Pay Day (move) - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia (2024)

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 Generation 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: Is money received when a roaming Pokémon runs away? Is money received when the player ends the battle with Teleport? Is money received when the opposing Pokémon ends the battle with Roar, Whirlwind, or Teleport? In Generation II, is money received when a wild Pokémon escapes? (such as wild Magnemite, Grimer, Cubone, etc.) In Generation VII, is money received when Nihilego escapes in Aether Paradise? What is the maximum amount of money available per battle from Pay Day in all generations? You can discuss this on the talk page.

Pay Day deals damage. When this move hits the target, it scatters coins on the ground.

No coins are scattered if the target is immune to this move's type. The amount of coins is not otherwise affected by type effectiveness.

If the player wins the battle or ends it with Roar or Whirlwind, 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. However, these items do not stack with each other, as having more Pokémon holding any of them does not increase the money amount any further.

No money is obtained in link battles, battle facilities, or if the player flees, catches the opposing Pokémon, or blacks out.

Generation I

Pay Day scatters coins with a value equal to twice the user's level. Leveling up in battle does not affect the amount of coins already scattered in the current battle.

If Pay Day hits the target's substitute, coins are scattered normally as well, except no coins are scattered when this move breaks the substitute.

In this generation, Pay Day still works as usual if the user is up to level 127, scattering up to 254 coins per use. However, from level 128 to 255, Pay Day scatters coins with a value equal to (level - 128) × 2. For instance, Pay Day scatters 0 coins at level 128, 100 coins at level 178, or 254 coins at level 255.

In this generation, the maximum amount of Pay Day coins allowed per battle is 999999 . 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 go any higher.

There is no distinction of who used Pay Day in the current battle, as the player picks up all the coins scattered by their Pokémon and by the opponent Pokémon as well.

Generation II

Pay Day now scatters coins even if the target break the 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.

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 Pokémon.

The opponent's substitute now prevents coins from being picked up, even if the substitute is broken.

Due to a minor glitch in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the wrong amount of money will be displayed if the Amulet Coin is held (the correct amount is still gained after the battle). This error was fixed in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen and all subsequent games.

Generation VI onwards

If the user levels up during battle, the amount of money is now calculated based on the new level, not the level at which the move was used.

Prize Money Power and Happy Hour increase the amount of money picked up, and can both be stacked with each other and either the Amulet Coin or Luck Incense.

If Pay Day is used during a Max Raid Battle, the "Coins were scattered everywhere!" message will not be displayed and money will not be earned after the battle, regardless of whether the opposing Pokémon is captured or not.

Description

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
052		Meowth		Field		17	20	20RSE 18FRLG	30	30	30	30SMUSUM 12PE	12	12
052		Meowth Alolan Form		Field								30SMUSUM 12PE	12	12
052		Meowth Galarian Form		Field									12	12
053		Persian		Field		17	20	20RSE 18FRLG				12PE	12	12
053		Persian Alolan Form		Field								12PE	12	12
863		Perrserker		Field									12	12
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

By TM

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Machine
						I TM16	II --	III --	IV --	V --	VI --	VII TM57	VIII TM02	IX --
025		Pikachu		Field	Fairy	✔						✔PE	✔
026		Raichu		Field	Fairy	✔						✔PE	✔
026		Raichu Alolan Form		Field	Fairy							✔PE	✔
031		Nidoqueen		No Eggs Discovered		✔						✔PE	✔
034		Nidoking		Monster	Field	✔						✔PE	✔
052		Meowth		Field		✔						✔PE	✔
052		Meowth Alolan Form		Field								✔PE	✔
052		Meowth Galarian Form		Field									✔
053		Persian		Field		✔						✔PE	✔
053		Persian Alolan Form		Field								✔PE	✔
054		Psyduck		Water 1	Field	✔						✔PE	✔
055		Golduck		Water 1	Field	✔						✔PE	✔
056		Mankey		Field		✔						✔PE
057		Primeape		Field		✔						✔PE
078		Rapidash		Field									✔
078		Rapidash Galarian Form		Field									✔
079		Slowpoke		Monster	Water 1	✔						✔PE	✔
079		Slowpoke Galarian Form		Monster	Water 1								✔
080		Slowbro		Monster	Water 1	✔						✔PE	✔
080		Slowbro Galarian Form		Monster	Water 1								✔
086		Seel		Water 1	Field	✔						✔PE
087		Dewgong		Water 1	Field	✔						✔PE
112		Rhydon		Monster	Field	✔						✔PE	✔
133		Eevee		Field								✔PE	✔
134		Vaporeon		Field								✔PE	✔
135		Jolteon		Field								✔PE	✔
136		Flareon		Field								✔PE	✔
143		Snorlax		Monster		✔						✔PE	✔
150		Mewtwo		No Eggs Discovered		✔RGB						✔PE	✔
151		Mew		No Eggs Discovered		✔						✔PE	✔
196		Espeon		Field									✔
197		Umbreon		Field									✔
199		Slowking		Monster	Water 1								✔
199		Slowking Galarian Form		Monster	Water 1								✔
446		Munchlax		No Eggs Discovered									✔
464		Rhyperior		Monster	Field								✔
470		Leafeon		Field									✔
471		Glaceon		Field									✔
509		Purrloin		Field									✔
510		Liepard		Field									✔
677		Espurr		Field									✔
678		Meowstic Male		Field									✔
678		Meowstic Female		Field									✔
700		Sylveon		Field									✔
725		Litten		Field									✔
726		Torracat		Field									✔
727		Incineroar		Field									✔
807		Zeraora		No Eggs Discovered									✔
863		Perrserker		Field									✔
876		Indeedee Male		Fairy									✔
876		Indeedee Female		Fairy									✔
898		Calyrex		No Eggs Discovered									✔
898		Calyrex Ice Rider		No Eggs Discovered									✔
898		Calyrex Shadow Rider		No Eggs Discovered									✔
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
						II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
187		Hoppip		Fairy	Grass	✔
509		Purrloin		Field					✔	✔	✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

