Can traits be countered?

Reason: Was thinking of putting Ambush feat on CA Black Widow that has Stealth trait.

Lots of threads have answered this many times.

But to answer... You cannot outwit TRAITS. IF the traits states "This character POSSESSES X power" that POWER can be Outwitted. If the trait states "This characters MAY USE X power", they cannot be outwitted.

Traits can't be countered.

Traits MIGHT allow you to possess a power or combat ability, and if you POSSESS a power or combat ability, it can be countered (even if you get it through a trait). Most traits say that you CAN USE a power or combat ability, in which case, it would not be able to be countered.

Example Trait #1: Jimmy can use the Swim ability.
Example Trait #2: Jimmy has the speed symbol.

In the first example, one could not counter Swim as Jimmy does not possess it. In the second example, you would be able to counter Swim since he has the which indicates that the character possesses the Swim ability.

So....I take it Ambush on her would be a good thing since it says she can use Stealth and not has Stealth?

Spy to the Core: Black Widow can use Stealth.

AMBUSH

Cost: 5

Prerequisite: Stealth

Choose a character. The character gets +2 to its attack value when it makes a close combat attack while occupying hindering terrain. After the attack resolves, the character’s Stealth is countered until the beginning of your next turn.

This is actually a really nice combo. Black Widow can use Stealth, which is enough to qualify her to use the Ambush feat. But wait, the feat says if you use it, Stealth is countered until the next turn, but Black Widow's Stealth can't be countered... which doesn't mean you can't use the feat, it means that Black Widow is immune to the feat's downside.

Chintzy? Maybe a little, and completely legal.

Yep. I remember this combo being quite popular with Nightcrawler when he first came out. Because all Nightcrawler needed was a 12 attack on top of everything else.