Lead — Minecraft block

Lead

Lead ties animals and mobs to players or fences using string and slimeball.

Block ID minecraft:lead
Mod Vanilla
Game versions
1.21

Description

Lead is crafted from four string and one slimeball, producing two items. It attaches to many passive and utility mobs, letting players guide them without food luring or minecart setups. Right-clicking a fence post ties the attached mob in place, creating simple pens, caravan stops, market displays, and temporary holding areas.

The item is especially useful for horses, llamas, bees, boats with mobs nearby, and animals that wander during base construction. It can break if stretched too far, dropping itself for pickup, so careful movement matters around cliffs and water. Wandering traders also drop leads when their llamas are separated, giving an alternate early source before slime farms exist.

Java Edition Guide

How to craft and use a Lead in Minecraft

  1. 1

    Gather the materials

    Collect four string from spiders or cobwebs and one slimeball from slimes in swamps or slime chunks.

  2. 2

    Craft the lead

    Place the four string and one slimeball in the crafting grid to make two leads in a single craft.

  3. 3

    Leash a mob

    Right-click a passive mob such as a horse, llama, cow, or strider while holding the lead to attach it.

  4. 4

    Tie it to a fence

    Right-click a fence post with a leashed mob to tie it in place and build a simple pen or caravan stop.

Important

A lead snaps if the mob is pulled more than about 10 blocks away and drops as an item, so keep the mob close when crossing cliffs or water.

How to craft this block

Ingredients: String String x4 Slimeball Slimeball x1
Crafting
String String
String Slimeball
String
Lead
2
Lead

Related blocks

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a lead in Minecraft?

Place four string and one slimeball in the crafting grid. The recipe yields two leads per craft.

Which mobs can you leash with a lead?

Leads attach to most passive and neutral mobs such as horses, llamas, donkeys, mules, cows, pigs, sheep, and striders, and to boats in Bedrock Edition.

Can you get a lead without crafting?

Yes. Wandering traders always arrive with two llamas on leads, and killing or freeing the trader drops the leads.

Why does my lead keep breaking?

A lead breaks when the mob is stretched more than about 10 blocks from the anchor, dropping the lead as an item to pick up.

Minecraft and all related materials are trademarks and copyrights of Mojang Studios © 2009–2026. This site is not an official Minecraft product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mojang Studios or Microsoft Corporation.