Mag Zaroff was a humanoid and formidable Jedi hunter aligned with the Galactic Empire, known to be Force-sensitive. She demonstrated the ability to levitate objects, weaponizing them against her targets, and moved with a composed and self-assured demeanor. During the Imperial Era, Zaroff hunted a fleeing Jedi and collaborated with a group of bounty hunters in pursuit of the same Jedi. She once confronted the Jedi and their ally in a snowy environment. Zaroff's attire included a lengthy cloak displaying the Imperial crest, and she was armed with a red lightsaber. Furthermore, she commanded her own personal ship.
The character of Mag Zaroff was first documented in The Art of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, a reference book authored by Aaron Contreras, featuring a foreword by Jordan Lamarre-Wan, and published by Dark Horse Books on November 19, 2019. Zaroff was initially developed as a character for the video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which launched on November 15, 2019. In the early stages of the game's production, she was envisioned as the primary adversary. However, the Second Sister Inquisitor ultimately assumed the role of the main antagonist, though many aspects of Zaroff's design were repurposed for the Nightsister Merrin. Concept art for Zaroff was created by lead concept artists Jordan Lamarre-Wan and Gustavo Mendonca. In one set of concept art by Mendonca, Zaroff was shown wearing black armor with sharp, blade-like fingers, a black kama, and a scabbard on the back of her armor for storing her lightsabers. The armor also featured a black hood with a red interior lining.