Assist (move)

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 depends on its timing.

Super Contests

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

Contest Spectaculars

Condition	Cute
Appeal	0
Jamming	0

On Smogon's Movedex:

Assist (Japanese: ねこのて Cat's Paw) is a non-damaging Template:Type2 move introduced in Generation III, in which it was Skitty's signature move.

Effect

Generation III

Assist calls up a move randomly known by one of the fellow Pokémon in its party and fully executes the attack. An attack called up by Assist counts as the last move used. A Pokémon will be able to use a move that is disabled in its own moveset if called via Assist.

Assist will not call itself or any of the following moves in this generation of games:

Move	Type	Cat.
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}}}
Endure	Normal	Status	{{{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}}}
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}}}
Protect	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Sketch	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Snatch	Dark	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Struggle	Normal	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Thief	Dark	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Trick	Psychic	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}

Generation IV

In a wild double battle, a wild Pokémon that uses Assist can use a move the other wild Pokémon knows.

Assist will not call itself or any of the following moves in this generation of games:

Move	Type	Cat.
Chatter	Flying	Special	{{{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}}}
Endure	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Feint	Normal	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}}}
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}}}
Protect	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Sketch	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Snatch	Dark	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}}}
Trick	Psychic	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}

Generation V

Assist can now use moves known by unhatched Eggs in the party.

Assist will not call itself or any of the following moves in this generation of games:

Move	Type	Cat.
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}}}
Dragon Tail	Dragon	Physical	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Endure	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Feint	Normal	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}}}
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}}}
Protect	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Sketch	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	{{{3}}}	{{{4}}}	{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}
Snatch	Dark	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}}}

Description

This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Colo and XD description

Games	Description
RSE	Attacks randomly with one of the partner’s moves.
FRLG	The user randomly picks and uses a move of an allied Pokémon.
DPPtHGSSBW	The user hurriedly and randomly uses a move among those known by other Pokémon in the party.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Type	Level
#	Pokémon		Type	I		II	III	IV		V	VI
300		Skitty	Normal	Normal	19		18	22	22		'
431		Glameow	Normal	Normal			29			29		'
432		Purugly	Normal	Normal			29			29		'
509		Purrloin	Dark	Dark						6		'
510		Liepard	Dark	Dark						6		'
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Type		Father
#	Pokémon		Type		II	III	IV	V	VI
052		Meowth	Normal		Normal
096		Drowzee	Psychic		Psychic
161		Sentret	Normal		Normal
215		Sneasel	Dark	Ice
327		Spinda	Normal		Normal
390		Chimchar	Fire		Fire
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

In the anime

Pokémon	Method
Razor Leaf Skitty Ember String Shot
The user hurriedly and randomly uses a move among those known by other Pokémon in the party.
User	First Used In	Notes
	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

Pokémon	Method
File:Coco Assist Iron Defense.png Iron Defense
The user uses a move known by one of its Trainer's other Pokémon or a partner.
User	First Chapter Used In	Notes
	Delcatty uses a move known by one of its Trainer's other Pokémon or its partner.
Ruby's Coco	VS. Kyogre & Groudon XI	Debut

Trivia

The original Japanese name for this attack is neko no te (ねこのて), which literally means "cat's paw". However, this is probably a play on words; the attack calls for the assistance of a random team member's attack to help defeat the opponent. In Japanese, there is a saying for when assistance is greatly needed; "neko no te mo karitai" (猫の手も借りたい), or "I would even like to borrow a cat's hands / I would even like a cat to assist me", or "I need all the help I can get". And since the only Pokémon who can use this move by leveling up are cat-like (with an animation of scattered cat pawprints), it displays a double meaning.

In other generations

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	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

In other languages

Language		Title
Dutch		Bijstand
Finnish		Avustus
French		Assistance
German		Zuschuss
Greek		Στήριξη
Hindi		मदद Madad
Indonesian		Tangan Kucing
Italian		Assistente
Korean		조수 Josu
Polish		Asysta
Portuguese	Brazil	Auxílio, Ajudar, Lance
Portuguese	Portugal	Assistência
Serbian		Asistencija
Spanish		Ayuda

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.

Assist (move)

Contents

Effect

Generation III

Generation IV

Generation V

Description

Learnset

By leveling up

By breeding

In the anime

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Trivia

In other generations

In other languages

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