

Prior to emergence they share a bond through the Pale Tree which they call the Dream of Dreams. All sylvari have luminescent cells in their skin, causing them to glow in the dark. They heal at the same general rate as humans and Sylvari who suffer extensive wounds, like those of Malomedies, may scar forever. Whether this applies to limbs or just petals, is uncertain. Wounded Sylvari can regrow parts of themselves, though never to the strength of the original part. It is unknown if the sylvari die of old age, as so far they have only died through violence, poison, or disease and show no signs of aging. Sylvari gender is selected by the Pale Tree prior to each individual's emergence, and is distinguished by the same general features as human genders, and although they can mate and have sex, they cannot reproduce. Malyck, who was born from a different tree, cast doubt upon the accuracy of this explanation, and the matter is considered unresolved. While many scholars now speculate on the sylvari's humanoid appearance, the original explanation was that the Pale Tree based it on her knowledge of Ronan, creating an abstract image of human biology. Sylvari emerge fully formed from golden or cyan fruit pods which grow on the branches of the Pale Tree. However, Explorer Syllia states that the cold does not affect sylvari, and says that she feels more comfortable in the cold than indoors. Sylvari have thermoreceptors, as referenced by a sylvari explorer in the Grove who states that she dislikes Hoelbrak as it is too cold.

They have fully functioning digestive systems and their excrement is something like mulch. Sylvari utilise photosynthesis as a "meditative supplement", but most of their nutrition comes from food just like any other race. They are much more slender than the average human and about a head shorter. Sylvari don't have hearts golden sap moves through their veins instead of blood and pollen falls off of them as they move. Some sylvari closely resemble humans but with a fey cast to their features such as tilted eyes and pointed ear tips most display plantlike features such as hard wood for bone structure, have foliage and petals for hair, and bark acting as flesh. The sylvari are omnivorous humanoid plants.

Sylvari racial skills focus on support with themes of plant manipulation. The sylvari home instance is in the Dreamer's Terrace in the Grove. After finishing the mission, they will appear in Village of Astorea, the starting area in Caledon Forest. Selecting a sylvari character will start players off in the tutorial Fighting the Nightmare where players fight the corruption within the Dream of Dreams before awakening. During character creation, a player can customize a sylvari's physical appearance and answer three race specific biography questions which affect their personal story:
