Protoss are 9'8" in height and have two glowing eyes (Tassadar initially has blue coloured eyes, but as he uses his psionic abilities they glow yellow), digitigrade legs, semi-permeable skin covered in scales, four digits on their hands (of which two are thumbs) and toes, broad chests and shoulders, and narrow waists with slim midsections. Extending back from the crown of the head, Protoss have a bony crest. Beneath it, emerging from the back of the head, are the nerve cords, allowing them to access their racial psionic gestalt. This gestalt is the basis of the Khala. The Khala is in fact a crystal used by the Protoss to link all of their minds together. This way every single Protoss is aware of the other's thoughts and can not hide their intentions from others in their race. Because of this, the Protoss have centred their entire society and religion on the Khala crystal.

The Xel'Naga (An ancient race that founded the beginning of Protoss society) considered these beings to have purity of form as the Protoss are incredibly adaptable to harsh natural conditions and climates, and their strength and speed were unparalleled amongst the other races known to the Xel'Naga. Protoss even have sharp claws, which can be deadly weapons if a Protoss is caught unarmed. Tassadar's claws will be blunted for this game.

Protoss do not have mouths, noses, or visible ears. Protoss are photosynthetic, capable of living off of moonlight (reflected sunlight), and can go without light for extended periods of time. They drink water, and what little water they need is absorbed through their skins.

Protoss hear and smell through their skin, and it is believed that their primary sense is sight. Protoss have a sense of smell sharp enough to identify other Protoss and see very well at night. A Protoss' skin colour may change in response to changes in its emotions.

A Protoss' average life expectancy is about a thousand years.

Protoss blood is blue or purple, with a slight iridescence. They also have a psionic pulse encased in a physical body. Once that body is destroyed, the psionic pulse dissipates, flaring with a pale, blue light.

As in humans, coloration is considered a sign of ethnicity, with each Protoss tribe having a specific subtly differing hue or typical pattern of markings associated with it.

Mental Abilities:

Protoss are extraordinarily focused, to a degree unmatched by humans. Their powerful psionic abilities extend further than that of human Ghosts. Protoss are natural mind-readers. Protoss must learn to filter the thoughts they read and filter (or block) the thoughts that they release (which would prevent other Protoss from reading their minds). The ability to block thoughts is compromised by the Khala, which prevents the Protoss which follow that philosophy from hiding from each other.

Protoss can communicate telepathically with each other. They can do so through "speaking", a method that does not transmit emotional content. Using their nerve cords they can also communicate in a manner which enables them to sense each others' emotions, a key part of their psionic gestalt, the Khala.

Protoss "speak" a language called Khalani; Terrans (Humans) exposed to Protoss telepathic communication often hear nearly meaningless symbols. However, at least some Protoss have the ability to "translate" the thoughts into a form which a Terran can understand – such as Tassadar has been able to.

The Protoss High Templar treading the path of the Khala are taught to close their minds to the outside world - for powerful psychics like the Protoss this may produce psychic ripples that are harmful to other life forms. High Templar, like Tassadar, are trained to focus these ripples into terrible storms of psychic energy that destroy the minds of other living creatures.