Stony Lord of Apokolips: Each time penetrating damage would be dealt to Darkseid, he may ignore 1 of that penetrating damage. If he does, he can't transfer the damage.

Trying to figure this one out in regards to his Mastermind. I know powers are non-optional now, but what would prevent someone using a character with Penetrating/PB from just making a ranged attack while on his mastermind click for full damage? Would they have to use PB if it is on their dial?

Also, what are the chances of getting a ruling that PW is subject to this

(all of this is assuming no fodder)

I am not sure what exactly you are asking, but maybe this will help:

1) Powers that are activated by assigning a character a certain action, like P/PB which is activated by a ranged combat action, are never required to use. You can just say, "I am giving this character a ranged combat action to make a regular attack, not use P/PB," and you are fine.

2) This trait says "may". Darkseid doesn't have to use this trait if he doesn't want to do so.

Absolutely no chance. This trait is concerned with penetrating damage. PW has nothing to do with penetrating damage. PW ignores game effects, including damage reducing powers, but that isn't the same thing as penetrating damage.

Well there are plenty powers out there that deal Penetrating damage other then P/PB. Off the top of my head I can think of characters that can use grenades and Energy Explosion that deal penetrating damage that he could soak.

Unfortunately Pulse Wave will not have any problems with his trait as it will be ignored.

Really, i wasn't thinking of other ways damage could be penetrating. It just doesn't wrap around my brain right about the penetrating damage not being able to be transfered. Its great for his reducer clicks (perpetual toughness against penetrating!), but he can't transfer that damage anyway. It just doesnt seem logical (yes, i know) that anyone targeting him on his mastermind click would ever deal penetrating damage rather than straight up damage.

If his MM fodder had damage reducing powers/abilities then you would most definitely want to attack Darkseid with penetrating damage.

It all depends on what you want to do. He has Mastermind and if you know he is going to use it, well the chump he throws in the way might have a damage reducing power so use something that deals penetrating that way all the damage goes threw.

Who would ever play darkseid without parademons (who does not have damage reducers)???????

The thing is, if Darkseid decided to use his Trait in this case, and ignored 1 of the Penetrating Damage, he then cannot transfer the Damage with Mastermind anyway

I too am confused by it. What would be the point of ignoring the 1 Penetrating Damage, when he doesn't have a Damage reducer anyway?

It does nothing on his Mastermind click since only he reduces the damage by 1 when he is dealt penetrating and he can't pass it, and your opponent would really be losing his marbles if he declares he's using P/PB while he's on that click knowing Darkseid has this trait.

Its effect is apparent when he's on his Imperv/Invul where P/PB will normally punch through for full effect but Darkseid's trait makes sure at least 1 damage won't go through. It also means you can't hurt him with effects that deal "1 penetrating damage".

Say a character uses Ink grenade to hit Darksied and his pals. Well instead of masterminding the damage over he can soak it.

The other thing I think that is being forgotten is that its his Trait!!! He has it his whole dial, he only has Master Mind for 2 clicks.

Not on my part. The thing is that when he has his reducers, he has no way to transfer the damage anyway Again????? So to recap:

When he has Mastermind he has no reducers, and if he uses the Trait, he cannot use Mastermind anyway.

When he has reducers, he has no way to transfer the Damage anyway.

What am I missing here?

The only thing I can think of, is that somewhere in the LE's or Chases for this set, there is some kind of Minion power that allows the transfer of Damage, and this prevents it. Which makes the Minion power (if it does exist ) less than useless as far as Darkseid is concerned.

Mikron could give him a power to transfer damage.

Nope, he can't:

UNBELIEVABLE WEAPONRY : Once per game (but not during another action) when Mikron O'Jeneus is adjacent to a non-held object, as a free action remove that object from the game and choose a standard attack power............

There are no standard attack powers that transfer Damage.

Stony Lord of Apokolips: Each time penetrating damage would be dealt to Darkseid, he may ignore 1 of that penetrating damage. If he does, he can't transfer the damage.

Think of it this way. Its not 100% accurate because of feats / special powers but against straight up psychic blast / exploit it works.

A) When characters attack Darkseid with penetrating damage it becomes normal damage if he doesn't transfer it. Darkseid must use toughness instead of his normal defense.

B) To clarify that this damage reducer does not work with Mastermind because of the order of events in which master mind takes place.