diff --git a/ripple/demo/demo.ts b/ripple/demo/demo.ts
index 8bf57b4d25..572604a557 100644
--- a/ripple/demo/demo.ts
+++ b/ripple/demo/demo.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import './index.js';
 import './material-collection.js';
 
 import {KnobTypesToKnobs, MaterialCollection, materialInitsToStoryInits, setUpDemo} from './material-collection.js';
-import {boolInput, colorPicker, cssCustomProperty, Knob, numberInput} from './index.js';
+import {colorPicker, cssCustomProperty, Knob, numberInput} from './index.js';
 
 import {stories, StoryKnobs} from './stories.js';
 
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ function cssCustomPropertyAsNumber(
 
 const collection =
     new MaterialCollection<KnobTypesToKnobs<StoryKnobs>>('Ripple', [
-      new Knob('disabled', {ui: boolInput(), defaultValue: false}),
       new Knob(
           '--md-ripple-pressed-color',
           {ui: colorPicker(), wiring: cssCustomProperty}),
diff --git a/ripple/demo/stories.ts b/ripple/demo/stories.ts
index 6a9175bb96..6c769c26bc 100644
--- a/ripple/demo/stories.ts
+++ b/ripple/demo/stories.ts
@@ -7,14 +7,10 @@
 import '@material/web/ripple/ripple.js';
 
 import {MaterialStoryInit} from './material-collection.js';
-import {ripple} from '@material/web/ripple/directive.js';
-import {MdRipple} from '@material/web/ripple/ripple.js';
 import {css, html} from 'lit';
-import {createRef, ref} from 'lit/directives/ref.js';
 
 /** Knob types for ripple stories. */
 export interface StoryKnobs {
-  disabled: boolean;
   '--md-ripple-pressed-color': string;
   '--md-ripple-pressed-opacity': number;
   '--md-ripple-hover-color': string;
@@ -32,11 +28,10 @@ const bounded: MaterialStoryInit<StoryKnobs> = {
       width: 64px;
     }
   `,
-  render({disabled}) {
-    const rippleRef = createRef<MdRipple>();
+  render() {
     return html`
-      <div class="container" ${ripple(() => rippleRef.value || null)}>
-        <md-ripple ?disabled=${disabled} ${ref(rippleRef)}></md-ripple>
+      <div class="container">
+        <md-ripple></md-ripple>
       </div>
     `;
   }
@@ -76,12 +71,11 @@ const unbounded: MaterialStoryInit<StoryKnobs> = {
       width: 40px;
     }
   `,
-  render({disabled}) {
-    const rippleRef = createRef<MdRipple>();
+  render() {
     return html`
-      <div class="container" ${ripple(() => rippleRef.value || null)}>
+      <div id="touch" class="container">
         <div class="icon anchor">
-          <md-ripple ?disabled=${disabled} ${ref(rippleRef)}></md-ripple>
+          <md-ripple for="touch"></md-ripple>
         </div>
         <div class="icon"></div>
       </div>
diff --git a/ripple/directive.ts b/ripple/directive.ts
index a170c14958..30a7c7d479 100644
--- a/ripple/directive.ts
+++ b/ripple/directive.ts
@@ -38,31 +38,8 @@ class RippleDirective extends Directive {
     if (!ripple) {
       return;
     }
-    switch (event.type) {
-      case 'click':
-        ripple.handleClick();
-        break;
-      case 'contextmenu':
-        ripple.handleContextmenu();
-        break;
-      case 'pointercancel':
-        ripple.handlePointercancel(event as PointerEvent);
-        break;
-      case 'pointerdown':
-        await ripple.handlePointerdown(event as PointerEvent);
-        break;
-      case 'pointerenter':
-        ripple.handlePointerenter(event as PointerEvent);
-        break;
-      case 'pointerleave':
-        ripple.handlePointerleave(event as PointerEvent);
-        break;
-      case 'pointerup':
-        ripple.handlePointerup(event as PointerEvent);
-        break;
-      default:
-        break;
-    }
+
+    await ripple.handleEvent(event);
   }
 
