Let’s be honest—there’s nothing more annoying than trying to move a bunch of animals across your Minecraft base and having them wander off. Enter the Minecraft lead (aka leash), a simple but powerful tool that lets you lead mobs around or tie them to a fence so they don’t bolt. Whether you're building a farm, herding llamas, or just trying to keep your new axolotl buddy close, knowing how to craft a lead in Minecraft is a total game-changer.
In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know: from gathering the materials to crafting the lead, and how to actually use it in the game—without diving into overly technical stuff. Let’s get into it.
What is a Lead in Minecraft?
A lead, also commonly called a Minecraft leash, is an item you can use to:
• Lead passive or neutral mobs (like cows, horses, or axolotls)
• Tie those mobs to a fence post to keep them from wandering
• Carry multiple animals at once by using multiple leads
Super useful, especially if you’re trying to set up a farm, move animals across biomes, or show off your pet collection in your base.
Can You Craft a Lead in Minecraft?
Yes, absolutely! You can craft a lead in Minecraft Survival mode using a crafting table. The recipe isn’t too complex either, and you’ll only need a few basic resources.
This works in both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition of Minecraft.
Materials Needed to Make a Lead
To craft a lead, you’ll need:
• 4 Strings
• 1 Slimeball
Here’s a quick rundown on how to get those:
1.How to Get String
• Kill spiders (most common method)
• Break cobwebs using a sword
• Open loot chests (dungeons, mineshafts, desert temples)
• Fishing (yes, you can fish up string)
• Barter with Piglins
• Get gifts from tamed cats
2. How to Get a Slimeball
• Kill slimes in swamp biomes (they spawn at night and especially during full moons)
• Hunt slime chunks below Y-level 40 (in Java Edition)
• Trade with wandering traders (sometimes they offer slimeballs)
How to Craft a Lead in Minecraft
Once you’ve got the ingredients, follow these steps:
Crafting a Lead (Step-by-Step)
Open your Crafting Table (you’ll need a 3x3 grid).
Place the items exactly like this:
Result: 2 Leads
Yep, you actually get two leads per craft!
Drag the leads into your inventory and you’re good to go.
Tip: Always double-check your item placement—it won’t craft properly unless it’s arranged exactly like the recipe.
How to Use a Lead in Minecraft
Crafted your lead? Nice. Now here’s how to actually use it like a pro.
Leashing Mobs
To leash a mob:
Equip the lead in your hotbar.
Right-click (PC) / LT (Xbox) / L2 (PlayStation) / ZL (Switch) on the mob.
The mob is now leashed and will follow you!
Works on passive and neutral mobs like:
• Horses
• Donkeys
• Llamas
• Cows
• Pigs
• Sheep
• Axolotls
• Wolves (tamed or untamed)
• Goats
• Parrots
• Bees
Tying Mobs to Fences
To tie a mob to a fence:
• Leash the mob.
• Right-click on a fence post while holding the lead.
• The mob will now be stuck near the fence (within 5 blocks).
How to Unleash a Mob
• Right-click the mob again.
• Or break the fence post it’s tied to.
• Or hit the knot that appears on the fence.
Extra Tips and Tricks
Here are some handy things you might not know about leads:
• Leashing Multiple Mobs
You can leash as many mobs as you want—just use a separate lead for each one. Great for moving whole herds.
• Leads and Nether Portals
If you go through a portal while holding a lead, the mob stays leashed.
If the mob goes through first, the lead snaps and drops.
• Leads and Chunk Unloading
If you move too far and a chunk unloads, any leashed mobs will drop their leads and wander off. Be careful!
• Can You Leash Villagers?
Sadly, no. You can’t use leads on villagers or most hostile mobs (like zombies or skeletons).
Bonus: Where Else Can You Get Leads?
If you’re feeling lazy (no judgment), here are other ways to get leads:
Wandering Traders: When they spawn with their llamas, you can kill the trader or separate the llamas. They’ll drop 2 leads.
Loot chests: Some structures like Woodland Mansions and Buried Treasure Chests have a chance to spawn leads.
FAQ: Minecraft Lead Crafting
• How do you make a lead in Minecraft?
Craft it using 4 string and 1 slimeball in a crafting table.
• What is the lead Minecraft recipe?
Place 4 strings and 1 slimeball in a specific pattern (see crafting section above).
• Can you craft a lead in Minecraft without slime?
Nope, slimeballs are required. But you can sometimes find leads in loot chests or from wandering traders.
• How to make a leash in Minecraft?
“Leash” is just another name for a lead. Same recipe, same function!
Crafting Your First Lead
If you’re looking to improve your Minecraft farm, manage your mobs, or just bring some organization to your survival world, learning how to make lead in Minecraft is a must. It’s a super simple recipe but unlocks a ton of possibilities—from practical animal management to building creative mob displays.
So go out, farm some spiders and slimes, and start crafting!
And hey, if you’re managing a Minecraft server and want your mobs to stay organized (and your players happy), Shockbyte has your back with reliable, lag-free Minecraft server hosting.
At Shockbyte, we think you will also enjoy the following blogs:
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