Special move

Generation III

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
300		Skitty		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.

By event

Generation I

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
022		Fearow		Flying		Pokémon Stamp
078		Rapidash		Field		Pokémon Stamp
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

Generation II

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
225		Delibird		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.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, Pay Day 8 base power, 22PP and 90% accuracy. The user attacks enemy in front. If the target is knocked out, they will drop Poké (on top of their held item, if they have any). This effect will not trigger if the target is recruited.

In Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, the move's PP has been decreased to 16.

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.

Description

Games	Description
MDRB	Inflicts damage on the target. If the foe faints, it will drop money.
MDTDS	Inflicts damage on the target. The enemy will drop money if it faints.
BSL	てきポケモンに ダメージをあたえる このわざで たおれたポケモンは おかねを おとす
MDGtI	UNUSED
SMD	If you defeat an enemy with this move, the enemy will drop .
MDRTDX	If you defeat an enemy with this move, the enemy will drop money. However, enemies you defeat while you're in a maze won't drop any money!

In the anime

	Meowth
Numerous balls of energy are hurled at the target to inflict damage.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
Meowth	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

Alolan Meowth	Fearow and Rapidash	Meowth
Numerous coins are hurled at the foe to inflict damage.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
Fearow	Fearow flaps its wings and multiple gold coins that look like a Meowth's charm comes out of them and fly at the opponent.
Pokémon Fan Club Chairman's Fearow	The Coming of Slowpoke (Eventually)		Debut Game event-exclusive move
Rapidash	Rapidash points its head towards the opponent and multiple gold coins that look like a Meowth's charm appear and hit the opponent.
Pokémon Fan Club Chairman's Rapidash	The Coming of Slowpoke (Eventually)		Debut Game event-exclusive move
Meowth	Meowth points one of its paws at the opponent and multiple gold coins that look like its charm appear and shoot at the opponent.
Unknown Trainer's Meowth	The Coming of Slowpoke (Eventually)		None
Meowth	Alolan Meowth swings its arms and throws multiple gold coins that look like its charm at the opponent.
Sun's Cent	The Grand Entrance and Delivery Boy Sun		None

Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All

	Meowth
Numerous coins fall out if the foe is hit.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
Meowth	Meowth smacks the opponent and forces coins to fall out.
Masatoshi's Meowth	Gag Battles		Debut

In other generations

Core series games

Generation I	Generation II	Generation III	Generation IV

Generation V	Generation VI	SMUSUM

LGPE	Generation VIII

Side series games

Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD

Battle Revolution

Spin-off series games

MD: Red and Blue	SMD

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 999999 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

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	聚寶功 Jeuihbóu-gūng * 擲兩添金 Jaahkléungtīmgām *
	Mandarin	聚寶功 / 聚宝功 Jùbǎo-gōng
Czech		Výplata
Danish		Kasse I
Dutch		Afrekening
Finnish		Tilinteko
French		Jackpot
German		Zahltag
Greek		Φιλαργυρία Filargyría
Italian		Giornopaga
Korean		고양이돈받기 Goyang-idonbatgi
Polish		Dzień Zapłaty* Dzień Wypłaty*
Brazilian Portuguese		Dia de Pagamento (TCG, manga, The Official Pokémon Handbook) Dia do Pagamento (anime, The Official Pokémon Handbook)
Russian		Джекпот Dzhekpot
Serbian		Isplata
Spanish		Día de Pago
Swedish		Lönedags Lönedagen
Turkish		Ödeme Zamanı
Vietnamese		Vung Tiền

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.