Pay Day (Japanese: ネコにこばん Coin for a Cat) is a damage-dealing Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It is TM16 in Generation I, TM57 in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, and TM02 in Pokémon Sword and Shield.
In Generations II and III, it was the signature move of Meowth and Persian, and from Generations IV to VI, it was the signature move of Meowth. In Generation IX, it is the signature move of Meowth, Persian, and Perrserker.
Effect
 | This move effect may be in need of research. Reason: What is the maximum amount of money available per battle from Pay Day in all generations? You can discuss this on the talk page. |
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Pay Day deals damage and scatters coins on the ground. The amount of coins increases directly with the user's level. If the player wins the battle or ends a wild encounter with a move that forces the opponent to flee (such as Roar or Dragon Tail), they will pick up all the scattered coins and receive the money amount.
The amount of money from Pay Day is doubled if any of the player's Pokémon takes part in battle while holding an Amulet Coin or Luck Incense. (This effect can only be applied once, regardless of how many additional Pokémon hold these items.)
No money is obtained if
Generation I
Pay Day scatters coins with a value equal to twice the user's level (at the time the move was used), up to 200 coins if the user is level 100.
Pay Day will normally scatter coins when it hits a substitute, but fails to do so if it breaks the substitute.
In this generation, the maximum amount of Pay Day coins allowed per battle is $999,999. After this, the game still states that coins are scattered with every use of Pay Day, but the value of coins stored by the game will not increase any further.
At the end of the battle, the player picks up all coins scatter by both their own Pokémon and opposing Pokémon.
Generation II
| This move effect may be in need of research. Reason: Is money received when a wild Pokémon escapes? (such as wild Magnemite, Grimer, Cubone, etc.) You can discuss this on the talk page. |
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Pay Day now scatters coins even if the move breaks a substitute.
Generation III to V
| This move effect may be in need of research. Reason: Does the Amulet Coin error occur in Pokémon Colosseum and XD? You can discuss this on the talk page. |
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Pay Day now scatters coins equal to five times the user's level each time. The player can now only pick up coins that were scattered by their own Pokémon.
Pay Day hitting a substitute will no longer scatter coins (even if the substitute breaks).
Generation VI
If the user levels up during battle, the amount of money collected is now calculated based on the new level, not the level at which the move was used.
If Pay Day is used by a Pokémon with Parental Bond (e.g. by using Skill Swap), coins are only scattered on the first hit.
Happy Hour increases the amount of money picked up.
Prize Money Power increases the amount of money picked up.
Generation VII
| This move effect may be in need of research. Reason: Is money received when Nihilego escapes in Aether Paradise? Is the Lusamine fight (which does not offer money) in Ultra Space affected by Pay Day? Does Roto Prize Money affect Pay Day? You can discuss this on the talk page. |
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Glitches
| This move effect may be in need of research. Reason: Check the behavior for Levels 101-255 and 0 in Generation IV and up You can discuss this on the talk page. |
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Generations I and II
If the user has a level higher than 100 (which is not allowed in normal gameplay, but is possible via some methods such as the old man glitch), Pay Day still works as usual up to level 127, scattering up to $254 per use. This move would scatter $0 if the user is level 0, but no message is displayed. However, if the user's level is between 128 and 255, Pay Day scatters an amount of money equal to ( level − 128 ) × 2 {\textstyle ({\text{level}}-128)\times 2} . For instance, Pay Day scatters $0 at level 128, $100 at level 178, and $254 at level 255.
Pokémon over Level 100 cannot be traded from Generation I into Generation II due to a message that the Pokémon is abnormal, but it is possible to obtain one in Generation II with a means of arbitrary code execution such as the Coin Case glitch.
Generation III
Unlike Generation I and II, Pay Day gives the expected amount of money for Levels 101-255 (five times the level; so a maximum of $1275 per use). As before, this move would scatter $0 if the user is level 0, but no message is displayed.
Pokémon over Level 100 can be obtained using an arbitrary code execution method such as viewing a glitch Pokémon's animation or using a glitch move from Glitzer Popping.
Due to a minor glitch in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the wrong amount of money will be displayed if the Amulet Coin is held (including for Levels 1-100). The correct amount is still gained after the battle. This error was fixed in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen and all subsequent games.
Description
|
Learnset
By leveling up
By TM
By breeding
Special move
Generation III
| # | Pokémon | Types | Egg Groups | Obtained with | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0300 |  |  | Field | Fairy | Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire - Skitty Egg | |
| 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 I
Generation II
| # | Pokémon | Types | Egg Groups | Obtained with | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0225 |  |   | Water 1 | Field | New York City Pokémon Center | |
| 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
Pay Day deals damage. If the target is knocked out with this move, it will drop Poké (on top of their held item, if any). This effect will not trigger if the target is recruited. The move's secondary effect will not occur in all dungeons (for example, not in mazes in Super Mystery Dungeon).
Super Smash Bros. series
When a Meowth appears from a Poké Ball in Super Smash Bros., Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, it uses Pay Day to hurl coins at opponents.
Pokémon Rumble Rush
Pay Day| ★ | |
|---|---|
| Attack power | 33.84057 |
| Charge time | 0.74 seconds |
| Range type | Projectile |
| Number of hits | 1 |
| Number of projectiles | 1 |
| Critical hit rate | 1.5% |
| Additional effect | None |
Description
|
In the anime
 Meowth | |||
| Numerous balls of energy are hurled at the target to inflict damage. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Used In | Notes | |
 | Meowth crosses its arms, then opens them quickly and multiple glowing white balls of energy come out of the charm on its head. | ||
| The Black Arachnid's Meowth | Spinarak Attack | Debut | |
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All
 Meowth | |||
| Numerous coins fall out if the foe is hit. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Chapter Used In | Notes | |
| Meowth smacks the opponent and forces coins to fall out. | ||
| Masatoshi's Meowth | Gag Battles | Debut | |
In other generations
Core series games
Side series games
Spin-off series games
Trivia
- The Japanese name of the move is an idiom equivalent to "to cast pearls before swine." The coins depicted in the move's animation are koban, gold coins used in the Edo period of feudal Japan, the same type of coin as the one on Meowth's head.
- In Generation I, Pay Day was one of only three methods (discounting glitches) to earn money once all Trainers were defeated, the other two being selling items (obtaining them with Coins after all other items are sold) and battling the Elite Four and Champion.
- In Generation I, Pay Day can be used to obtain up to $999,999 per battle. However, this maximum amount would require using this move at least 5000 times in the same battle.
- For instance, obtaining the maximum amount of money in a single battle is achievable in this generation by using a Mew with Pay Day, Rest, and Transform against a wild Ditto. Once Ditto transforms into Mew, they will both have the same moveset, including Pay Day, as well as Rest to restore their own HP. The opponent has infinite PP by default, while the player's Pokémon can indefinitely restore its own PP by repeatedly transforming into the opponent and obtaining its moves again.
In other languages
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