The Chiss were near-humans, meaning their shape, features, and dimensions were greatly similar to those of humans. However, some notable differences being that their skin was blue, their hair a shimmering blue-black, and their eyes a glowing red. Because of those first two characteristics, they were frequently mistaken for Pantorans, blue-skinned humanoids from Pantora, although Pantorans did not have red eyes. Besides their coloration, Chiss eyes were slightly better than those of humans, their visible spectrum edging a little into the infrared range. Additionally, their hearing was sharper.

Force-sensitivity, referred to as Sight by the Chiss, was incredibly rare and manifested in limited abilities, namely precognition which was Third Sight and telepathy, which was known as Second Sight. These Force-sensitive Chiss were almost always female. Their abilities diminished as they grew older and eventually disappeared. The secrets of Second and Third Sights were among the best-kept secrets in the Chiss Ascendancy, to such an extent that many Chiss themselves were unaware of their full extent or even their existence. While he was familiar with the intricacies of Third Sight, Chiss Imperial Grand Admiral Mitth’raw’nuruodo knew of the existence of Second Sight but was unaware of its abilities. Girls identified with the ability to use the Sight were trained to act as navigators for the Chiss fleet through the treacherous hyperspace routes of the Unknown Regions. They were known as ozyly-esehembo, the Cheunh word for «sky-walker.»