Mentioned only)
"Sword of the Empire" on Wizards.com (original article link, backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Tiny Death Star (Non-canonical appearance)
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
- Shadows in the Force (Mentioned only)
"A Credit for Your Thoughts"—Star Wars Gamer 2 (Mentioned only)
- Heir to the Empire (First appearance)
- Dark Force Rising
- The Last Command
- Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith
- I, Jedi
- Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (Non-canon appearance in multiplayer mode)
- The Crystal Star (Mentioned only)
- The New Rebellion
- Vision of the Future
- The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide II: Ruin (Mentioned only)
- The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory I: Conquest (Mentioned only)
- The New Jedi Order: Star by Star
- The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand
- The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic II: Refugee (in Tahiri Veila's dream)
- Dark Nest I: The Joiner King (Mentioned only)
- Legacy of the Force: Fury
- Fate of the Jedi: Omen
- Fate of the Jedi: Abyss
- Fate of the Jedi: Allies
- Fate of the Jedi: Ascension
Sources[edit | edit source]
Notes and references[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Heir to the Empire Sourcebook
- ↑ Fate of the Jedi: Abyss
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The New Jedi Order: Star by Star
- ↑ The New Jedi Order: Destiny's Way
- ↑ Heir to the Empire
- ↑ The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide II: Ruin
- ↑ The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force
- ↑ Heir to the Empire
- ↑
"The Hand of Zahn"—Star Wars Insider 36
- ↑ Heir to the Empire: The 20th Anniversary Edition