OK I just started looking at the multiattack ability after winning Dark Phoenix Cyclops. I know there is a thread about it but it talks in circles and does not explain what you can do with the ability.
So here is my question can DPC make two ranged attacks or two Close attacks or a combo of the two using multiattack?

MULTIATTACK Once per turn, give this character a power action. It can be given any two actions
as free action. Resolve the first free action before giving it the second. Modify this
character’s damage value by -1 to a minimum of 1. This ability can’t be countered.

POWER OF THE PHOENIX: Dark Phoenix Cyclops can use the Multiattack ability. When he does and makes 2 attacks, the second attack deals penetrating damage.


thanks for the help.

You can make any two Actions as long as they are not the same action (Free Action Rule)

So you can give a Character with Muti-Attack Ability a Ranged Combat Action to Activate Pulse Wave and then a Ranged Combat Action to make another attack.

You could not give the character a Ranged Combat Action to activate Pulse Wave Twice or to give a standard Ranged Combat Attack twice since they would be the same actions given with Free Actions.

Nothing to see here. Orange got to it before i did.

To the bolded: But you may (since he is colossal) give him a standard Close Combat Action to make a close combat attack and then make a second standard Ranged Combat Action to make a ranged attack with the damage penetrating or vice versa, correct?

I am far from an expert on this, but this is my understanding:

You get to activate any 2 actions as Free Actions.
caveat: you can't activate Double Power Actions with Free Actions, so that's out.

There are only five types of Actions:
Free
Power
Move
Close Combat
Ranged Combat

So, free action to Close Combat Action and free action to Ranged Combat Action is perfectly fine.

But add into this that any of those five actions is used to activate something, so it is possible to use both free actions to activate (for example) Power Actions, so long as the Power Actions would be different effects.

Free Action to give a Power Action to activate Charge
is different from
Free Action to give a Power Action to activate Running Shot.

Free Action to give a Close Combat Action to activate a Close Combat Attack
is different from
Free Action to give a Close Combat Action to activate a close combat Incapacitate attack.

So long as you keep that general chain of action/activation/usage in mind, Multi-Attack and no-mulitple-free-actions rules are a lot easier to grasp.

EDIT: It may be better terminology to phrase it as "Power Action as a Free Action to activate Running Shot", but I hope you get the gist of what I'm saying.

For the bolded part, if that is part of a special ability or power he has then that is determined based on the wording. I could not tell without it being quoted.

As for the rest, that is correct.

What if I use multiattack to:

a) use a close combat action, and then use charge (during which I get a close combat action)

b) the other way around: use charge (which gives me a close combat action) and then use my second action to take a close combat action?

Is any of the above OK?

When using Charge it grants a Close Combat Action (specifically), so it will always be allowed to make a Standard Close Combat Attack (Even if one was used previously in the turn from the same character). But, it can't be used to activate a Power that has already been used during the turn as a Free Action.

Assuming that you are using your CCA for a standard close combat attack both are acceptable.

If you are using some other power that requires a close combat action (quake for example) then you could only use that power once.

OK, a better one: iim029b War Machine is given a double power action t activate alpha strike:

ALPHA STRIKE: Give War Machine a double power action. Give War Machine 2 different actions as free actions.

Can he use running shot to make a ranged combat attack, and then a ranged combat attack? Can he take one of the actions to make a ranged combat attack, and then use running shot to make a ranged combat attack?

Yes and yes.

So, with multi-attack, my damage is modified -1 for the attacks. The first is -1 and the 2nd, due to the DDM is -2?

May I pick an action during multi-attack that does not show on my dial? Or do I do 2 actions that are presently available to me?

The first attack in multi-attack is only -1 damage if the character has allready made an attack previously in this turn.

You may only activate a power or ability that the character can use or possesses when the action is given.