"Protected: Pulse Wave" applies to a single power or ability, and allows a character to use that power or ability during a Pulse Wave attack.
Let's say a character has the normal damage power Shape Change and a special defense power that reads "Super Senses. Protected: Pulse Wave."
If that character was attacked with Pulse Wave, it would not be able to use Shape Change, just like other characters. However, it WOULD be able to use Super Senses to try to evade the Pulse Wave attack. If it failed, it would take damage like normal.

"PROTECTED: Pulse Wave" applies to an entire character, and prevents them from being damaged or even being targeted by a Pulse Wave attack. Such a character basically can't be affected by Pulse Wave at all.

In the case of Colossals, the ability Great Size now includes "Protected: Pulse Wave". That means Giants and Colossals can use Great Size during a Pulse Wave attack. This just means they stay big during the attack, whereas before they would strangely shrink during Pulse Wave, leading to some weird corner cases with line of fire.
Other than that, Colossals are affected normally by Pulse Wave (assuming they don't have other powers that protect them).

In short: No, a Colossal cannot withstand Pulse Wave.

Edit. Pls disregard mudding info.

1. Ignore isn't a game term anymore.

2. This is a corner case that confuses the issue in relation to the original question. So, it's typically better left unsaid.

I'm sorry. He said colossals can't withstand pulse wave and 95% of the colossals I play against can, and I thought it was unwise to leave off with such a blanket distillation.

Ignore may not be a game term but it is still a word that I'd like to think makes the point of what pulse wave does. Is there a better one?

But not because Great Size has Protected, which is what he was answering.

And, even though you did explain most have toughness, what people will remember is "pulse wave can't hurt colossals." And I say this as a guy who has had people completely misrepresent things I've said on here.

Can't use, which is what the power says.

Ignores has problematic baggage inre the game. Easiest example I can think of is the Net. The net makes smoke cloud markers that if occupied need to be broken away from. When you could ignore terrain, people said "then I don't need to breakaway."

Whatever that ruling ended up being, getting rid of ignore simplifies it and makes it more intuitive. You can move through the hindering but you aren't ignoring anything.

I know no harm is intended. The game is just better without it.

I said that as a summation and to answer the original question, which related to Great Size. Since it was meant to be a short summation, I intentionally kept it simple.

If you read my full response, you might have noticed that I DID say I was working under the assumption that this hypothetical Colossal didn't have some other effect that protected it from Pulse Wave:

To be clear I wasn't judging Heins answer, just thought it would be helpful to add more info. Apparently, it is not.

Not trying to drag this out but maybe your final note should have said great size and not colossals. I think that's what caught my attention and made me feel the need to elaborate. Your conclusion covered a broader area than your body. Sorry for trying again.

I get what you meant, but there are always exceptions in HeroClix. I was answering the general case for Colossals. I phrased my conclusion to match the question I was answering, which was:

I personally enjoy the explanations, as a 16 year clix veteran, i will readilly admit, i'm still learning. And i blame wizkids design/ playtesting. There is no uniform consistent wording on powers or rulings. Its so confusing!

Actually, I aught to shush