Standard Action

A standard action allows you to do something, most commonly to make an attack or cast a spell. Some combat options (such as using the Cleave feat) are standard actions that allow you to make an attack but don't count as the attack action. These options can't be combined with other standard actions or options that modify only attack actions. Attack Action: An attack action is a type of standard action. Some combat options can modify only this specific sort of action. When taking an attack action, you can apply all appropriate options that modify an attack action. You can apply these to any combat option that takes the place of a melee attack made using an attack action, though options that increase damage don't cause attacks to deal damage if they wouldn't otherwise do so. You can't combine options that modify attack actions with standard actions that aren't attack actions, such as Cleave. Melee Attack: While a melee attack isn't an action type itself, many options and other rules affect melee attacks. Some combat options can be used anytime you make a melee attack, including attacks of opportunity. These options can't be combined with each other, but they can be combined with options that modify an attack action or are standard or full-round actions.