Cleave and Vital Strike

[ArendK]

Simple enough question; do these stack with each other? Can I turn on Vital Strike and Cleave into my first target, then keep Vital Strike going into the second guy? Or does it stop at the first guy? Or as an even different interpretation; are they entirely separate actions?

[Sniggevert]

Vital Strike can only be used with the standard attack action, which is a standard action.

Cleave is a special standard action.

Vital Strike and Cleave can not be used in the same round as they are both part of a specific standard action.

[Nefreet]

They require separate actions and do not work together.

[Claxon]

Both are Standard Actions, no.

[James Risner]

ArendK wrote:

are they entirely separate actions?

You knew this was a possibility, I'm curious what made you think this wasn't the correct answer?

Most people that want to combine Vital Strike and Charge/Cleave/Full Attack/etc don't understand they are separate standard actions.

[Kazaan]

For a more complete explanation; Vital Strike works on the standard action called 'Attack'. Cleave is a standard Use Feat action.

Standard Attack action
Standard Use Feat action

Two distinct and separate actions as well as two mechanisms at work; Vital Strike modifies the Attack action while Cleave is just its own Use Feat action. Multiple abilities that all modify the Attack action (ie. Overhand Chop and Vital Strike) can be used in conjunction, but abilities that modify the Attack action cannot be extended to actions that are not the Attack action (ie. Full-Attack, Use Feat, Use Special Ability, etc).