Leash

Leash is a mobility-control effect that restricts how far or how freely a unit can reposition and prevents several movement abilities from being used while the leash is active.

What is Leash in Dota 2?

Leash is a form of control aimed at mobility rather than every action. A leashed hero can usually continue attacking and casting many ordinary abilities, but certain movement abilities become unavailable and the source may confine the hero to a limited area or punish attempts to leave it.

Different leash sources implement the restriction in different ways, so the visual shape and exact movement behavior are not universal. The shared concept is that the target cannot freely escape with its normal mobility tools.

How Leash is used in a match

Leash is especially useful against heroes that depend on blinks, jumps, or similar movement abilities to survive. Instead of fully stunning the target, a team can keep that hero within a controllable area and force it to fight without its preferred escape route.

Players also need to recognize what leash does not stop. A leashed hero may still attack, use items, or cast non-mobility spells, which means additional disable or damage may be needed to secure a kill.

Do not confuse Leash with...

Leash is not the same as root. Root prevents ordinary movement from the spot while usually allowing many other actions. Leash typically allows some movement but limits the area and blocks specific mobility tools. It is also much narrower than stun.