How To Get Leftovers In Pokemon Sword

Finding Leftovers in Pokemon Sword can significantly boost your team's survivability. Here's a breakdown of how to reliably obtain this valuable item.
Method 1: Pickup Ability
Several Pokemon possess the Pickup ability, which allows them to randomly find items after battles. The chances of finding Leftovers increase with the Pokemon's level. Gather a team of Pokemon with Pickup and battle often.
Step 1: Assemble Your Pickup Team
Catch Pokemon with the Pickup ability. Some readily available options include:
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- Meowth/Galarian Meowth
- Linoone/Galarian Linoone
- Zigzagoon/Galarian Zigzagoon
- Pachirisu
- Aipom
- Lillipup
- Phanpy
- Stunky
- Purrloin
Galarian Zigzagoon and Linoone are particularly accessible early in the game, making them excellent choices. Aim for at least five or six Pickup Pokemon in your party. More Pokemon participating in battles increase the chance of triggering the Pickup ability.
Step 2: Level Up Your Pickup Team
The higher the level of your Pickup Pokemon, the greater the chance of finding rare items, including Leftovers. Leveling them to at least level 51 significantly improves your odds.
Some strategies to level them up:
- Experience Candy: Utilize Experience Candy obtained from Max Raid Battles to rapidly increase their levels.
- Battling Weak Pokemon: Fight weaker Pokemon in areas appropriate for their current level. Even if they cannot contribute to the battle directly, having them in the party will still grant them experience.
- Rare Candy: Use Rare Candy for an instant level up if experience candy is scarce.
Focus on leveling all of your Pickup Pokemon relatively equally to maximize efficiency. Avoid over-leveling them to a point where they stop gaining significant experience from readily available battles.
Step 3: Battle Frequently
Engage in battles as often as possible. The more battles you participate in, the more chances your Pickup Pokemon have to find items. Find a repeatable battle scenario.

Consider these options:
- Wild Area: The Wild Area contains a variety of Pokemon at different levels, providing ample opportunities for battles. Look for areas with high Pokemon density.
- Max Raid Battles: Participate in Max Raid Battles for both experience and other rewards, maximizing your efficiency.
- Trainer Rematches: Once you've completed the main story, you can rematch trainers. This provides predictable battles.
Rotate your Pickup Pokemon through the active battle slot to ensure all party members gain experience. After each battle, check the inventories of your Pickup Pokemon to see if they have found anything.
Step 4: Check Your Pokemon's Inventory
After each series of battles, visit a Pokemon Center or open your party screen and check the inventory of each Pokemon with the Pickup ability. If they have found an item, they will be holding it. Be thorough and examine each Pokemon individually.
If a Pokemon has found an item, remove it from them immediately. This allows them to find another item in the next battle. Consistently clearing out your Pokemon's inventory is crucial for maximizing the efficiency of the Pickup method.
Method 2: Snorlax Encounter
Wild Snorlax have a 5% chance of holding Leftovers. Knockout or capture Snorlax repeatedly until one has the item. This requires patience.

Step 1: Find a Snorlax
Snorlax can be found in various locations in the Wild Area, often sleeping in prominent locations. Common locations include:
- Motostoke Riverbank
- Giant's Cap
Snorlax encounters are often visible on the overworld map, making them relatively easy to locate. Check these areas regularly, as Snorlax may respawn after a certain amount of time.
Step 2: Prepare a Thief Pokemon
Catch a Pokemon that knows the move "Thief" or "Covet". Thief steals the held item of the target Pokemon during battle, while Covet deals damage and also steals the item.
Suitable Pokemon for this task:
- Thief: Many Dark-type Pokemon can learn Thief via TM.
- Covet: Several Pokemon can learn Covet, including Meowth and Linoone.
Ensure your Thief Pokemon is of a sufficient level to survive a battle with Snorlax. Bring healing items.

Step 3: Battle and Steal
Engage the Snorlax in battle. Use Thief or Covet with your dedicated Pokemon. If the move successfully steals an item, it will appear in your inventory. If you see the message "
If the Snorlax does not have Leftovers, either defeat it or run from the battle. If you defeat it, you will need to wait for it to respawn in the Wild Area. Running may be faster. Repeat this process until you successfully steal a Leftovers.
Consider using a Pokemon with the ability Frisk. This ability notifies you of held items upon entering the battle. If Frisk doesn't trigger, immediately flee from the battle to save time.
Step 4: Check Your Inventory
After each successful Thief/Covet attempt, confirm whether you received Leftovers. If you did not, repeat the Snorlax encounter.
Applying Pokemon Principles to Real Life
Believe it or not, the strategies for obtaining Leftovers in Pokemon Sword share parallels with real-world scenarios, particularly in project management and resource acquisition.

Pickup Ability = Networking/Continuous Improvement: The Pickup ability teaches us the value of consistent effort and diversification. Just as the Pickup Pokemon continuously search for items, you can continually network and engage in professional development. The higher your level (skill set), the better the opportunities (items) you find.
Snorlax Encounter = Targeted Resource Acquisition: The Snorlax method embodies focused effort towards a specific goal. You identify a target resource (Leftovers), prepare your tools (Thief Pokemon), and persistently pursue it despite the odds. This translates to real-world situations like applying for a specific job, pitching a product, or seeking funding. Preparation and persistence are key.
Inventory Management = Task Tracking/Prioritization: Regularly checking and clearing your Pokemon's inventory highlights the importance of tracking progress and managing resources. In a project, this means monitoring task completion, identifying bottlenecks, and reallocating resources as needed.
By applying these lessons from Pokemon, you can enhance your approach to challenges and opportunities in your daily life and work.
Leftovers Acquisition Checklist
- Pickup Team: Gather 5-6 Pokemon with Pickup.
- Level Up: Train your Pickup Pokemon to at least level 51.
- Battle Route: Establish a consistent battle route.
- Inventory Checks: Check your Pokemon's inventory after each series of battles.
- Thief Pokemon: Obtain a Pokemon with Thief or Covet.
- Snorlax Locations: Identify Snorlax spawn points in the Wild Area.
- Frisk Ability (Optional): Consider a Pokemon with Frisk.
- Persistence: Be patient and consistent in your efforts.
