How to Make a Lead in Minecraft
A Minecraft lead grants you the power to safely transport those passive creatures, preventing them from wandering off while adding a charming touch to your travels.
What You’ll Need
Making a lead in Minecraft is simple, requiring easily obtainable materials:
- 4 Strings: These versatile threads can be easily acquired by defeating spiders, striders, or cats or breaking cobwebs in abandoned mineshafts.
- 1 Slimeball: Search for those bouncy slimes in swamps or underground caves; defeating them yields the slimeball.
How to Craft
-
Crafting Table: Access your trusty crafting table by right-clicking on it.
-
Pattern Perfection: Arrange the ingredients in the crafting grid as follows:
- Top Row: String, Empty, String
- Middle Row: String, Slimeball, Empty
- Bottom Row: Empty, Empty, String
-
Reward: The crafting process will reward you with two leads for your efforts, ready to be added to your inventory.
How to Use
- Choose Your Companion: Many passive mobs in Minecraft can be leashed, including sheep, cows, pigs, horses, and even adorable llamas.
- Attach the Lead: Hold the lead and right-click on the desired mob. The lead will securely attach, ready to guide them.
- Lead and Explore: You can lead your companion wherever you roam. Be mindful of their limitations, as some areas might be too challenging for their abilities.
- Secure Your Friend: Right-click on a fence post while holding the attached mob for a break. This ties the lead to the fence, allowing your companion to rest safely.

Screengrab Courtesy of wattles via YouTube
Extra Tips for Traveling with Companions
- Leads can sometimes be challenging to use in water, so be cautious in aquatic adventures.
- If pulled too harshly or hit by projectiles, leads can break. Keep an eye on your companion’s safety.
- While you cannot directly lead villagers, boats and minecarts provide an alternative mode of transportation.
Marcus Kade
Marcus Kade is Managing Editor at Spiel Times, covering breaking gaming news with a focus on the industry's business side. When not writing, he's probably losing a co-op game to his partner.
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