Minecraft's Mounts of Mayhem Drop Brings Forth a Beautifully Chaotic Fresh Weapon to the Game

The seasonal game drop for the block-building phenomenon has arrived — and it features the first new weapon introduced into the title since the heavy club made its debut. The spear is finally here and it might just change how you play Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem update also adds several new features and enhancements centered around riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the ideal addition for this release, as the creators had long felt it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we aimed for a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," noted a lead developer. "We experimented with a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also was visually fitting for the use case."

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

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary applications for the spear, and it's so much fun," the lead says. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the thrust, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and get increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for knightly combat."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment can extend beyond there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've explored The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the elytra and flying forth and creating genuine chaos," she suggests.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now real, and it deserves to be an competitive event without delay.

Another significant inclusion in this latest drop is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is based on the seashells we've all been collecting for years, can be tamed and mounted for submarine exploration. Not only will it transport you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also preserve your oxygen levels, so there's no requirement to come up for air for fresh air.

The rest of the additions are primarily things that seek your demise, as is the nature of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a undead nautilus popping up in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you succeed in dispatch the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've been thinking about this challenge periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the right time to also bring in something for underwater," the lead elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a few different ideas for underwater mounts that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus concept art looked impressive, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

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

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Additional features include the Parched, desert-exclusive skeletons that can survive in the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you venture in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. Camel husks have an excellent design that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a comparable rib-popping design and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some much-anticipated adjustments to riding horses. Now, you can traverse waterways while atop a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the top-tier safeguarding it is worthy of.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

All told, the final game drop of the year is a solid offering. The spear alone — and the pandemonium it invites — would have seemed like a major improvement. Add in the Nautilus, and additional creatures seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

The Mounts of Mayhem update is live for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.