A lead is made from string and slimeballs at a crafting table
A lead is a rope-like item that lets you tie up animals and some mobs so you can move them around without them wandering off. To craft one in Minecraft PC, you need four string and one slimeball arranged in a specific pattern on a crafting table. The result is one lead per craft.
String comes from spiders (kill them at night or in caves), from breaking cobwebs with a sword or shears, or from striders and cave spiders. Slimeballs drop from slimes when you kill them — slimes spawn in swamps at night or in the deep dark underground. Once you have both materials, the crafting recipe is straightforward and takes seconds.
Key Takeaways
- You need four string and one slimeball to craft a single lead on a crafting table.
- String drops from spiders, cave spiders, and striders, or you can break cobwebs with a sword.
- Slimeballs come from killing slimes in swamps or deep underground in the deep dark biome.
- The lead recipe uses the four corners of the crafting grid, with the slimeball in the center.
- Leads work on most animals and some mobs, but not on flying mobs like bats or the ender dragon.
Where to find string
The easiest source of string is spiders. They spawn in darkness at night or in caves and drop one to two string when killed. A stone sword or better makes the kill quick. If you have a cave system nearby, you can farm string there during the day when spiders are less common but still present in the dark tunnels.
Cobwebs are another option — they appear in mineshafts, strongholds, and ancient cities. Break them with a sword or shears and they drop as string. This is slower than hunting spiders but useful if you are already exploring those structures. Cave spiders also drop string, though they are smaller and faster than regular spiders and deal poison damage on hard difficulty.
Striders drop string when killed, but they only spawn in the Nether on lava, so this is not a practical early-game source. For most players, spiders are the fastest way to gather string.
Where to find slimeballs
Slimes spawn in swamps at night and drop one to three slimeballs when killed. Swamps are straightforward to spot — they have shallow water, lily pads, and a greenish tint. Visit one after dark and you will find slimes bouncing around. A wooden sword or better kills them quickly. One or two slimes usually give you enough slimeballs for several leads.
Underground, slimes spawn in the deep dark biome, which is found far below the surface (below Y-level -20). This biome is dangerous because it contains the warden, a hostile mob that hunts by sound. If you go there for slimeballs, move slowly and avoid making noise. Slimes in the deep dark are easier to kill than the warden, but the risk is high for new players.
Magma cubes in the Nether also drop slimeballs, but they are not worth hunting unless you are already in the Nether for other reasons. Swamps are the safest and fastest source.
The crafting recipe and grid layout
Open your crafting table and place the materials in this pattern: put string in the four corner squares of the 3×3 grid (top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-right), and place the slimeball in the center square. Leave the four edge squares empty. The result appears in the output slot — one lead.
If you are using a 2×2 crafting grid (like the one in your inventory), you cannot craft a lead because the recipe requires a full 3×3 table. You must use a crafting table block that you place in the world.
| Grid Position | Item |
|---|---|
| Top-left corner | String |
| Top-center | Empty |
| Top-right corner | String |
| Middle-left | Empty |
| Center | Slimeball |
| Middle-right | Empty |
| Bottom-left corner | String |
| Bottom-center | Empty |
| Bottom-right corner | String |
What animals and mobs you can lead
Leads work on most passive animals: horses, donkeys, llamas, sheep, cows, pigs, goats, and axolotls. They also work on some hostile mobs like hoglins and striders. Right-click an animal while holding a lead and it will attach to the animal's head. You can then move around and the animal will follow you, even across water or up hills.
Leads do not work on flying mobs like bats, ghasts, or the ender dragon. They also do not work on the warden or most other hostile mobs. If you try to use a lead on an animal that does not support it, nothing happens.
If you attach a lead to an animal and then right-click a fence post or a fence gate, the lead ties to that fence and the animal stays in place. This is useful for keeping animals from wandering away while you work nearby. The lead breaks if the animal moves too far away or if you break the fence.
Crafting multiple leads at once
You can craft multiple leads in a single session if you have enough string and slimeballs. Each lead requires four string and one slimeball, so if you collect eight string and two slimeballs, you can make two leads. Spiders are common enough that gathering string is usually faster than gathering slimeballs, so plan your slimeball hunt accordingly.
If you are building a farm or moving a large group of animals, consider making five to ten leads ahead of time. Store them in a chest so you always have them ready. Leads do not stack in your inventory, so each one takes up a separate slot — keep that in mind when deciding how many to carry at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I craft a lead in my inventory crafting grid?
No. The lead recipe requires a full 3×3 crafting table. Your inventory crafting grid is only 2×2, so you must place a crafting table block in the world and use that instead.
What happens if I lose a lead?
You can craft another one if you have more string and slimeballs. Leads do not break easily — they only break if the animal moves too far away from the fence it is tied to, or if you break the fence itself. If you just want to release an animal, right-click it again while holding a lead and it will detach.
Can I use a lead on a player?
No. Leads only work on animals and certain mobs. You cannot tie up another player or yourself with a lead.
Do leads work underwater?
Yes. You can lead animals through water, and they will follow you even if they are swimming. This is useful for moving aquatic animals like axolotls or fish to a new location.
Where is the best place to find slimes early in the game?
Swamps are the safest option. They spawn at night and are straightforward to reach from the surface. Avoid the deep dark until you have better armor and weapons, because the warden is extremely dangerous and will kill you quickly if you make noise.