diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 359df7f..ebb4c61 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 - [x] Check against rules on correct quantity of of obstacles and obstacle refresh rules
 - [x] Check against the rules on pi-rat hand size and conditions for drawing more cards
-- [ ] Assisting other pi-rats should only be available if there are multiple obstacles in the current challenge
+- [x] Assisting other pi-rats should only be available if there are multiple obstacles in the current challenge
 - [ ] Checking off personal objectives (gat/name/death) should be handled by group vote rather than adjudication by the deep
 - [ ] Double check if PvP obstacles should allow card re-draw
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/scene/ChallengePanel.svelte b/frontend/src/components/scene/ChallengePanel.svelte
index b2c714b..95fa436 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/scene/ChallengePanel.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/components/scene/ChallengePanel.svelte
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@
                 Temporary Obstacle: <strong use:tooltip={{ html: cardTooltipHtml(ch.temp_card, $obstacleTable, true) }}>{getCardDisplay(ch.temp_card)}</strong> — {playerName(ch.acting_player_id)} must answer it!
             </p>
         {:else}
+            <p class="info-text" style="margin-top: 0.5rem;">{state.obstacles.filter(o => chObstacleIds.includes(o.id)).length > 1
+                ? 'Other Pi-Rats may assist. Assistants do not draw replacement cards.'
+                : 'Only the attempting Pi-Rat can play against this single Obstacle.'}</p>
             <div class="challenge-obstacles">
                 {#each chObstacleIds as oid}
                     {@const obs = state.obstacles.find(o => o.id === oid)}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/scene/ObstacleItem.svelte b/frontend/src/components/scene/ObstacleItem.svelte
index 4665e34..d528fd5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/scene/ObstacleItem.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/components/scene/ObstacleItem.svelte
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@
     $: success_count = column_cards.filter(c => c.success).length;
     $: is_completed = success_count >= state.players.length;
     $: in_challenge = openChallenges.some(c => JSON.parse(c.obstacle_ids || '[]').includes(obs.id));
+    $: challenge = openChallenges.find(c => JSON.parse(c.obstacle_ids || '[]').includes(obs.id));
+    $: canPlay = state.player.role === 'pirat' && !state.player.is_dead && !state.player.needs_reroll
+        && challenge && challenge.tax_state !== 'requested'
+        && (challenge.acting_player_id === state.player.id
+            || state.obstacles.filter(o => JSON.parse(challenge.obstacle_ids || '[]').includes(o.id)).length > 1);
     $: cardCodeLabel = `${cardValue(obs.original_card)}${SUIT_CHAR[obs.suit] || ''}`;
     $: is_face_active = ['J', 'Q', 'K'].includes(active_card_code.slice(0, -1));
 
@@ -61,7 +66,7 @@
          const cardCode = e.dataTransfer.getData('text/plain');
          if (cardCode) {
              if (isJoker(cardCode)) playJoker(cardCode);
-             else playCard(cardCode);
+             else if (canPlay) playCard(cardCode);
          }
      }}>
     {#if error}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/changelog.js b/frontend/src/lib/changelog.js
index b8c1eb5..b102391 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/changelog.js
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/changelog.js
@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@
 //   - Add a CHANGELOG entry only when a commit changes something players can
 //     see. Skip refactors, tests, and tooling. Keep wording player-facing.
 
-export const VERSION = 33;
+export const VERSION = 34;
 
 // Newest first. Each entry: { version, date: 'YYYY-MM-DD', changes: [string, ...] }.
 export const CHANGELOG = [
+    { version: 34, date: '2026-09-04', changes: ['Assistance is available only when a Challenge has multiple active Obstacles. Gat and Name Tax takeovers still work against a single Obstacle.'] },
     { version: 33, date: '2026-09-04', changes: ['Hand sizes compare ranks across the crew, including Pi-Rats whose players are the Deep.', 'Discarded cards return to the deck at scene setup. Only the previous Deep can refresh their hand during upkeep, once per scene.'] },
     { version: 32, date: '2026-09-04', changes: ['Obstacles are automatically discarded with their columns once they reach one success per player. Unfinished obstacles carry over between scenes.'] },
     { version: 31, date: '2026-09-04', changes: ['Change your rank-up vote until everyone has voted. The final vote now reveals the result and advances automatically, without a Ready button.', 'The vote result stays visible through upkeep and next-scene setup.'] },
diff --git a/src/pirats/crud_challenge.py b/src/pirats/crud_challenge.py
index 1b19c28..e5b906d 100644
--- a/src/pirats/crud_challenge.py
+++ b/src/pirats/crud_challenge.py
@@ -120,6 +120,12 @@ def play_challenge_card(
     if challenge.tax_state == "requested":
         return False, "A Gat/Name Tax is pending. Wait for an answer before playing cards.", {}
 
+    if player.role != "pirat" or player.is_dead or player.needs_reroll:
+        return False, "Only participating Pi-Rats can play cards.", {}
+    active_ids = {o.id for o in game.obstacles} & set(json.loads(challenge.obstacle_ids))
+    if player.id != challenge.acting_player_id and len(active_ids) < 2:
+        return False, "Assistance requires multiple Obstacles in the current Challenge.", {}
+
     # An Obstacle beaten as many times as there are players is spent
     played_list = json.loads(obstacle.played_cards)
     current_successes = sum(1 for c in played_list if c.get("success") is True)
diff --git a/tests/test_game.py b/tests/test_game.py
index 2ccf2a9..86a44dc 100644
--- a/tests/test_game.py
+++ b/tests/test_game.py
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ def test_assistant_does_not_draw(session):
     session.add_all([obs, p3])
     session.commit()
 
-    ok, msg = crud.create_challenge(session, game.id, deep.id, p2.id, [obs.id])
+    ok, msg = crud.create_challenge(session, game.id, deep.id, p2.id, [o.id for o in game.obstacles])
     assert ok
     session.refresh(game)
 
@@ -2726,3 +2726,19 @@ def test_deep_refresh_does_not_recycle_discards_or_allow_pirats(session):
     assert "KC" not in crud.get_game_deck(game)
     crud.confirm_deep_refresh(session, deep.id, ["AH"])
     assert "AH" in crud.get_player_hand(deep)
+
+
+def test_single_obstacle_rejects_assistance_but_allows_tax_actor(session):
+    game, deep, (rat, helper) = make_scene_game(session, num_pirats=2)
+    obs = game.obstacles[0]
+    helper.hand_cards = '["KH"]'
+    helper.completed_personal_1 = True
+    session.commit()
+    assert crud.create_challenge(session, game.id, deep.id, rat.id, [obs.id])[0]
+    ok, msg, _ = crud.play_challenge_card(session, helper.id, obs.id, "KH")
+    assert not ok and 'multiple' in msg
+    assert crud.get_player_hand(helper) == ["KH"]
+    challenge = game.challenges[0]
+    assert crud.request_tax(session, challenge.id, rat.id, helper.id)[0]
+    assert crud.respond_tax(session, challenge.id, helper.id, True)[0]
+    assert crud.play_challenge_card(session, helper.id, obs.id, "KH")[0]