The Latest Mayhem Mounts Update Brings Forth a Beautifully Chaotic Fresh Weapon to Your World

The winter content update for the block-building phenomenon has landed — and it features the first new weapon introduced into the game since the mace made its debut. The spear is now available and it could very well change how you play Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts drop also introduces a host of fresh elements and enhancements related to riding animals in the game. That central theme made the spear the ideal addition for this release, as the creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we aimed for a new weapon that would add some more range, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," stated a lead developer. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the intended purpose."

If you're wondering whether mounted combat means you can joust against your companions on horseback, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an offensive action ideally crafted for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a major applications for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the lead says. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the quick stab, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you lower your spear and get more damage [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The chaotic fun can extend beyond there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an truly outlandish idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] excellent for strapping on the wings and flying forth and making some real mayhem," she teases.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now real, and it needs to become an Olympic sport without delay.

Another major addition in this new update is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is modeled after the seashells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it carry you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also conserve your breath meter, so there's no requirement to surface for fresh air.

The rest of the additions are largely things that seek your demise, as is the tradition of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a undead nautilus appearing in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you manage to take care of the Drowned, though, you can claim the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've long considered this problem periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to also unveil something for the ocean depths," the lead explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a number of concepts for aquatic rides that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus design sketches looked striking, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also points out that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you discover underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Other additions include the Parched, desert-exclusive skeletons that can survive in the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you venture in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an notable look that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a comparable rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are refinements, including some much-anticipated adjustments to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross rivers and lakes while riding a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now craftable at the workbench, so you can give your horse the best defense it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

All told, the year-end release of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the potential for chaos — would have seemed like a significant enhancement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and additional creatures seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

The Mayhem Mounts content drop is live for all major editions of Minecraft.