The third entry in the critically acclaimedStar Wars Jediseries may be years away from release, butStar Wars Jedi: Survivorstill planted seeds for potential developments for the inevitable sequel. From Cal Kestis being hunted by Boba Fett, to the training of Bode Akuna’s daughter Kata with the Force, several new plotlines are hinted at inSurvivor,but whether they come to fruition remains to be seen. However, there’s one development that mostStar Wars Jedifans have wanted to see even since the days ofJedi: Fallen Orderthat’s become more likely with the brief segment as Cere Junda inStar Wars Jedi: Survivor. That feature is getting to play as the Dathomirian Nightsister Merrin.
Merrin’s Development in the Star Wars Jedi Games
Merrin was first introduced as a semi-antagonist inFallen Orderon the world of Dathomir. One of the few survivors of General Grievous’massacre of the Dathomirian Nightsistersfrom the Clone Wars, Merrin survived for years by herself learning the ways of her witches' magick and seldom working with the brutal Zabrak Nightbrothers. Believing the Jedi slaughtered her people, she encountered the fallen Jedi survivor Taron Malicos who sought to learn magick from Merrin and control the Nightbrothers to create a new order of dark side wielders. Eventually, she encountered Kestis and engaged him as an enemy but eventually relented after learning of Malicos’ goals and her common past scars with Kestis as a lone survivor.
By the end ofFallen Order, Merrin joined the crew of the Mantis and helped them sabotage the efforts of the Galactic Empire and slowly developed a romantic relationship with Kestis. InSurvivor, Merrin is shown to have expanded her knowledge of Dathomirian magick as she helped Junda rescue Force users and knowledge of the Hidden Path, being able to conjure spears, freeze objects, and open portals. Merrin acts more as a common video game companion inSurvivorthan as the occasional background character she was until the end ofFallen Order. She even helpedJunda defend the Hidden Pathfrom Darth Vader’s assault and aided Kestis in taking down the rogue Jedi Bode Akuna.
So far, there are few known survivors from General Grievous' Dathomirian massacre inStar Warscanon, including Mother Talzin, Merrin, and Morgan Elsbeth.
Merrin’s Potential Role in Star Wars Jedi 3
With the crew of the Mantis left having reachedthe hidden world of Tanalorrand deciding to raise Kata in the ways of the Force, there’s lots of potential for both Merrin and the rest of the crew to develop and grow inStar Wars Jedi 3. If Merrin and Kestis become more romantically involved, the two could raise Kata as adoptive parents, with Merrin teaching Kata magick and Kestis teaching Kata Jedi lessons and potentially how to use a lightsaber. Kestis could even learn some magick abilities from Merrin herself and teach Merrin how to use a lightsaber to have them be on a level playing field in terms of skills.
SinceSurvivorintroduced the concept of playing as other characters in theStar Wars Jediseries with Junda’s brief battle against Vader, Respawn could allow players to play as Merrin in a similar manner or expand upon the concept to make the next game co-op. If Merrin and Kestis operate more as mission partners inStar Wars Jedi 3, Respawn could have multiple levels where players get to control Merrin instead of theone level as Junda inSurvivor. This could allow Respawn to show off more of Merrin’s magick and possibly delve more into Merrin’s perspective on current and past events.
Merrin’s Potential Gameplay in Star Wars Jedi 3
If Merrin does become playable either in select levels or as a co-op character, Respawn could haveMerrin play similarly to Kestis and Jundabut with a twist. Merrin could still double jump, dash, and heal like Junda, but instead of climbing, she could simply teleport to select locations with her magick. In terms of direct combat, players could use Merrin’s spear, her own lightsaber, or utilize the mystical Blade of Talzin, which has already been shown to operate similarly to a lightsaber inStar Wars: The Clone WarsSeason 6. By having Merrin use the Blade of Talzin in theStar Wars Jediseries, Respawn could still have Merrin play similarly to Kestis while further showcasing her mastery of Nightsister magicks.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
WHERE TO PLAY
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor™, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar. As one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, Cal is driven to make a stand during the galaxy’s darkest times - but how far is he willing to go to protect himself, his crew, and the legacy of the Jedi Order?Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.
