If you’ve ever had your mobs wander off and don’t know how to get them back in line? Don’t worry, You’re not the only one. That’s where leads come in. In this tutorial, I will teach you exactly how to create a lead in Minecraft, why you need it, what you need, and how to use it — the easy way.
What is a Lead in Minecraft?
Before we get into making, let’s cover the basics. What is a lead in Minecraft, anyway? Think of it as a leash for your entities — a handy little tool that lets you lead mobs, have them on a string, and finally be the boss of them.
A lead in Minecraft is simply your in-game leash. It helps you to tie mobs onto yourself or a fence post, so they will not stray away like mischievous toddlers.
What Does a Lead Do in Minecraft?
Now you have this ropey-looking thing in your hands. What does it do? Usually, a lead is considered quite a simple thing, but it has a few surprises in store for you. Here’s a quick look into the cool things one can do in the game:
- Dragging mobs around (friendly mobs, of course, such as passive mobs like a horse and neutral animals, golems, and some monsters — the leads can’t stop creepers 💨).
- Tie animals to fence posts to keep them there.
- Take mobs across dangerous lands or through water.
- Build huge farms and zoos where mobs can’t escape.
Basically, a lead is multitool for Minecraft — quite handy to have and something you’ll surely wonder how you ever lived without.
Additionally, villagers, wandering traders, and other mobs can be leashed as well, but you have to do that using a map editor or an NBT editor.
Why Do You Need a Lead?
Trust me,a lead is essential if you want to build a farm, tame a llama, or just stop a new pet goat from cliff-diving — this is the way! Every single player must pack one. Here’s why every player should keep one handy.
Imagine this: the cutest baby mob ever has just caught your eye five seconds ago and has now vanished deep in the jungles. Ugh!
With a lead, you can:
- Take all the animals to their homes
- Keep mobs wherever you want
- Control llamas, goats, or even foxes
- Be a total pro at organizing your farms and builds
Long story short, if you want to build, farm, collect, or ride a horse in Minecraft, then a lead is something you want in your inventory.
How to Make a Lead in Minecraft?
Alright, now let’s get to the exciting part — crafting a lead. Don’t worry, it’s not difficult, and I’ll tell you step by step how to do it in detail with pictures and advice. Let’s craft your very first lead properly.
What you need:
- 4 Strings
- 1 Slimeball
- A Crafting Table (I mean, duh!)
Crafting Recipe:
Open crafting grid and arrange it like this:
Boom — you’ve got 2 leads! Not bad for a few bits of string and slime.
Tips and Tricks
Now that you learned the basics, it’s time to learn some pro-level tricks. These time-saving tips can prevent mistakes and leave you feeling like a real Minecraft master.
- Have a few leads in your backpack for emergencies. You never know when you might need them
- 2 leads per craft are yours — swap with friends or save for later
- You can chain up multiple mobs at once (oh, hi pigs 🐖)
- Leads are stackable (up to 64), so they won’t clutter your inventory
What Do You Need to Craft a Lead in Minecraft
Here’s a closer look at the materials you’ll need to create a lead. You only need two materials, but getting them requires some skill. Let’s take it bit by bit.
How to Get String in Minecraft
First on the list: string. You’ll be using four of these to make a lead, and the good news is that there are a few good ways of getting it — even if spider-hunting doesn’t come naturally to you.
You can get string by:
- Crushing a spider (they drop 0–2 strings)
- Busting cobwebs with shears or a sword
- Picking over loot chests in dungeons (if you’re lucky)
- Borrow one from a wandering trader
How to Get a Slimeball
The second ingredient is a bit trickier: the slimeball. Yep, it involves hunting slimes — but don’t worry, I’ve got some slime-finding tips that make it way easier.
1. Head to a swamp biome at night (best chances during a full moon)
OR,
2. explore underground in slime chunks (they’re rare, but totally a thing)
Slimes drop slimeballs when defeated — and yes, it’s worth the try.
Pro Tip: Use a looting sword to boost your drop rates!
How to Get a Lead Without Crafting?
Don’t feel like hunting slimes and crafting one from scratch? There’s some good news — there are a few ways to get leads without crafting at all. Here’s how to acquire one without the crafting table.
-
Find One in a Chest
Leads sometimes spawn in Ancient City, Trail Ruins, Woodland Mansion, and Buried Treasure. It differs in different platforms and editions.If you get lucky and find one, you’re lucky!
-
Swipe One From a Wandering Trader
Yes, those guys with llamas and brews? They come in on leads — and if the trader or llamas mysteriously disappear (no need for explanations), the leads are yours.
Just sayin’. Two leads drop when the trader or llamas are “no longer available.”
How to Leash Entities in Minecraft?
You’ve crafted a lead — now what? Time to use it! Leashing mobs in Minecraft is super easy. Let’s go over how to leash animals, tie them up.
Just right-click (or tap if you’re on mobile) a mob while holding it. Boom — they’re leashed!
You can leash:
- Cows, pigs, and sheep
- Horses and donkeys
- Llamas and goats
- Even frogs and axolotls!
Want to leash them to a post? Right-click the fence. Easy peasy.
1. Leashing Mobs in Boats 🚤
Here’s a good mechanic that nobody really knows about: leashing mobs into a boat. Wonderful for water travel or moving mobs safely to your base! Let me show you how.
- Leash the mob
- Push them aboard
- Or simply get in yourself and pull them behind
2. Leashing and Unloading Chunks
Minecraft’s chunk rules are a little odd.
Leashing a mob and wandering off too far can get the chunk to unload, and poof. Your mob’s vanished. Not nice. So for travelling a long distance, stay close or chain your friend to a fence.
3. Leashing and Nether Portals
Think you’re going to transport your mobs to the Nether?
Bad news: leads do not mix with Nether portals.
Most mobs get unleashed when you push them through. Instead:
- Use minecarts or boats for dimension travel
- Or have crafting resources on hand to re-make the lead
4. Leashing and Fall Damage
Yes, mobs on leads will fall damage.
Be careful on hills! Leashed mobs will fall damage. Lead them down cliffs carefully, and maybe avoid the mountain parkour when towing a cow.
5. Leashing and Despawning
Ever lost a mob you’d promised was leashed up? No need to worry.
Good news: leashed mobs tied to a fence won’t despawn — unless you move out of range.
Want extra protection? Name Tag the mob so they’ll stay forever.
Last Words: Conclusion
That’s the whole deal! Now you know how to craft a lead in Minecraft, how to use it, and how not to make the most common mistakes. With this knowledge, you’re all set to lasso mobs like a boss. 🎮
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