Assist (move)

	Assist; ねこのて Cat's Paw
Type	Normal
Category	Status
PP	20 (max. 32)
Power	—
Accuracy	—%
Priority	0
	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;
	Self: Affects the user
Introduced	Generation III
	Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.;
Condition	Cute
Appeal	1 ♥
Jam	0
	The appeal's quality varies depending on its timing.
Condition	Cute
Appeal	2 ♥♥
	Makes the order of contestants random in the next turn.
Condition	Cute
Appeal	1 ♥
Jamming	0
	Effectiveness varies depending on when it is used.
	On Smogon's Movedex: Generation III; Generation IV; Generation V; Generation VI; Generation VII; Generation VIII; Generation IX; ;

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: 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.

Assist can call a move from an allied Pokémon belonging to a different Trainer in a Multi Battle.

In Pokémon Colosseum, Assist does not call moves from fainted Pokémon.

Generation IV

Assist now cannot call a move from an allied Pokémon belonging to a different Trainer in a Multi Battle. It also cannot call moves that would fail due to Gravity or Heal Block being in effect.

Generation V

Assist can now call moves even if they would fail due to Gravity or Heal Block.

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 ✓:

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

Description

Games	Description
RS EColoXD	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 PE	The user hurriedly and randomly uses a move among those known by ally Pokémon.
SwSh BDSP LA SV	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

#		Egg Groups		Level
				III	IV	V	VI	VII
								SM USUM
0300	Skitty	Field	Fairy	19	18^DP 22^PtHGSS	22	22^XY 31^ORAS	31
0431	Glameow	Field		Field		29	29	29	29
0432	Purugly	Field		Field		29	29	29	29
0509	Purrloin	Field		Field			6	6	6
0510	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. 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

#		Egg Groups		Egg Move
				III	IV	V	VI	VII
								SM USUM
0052	Meowth	Field		Field	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0052	Meowth Alolan Form	Field		Field					✔
0096	Drowzee	Human-Like		Human-Like	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0161	Sentret	Field		Field	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0215	Sneasel	Field		Field	−	✔^HGSS	✔	✔	✔
0327	Spinda	Field	Human-Like	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
0390	Chimchar	Field	Human-Like		✔^HGSS	✔	✔	✔
0677	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. 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
0052		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. 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.

Game	Base Power	Max Power	Base PP	Max PP	Base Accuracy	Max Accuracy	Range	Target	Cuts corners
MDRB	-	-	27	-	—%	-	Varies	Varies	Varies
MDTD S	-	-	27	-	100%	-	Varies	Varies	Varies
BSL	-	-	27	-	100%	-	Varies	Varies	Varies
MDGtI	-	-	20	99	—%	-	Varies	Varies	Varies
SMD	-	-	20	99	—	-	Varies	Varies	Varies
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games: MD Rescue Team = Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. MD Time and Darkness = Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. MD Sky = Pokémon Platinum. MD Adventure Squad = Pokémon Platinum. MD Gates to Infinity = Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. Super Mystery Dungeon = Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. MD Rescue Team DX = Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

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 animation

Pokémon animated series

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
	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
Delcatty; using 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 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	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	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	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	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	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	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.
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 that can be called by Assist, Assist will 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

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	Ayuda (AG053, AG072–present) Asistencia (AG058–AG062)
Spanish	Spain	Ayuda
Vietnamese		Tay Mèo

References

↑ How Purrloin Forced Pokemon to Change the Game

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.

[1] How Purrloin Forced Pokemon to Change the Game

[1]