   override update(part: ElementPart, [ripple]: DirectiveParameters<this>) {
diff --git a/ripple/lib/ripple.ts b/ripple/lib/ripple.ts
index c3e8e0c79a..6f6e33ae39 100644
--- a/ripple/lib/ripple.ts
+++ b/ripple/lib/ripple.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {html, LitElement, PropertyValues} from 'lit';
 import {property, query, state} from 'lit/decorators.js';
 import {classMap} from 'lit/directives/class-map.js';
 
+import {Attachable, AttachableController} from '../../controller/attachable-controller.js';
 import {EASING} from '../../motion/animation.js';
 
 const PRESS_GROW_MS = 450;
@@ -64,6 +65,14 @@ enum State {
   WAITING_FOR_CLICK
 }
 
+/**
+ * Events that the ripple listens to.
+ */
+const EVENTS = [
+  'click', 'contextmenu', 'pointercancel', 'pointerdown', 'pointerenter',
+  'pointerleave', 'pointerup'
+];
+
 /**
  * Delay reacting to touch so that we do not show the ripple for a swipe or
  * scroll interaction.
@@ -73,12 +82,24 @@ const TOUCH_DELAY_MS = 150;
 /**
  * A ripple component.
  */
-export class Ripple extends LitElement {
+export class Ripple extends LitElement implements Attachable {
   /**
    * Disables the ripple.
    */
   @property({type: Boolean, reflect: true}) disabled = false;
 
+  get htmlFor() {
+    return this.attachableController.htmlFor;
+  }
+
+  set htmlFor(htmlFor: string|null) {
+    this.attachableController.htmlFor = htmlFor;
+  }
+
+  get control() {
+    return this.attachableController.control;
+  }
+
   @state() private hovered = false;
   @state() private pressed = false;
 
@@ -90,6 +111,21 @@ export class Ripple extends LitElement {
   private state = State.INACTIVE;
   private rippleStartEvent?: PointerEvent;
   private checkBoundsAfterContextMenu = false;
+  private readonly attachableController =
+      new AttachableController(this, this.onControlChange.bind(this));
+
+  // TODO(b/265337232): Remove once ripple directive is removed. This is used to
+  // prevent two animations while migrating ripples from the directive to the
+  // new attachment syntax.
+  private lastHandledEvent?: Event;
+
+  attach(control: HTMLElement) {
+    this.attachableController.attach(control);
+  }
+
+  detach() {
+    this.attachableController.detach();
+  }
 
   handlePointerenter(event: PointerEvent) {
     if (!this.shouldReactToEvent(event)) {
@@ -367,4 +403,45 @@ export class Ripple extends LitElement {
   private isTouch({pointerType}: PointerEvent) {
     return pointerType === 'touch';
   }
+
+  /** @private */
+  async handleEvent(event: Event) {
+    if (this.lastHandledEvent === event) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.lastHandledEvent = event;
+    switch (event.type) {
+      case 'click':
+        this.handleClick();
+        break;
+      case 'contextmenu':
+        this.handleContextmenu();
+        break;
+      case 'pointercancel':
+        this.handlePointercancel(event as PointerEvent);
+        break;
+      case 'pointerdown':
+        await this.handlePointerdown(event as PointerEvent);
+        break;
+      case 'pointerenter':
+        this.handlePointerenter(event as PointerEvent);
+        break;
+      case 'pointerleave':
+        this.handlePointerleave(event as PointerEvent);
+        break;
+      case 'pointerup':
+        this.handlePointerup(event as PointerEvent);
+        break;
+      default:
+        break;
+    }
+  }
+
+  private onControlChange(prev: HTMLElement|null, next: HTMLElement|null) {
+    for (const event of EVENTS) {
+      prev?.removeEventListener(event, this);
+      next?.addEventListener(event, this);
+    }
+  }
 }