Assist (move)
Assist ねこのて Cat's Paw | ||||||||||||
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Range
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Availability
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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.
Effect
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. |
The Assist user executes a move that is randomly selected from all the eligible moves known by other Pokémon in the same party. If the same move is known by multiple Pokémon, each of them counts and therefore the move is more likely to be called.
Assist can call a move that currently has no PP or is known by a fainted Pokémon. It is also able to call moves that are currently inaccessible to their original users due to Disable, Heal Block, Taunt, or Torment.
If the other Pokémon in the user's party do not know any eligible moves, Assist fails.
Generation III
If a Pokémon is in battle and its moves have temporarily changed (such as from Transform or Mimic), Assist can only access its original moves.
In Pokémon Colosseum, Assist does not call moves from fainted Pokémon.
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 (even if they are fainted).
If a Pokémon is in battle and its moves have temporarily changed, Assist can now only access its current moves.
Generation VI
Assist can no longer use moves known by unhatched Eggs in the party.
Assist can also no longer call any moves that switch the target out or moves with a semi-invulnerable turn.
Generation VII
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 onwards
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 ✓:
Description
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Learnset
By leveling up
# | Pokémon | Types | Egg Groups | Level | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
III | IV | V | VI | VII | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0300 | Field | Fairy | 19 | 18DP 22PtHGSS |
22 | 22XY 31ORAS |
31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0431 | Field | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0432 | Field | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0509 | Field | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0510 | 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. 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 | Types | Egg Groups | Egg Move | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
III | IV | V | VI | VII | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0052 | Field | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0052 | Meowth
Alolan Form |
Field | ✔ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0096 | Human-Like | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0161 | Field | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0215 | |
Field | − | ✔HGSS | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0327 | Field | Human-Like | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0390 | Field | Human-Like | ✔HGSS | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0677 | Field | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 event
Generation IV
# | Pokémon | Types | Egg Groups | Obtained with | ||
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0052 | 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. 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 other games
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series
Assist randomly calls a move known by any Pokémon (prior to Gates to Infinity) / any teammate (from Gates to Infinity) on the floor. Unlike most non-damaging moves, Assist can be boosted by Ginseng in Red Blue Rescue Team (but not from Explorers of Time and Darkness). The move is not affected by Taunt in Red Blue and Rescue Team as well as Explorers of Time and Darkness, but is affected by it in Explorers of Sky.
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Description
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In animation
The user hurriedly and randomly uses a move among those known by other Pokémon in the party. | |||
Pokémon | Method | ||
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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
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The user uses a move known by one of its Trainer's other Pokémon or a partner. | |||
Pokémon | Method | ||
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User | First Chapter Used In | Notes | |
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
Side series games
Spin-off series games
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.
- The restrictions added to Assist in Generation VI are likely due an exploit when used by a Pokémon with the Ability Prankster in Generation V. If the rest of the party only know a specific move and nothing else, Assist can execute that move every turn with increased priority.
- When calling moves that switch the target out, Assist may keep forcing the opponent to switch out, without ever being able to execute a move. This strategy is often combined with entry hazards to also cause damage each use.
- When calling moves with a semi-invulnerable turn, Assist may keep a user holding a Lagging Tail or Full Incense in a permanent state of semi-invulnerability.[1]
In other languages
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References
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. |
- Moves
- Moves that target the user
- Normal-type moves
- Cute moves
- Status moves
- Generation III moves
- Moves in need of research
- Moves in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity
- Moves in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
- Moves that call other moves
- Moves unusable in Pokémon Sword and Shield
- Moves unusable in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet