Assist (move)

Assist (Japanese: ねこのて Cat's Paw) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation III. Prior to Generation IV, it was the signature move of Skitty.

Assist
ねこのて Cat's Paw

Battles

Type	Normal
Category	Status
PP	20 (max. 32)
Power	—
Accuracy	—%
Priority	{{{priority}}}
Does not make contact Not affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Not affected by Mirror Move Not affected by King's Rock

Target

Foe	Foe	Foe
Self	Ally	Ally
Affects the user

Availability

Introduced	Generation III
Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests

Condition	Cute
Appeal	1 ♥
Jam	0
The appeal's quality varies depending on its timing.

Super Contests

Condition	Cute
Appeal	2 ♥♥
Makes the order of contestants random in the next turn.

Contest Spectaculars

Condition	Cute
Appeal	1 ♥
Jamming	0
Effectiveness varies depending on when it is used.

On Smogon's Movedex:

Effect

Generation III

	This move effect may be in need of research. Reason: Can it call moves from an ally (and allied inactive Pokémon) in a Multi Battle in Generation III? What are the effects of Choice items on Assist? You can discuss this on the talk page.

Assist randomly selects an eligible move from all of the moves known by other Pokémon in the user's party allies (including fainted Pokémon) and executes it. If no other Pokémon in the user's party know eligible moves, Assist fails. Assist can call a move even if that move is disabled for the user.

Generation IV

Assist cannot call a move from an allied Pokémon belonging to a different trainer in a Multi Battle.

Generation V

Assist can use moves known by unhatched Eggs in the party. In a wild Double Battle, a wild Pokémon that uses Assist can use a move the other wild Pokémon knows.

Generation VI to VII

Assist can no longer use moves known by unhatched Eggs in the party.

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Assist, and if the called move is a damaging move, it will turn the called move into its respective Z-Move. If the called move is a status move, Z-Assist will merely execute that move without any additional effects.

Generation VIII

Assist cannot be selected in a battle.

Uncallable moves

	This move effect may be in need of research. Reason: Whether Shadow moves are callable You can discuss this on the talk page.

Assist cannot call itself or any of the following moves marked with a ✓:

Move	Type	Cat	Generations
Move	Type	Cat	III	IV	V	VI	VII
Baneful Bunker	Poison	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}					✔
Beak Blast	Flying	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}					✔
Belch	Poison	Special	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}				✔	✔
Bestow	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}			✔	✔	✔
Bounce	Flying	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔
Celebrate	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}				✔	✔
Chatter	Flying	Special	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}		✔	✔	✔	✔
Circle Throw	Fighting	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}			✔	✔	✔
Copycat	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}		✔	✔	✔	✔
Counter	Fighting	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Covet	Normal	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Destiny Bond	Ghost	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Detect	Fighting	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Dig	Ground	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔
Dive	Water	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔
Dragon Tail	Dragon	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}			✔	✔	✔
Endure	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Feint	Normal	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}		✔	✔	✔	✔
Fly	Flying	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔
Focus Punch	Fighting	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Follow Me	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Helping Hand	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Hold Hands	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}				✔	✔
King's Shield	Steel	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}				✔	✔
Mat Block	Fighting	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}				✔	✔
Me First	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}		✔	✔	✔	✔
Metronome	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Mimic	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Mirror Coat	Psychic	Special	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Mirror Move	Flying	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Nature Power	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔
Phantom Force	Ghost	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}				✔	✔
Protect	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Rage Powder	Bug	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}			✔	✔	✔
Roar	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔
Shadow Force	Ghost	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}		✘	✘	✔	✔
Shell Trap	Fire	Special	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}					✔
Sketch	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sky Drop	Flying	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}			✘	✔	✔
Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Snatch	Dark	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Spiky Shield	Grass	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}				✔	✔
Spotlight	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}					✔
Struggle	Normal	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Switcheroo	Dark	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}		✔	✔	✔	✔
Thief	Dark	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Transform	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✘	✘	✔	✔	✔
Trick	Psychic	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Whirlwind	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}	✘	✘	✘	✔	✔

