If a characters special power says he has a power, that character can use feats that require said power, if it says he can use a certain power, he cannot use feats. Correct?

Example. Figure 1 says he has mind control and psyhic blast. I can use mental shields on that figure. Right? Figure 2 says he can use mind control and psyhic blast. I cannot use mental shields on this figure. Right?

Thanks for any help.

You are correct. They may have the power, but unless it actually shows up on the dial with the appropriate color then it would not meet the qualifications for the said feat.

from what i understand as long as he has the actual ability he can be assigned the feat then when it says he can "use" the ability he can qualify for it but in the case of mastermind i don;t think he can actually get mental shields because he never has just MC on his dial

So, they actually have to have the color showing? A special power that says I have mind control doesn't count?

Precisely. Special powers do not meet the prerequisites of feats.

As an aside, I think all Special Powers made so far has the "can use power X" wording. If you have an example where it says "has power X", feel free to point it out.

That is my understanding. A Special power grants you Mind Control for example but you do not have that actual power or ability on the dial so you would not qualify for Mental Sheilds on those clicks.

Normal or one of the really good rules guys will surely be along shortly and either back me up with evidence or make me go sit in the corner and read the FAQ again until I get things right.

See, someone came along who can explain better.

This also explains why I am not a teacher. I can do, but cannot convey how so other can learn.

Well, Mastermind was the figure I had in mind, but I went back and reread the M&M dials thread and you are correct, it does say "can use Mastermind". Seems like figures like this would say has instead of can use. Oh well, thanks for the help.

The whole point of granting a Special Power that says "can use" instead of simply giving them the actual power or saying "has this" is to prevent those characters from being able to use certain feats. I guess WK thought those characters would be too broken if they were allowed to use those feats. I'm sure the "can use" shaves the point cost a little since it prevents them from using feats.

There are certain work-arounds, though. For example, Mandarin has a power which lets him use MC. He has natural Willpower. The prerequisite for Mental Shields is WP or MC. The text says that he takes no feed when he USES MC. On the clicks where he has the natural WP and the SP showing together, he is therefore able to use the card.