Description

Games	Description
RS EColo.XD	Attacks randomly with one of the partner's moves.
FRLG	The user randomly picks and uses a move of an allied Pokémon.
DP Pt HGSSPBR BW B2W2 XY ORAS	The user hurriedly and randomly uses a move among those known by other Pokémon in the party.
SM USUM	The user hurriedly and randomly uses a move among those known by ally Pokémon.
SwSh	This move can't be used. It's recommended that this move is forgotten. Once forgotten, this move can't be remembered.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII
300		Skitty		Field	Fairy	19	18^DP 22^PtHGSS	22	22^XY 31^ORAS	31
431		Glameow		Field		Field		29	29	29	29
432		Purugly		Field		Field		29	29	29	29
509		Purrloin		Field		Field			6	6	6
510		Liepard		Field		Field			1, 6	1, 6	1, 6
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		Egg Move
#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII
052		Meowth		Field		Field	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
052		Meowth Alolan Form		Field		Field					✔
096		Drowzee		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
161		Sentret		Field		Field	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
215		Sneasel		Field		Field		✔^HGSS	✔	✔	✔
327		Spinda		Field	Human-Like	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
390		Chimchar		Field	Human-Like		✔^HGSS	✔	✔	✔
677		Espurr		Field		Field				✔	✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

Generation IV

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
052		Meowth		Field		Field	Pokémon Center Meowth
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, Assist is a move with 27PP. The user calls a move known by Pokémon on the floor, including the user (if the move picks Assist, it will fail). Unlike most non-damaging moves, Assist can be boosted by Ginseng; the boost will be applied to whichever move was called.

In Explorers of Time and Darkness, the move cannot be boosted by Ginseng anymore.

In Explorers of Sky, the move is now affected by Taunt.

Description

Games	Description
MDRB	Makes the user randomly use one move out of all the moves of the Pokémon on the floor.
MDTD S	Causes the user to unleash a random move drawn from all the moves that all Pokémon on the floor know.
BSL	フロアすべてのポケモンのわざからどれかひとつのわざをくりだす
MDGtI	It causes you to unleash a random move from all the moves that your teammates on the floor know.
SMD	It enables you to use one of the moves known by your teammates.* It causes you to unleash a random move from all the moves known by your teammates on the floor.*

In the anime

Pokémon	Method

Skitty	Skitty; using Razor Leaf	Skitty; using Ember	Skitty; using String Shot
The user hurriedly and randomly uses a move among those known by other Pokémon in the party.
User	First Used In		Notes
Skitty	A white orb appears on Skitty's front paw. Skitty then fires a random move known by the Trainer's team from the orb.
May's Skitty	Game Winning Assist		Debut

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

	Delcatty; using Iron Defense

The user uses a move known by one of its Trainer's other Pokémon or a partner.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
Delcatty	Delcatty uses a move known by one of its Trainer's other Pokémon or its partner.
Ruby's Kiki	The Beginning of the End with Kyogre & Groudon XI	Debut

In other generations

Core series games

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Side series games

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Spin-off series games

Generation I	RB Y	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLG E	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	Pt HGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SM USUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

In Generation III, the status screen erroneously states that the move has 100% accuracy, even though it targets the user (thus it ignores accuracy and evasion checks). The move called by Assist still has to undergo accuracy and evasion checks as normal, however.
The Japanese name for this move, ねこのて Neko no Te (Cat's Paw), is likely a reference to the saying 猫の手も借りたい neko no te mo karitai, which translates to "I would even like to borrow a cat's hands" ("I would even like a cat to assist me"), which means "I need all the help I can get". This is reflected by the way the move works, and that many feline Pokémon are capable of learning it.

In other languages

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	借助 Jejoh * 協助 Hipjoh *
Chinese	Mandarin	借助 Jièzhù * 協助 / 协助 Xiézhù *
Dutch		Bijstand
Finnish		Avustus
French		Assistance
German		Zuschuss
Greek		Στήριξη
Hindi		मदद Madad
Indonesian		Tangan Kucing
Italian		Assistente
Korean		조수 Josu
Portuguese	Brazil	Assistência (TCG, manga) Auxílio
Portuguese	Portugal	Assistência
Serbian		Asistencija
Spanish	Latin America	Asistencia
Spanish	Spain	Ayuda
Vietnamese		Tay Mèo

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.

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