🔗 Share this article

The seasonal game drop for the block-building phenomenon has landed — and it brings with it the first new weapon introduced into the title since the heavy club made its debut. The spear is finally here and it could very well revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, especially if you enjoy mayhem.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts drop also adds a host of fresh elements and enhancements related to animal mounts in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the creators had long felt it was time for a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we aimed for a new weapon that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for fighting from atop a creature," noted a senior product manager. "We experimented with a number of concepts, but the lance was the one that both handled superbly when we ran our trials and also looked good for the intended purpose."

If you're wondering whether mounted combat means you can tilt at your friends on horseback, the response is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an combat move ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a major applications for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the lead says. "The spear has two attacks: You have the jab attack, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you lower your spear and inflict more damage [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] ideal for knightly combat."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

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 delightfully absurd idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] excellent for strapping on the elytra and taking to the skies and making some real mayhem," she hints.

In other words: Sky jousting is now real, and it should be made an Olympic sport immediately.

Another key feature in this new update is the underwater mount. This underwater creature, which is modeled after the seashells found in-game for years, can be tamed and mounted for submarine exploration. Not only will it carry you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also preserve your air supply, so there's no need to return to the surface for oxygen.

The remaining new features are largely things that are out to get you, as is the way of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a zombie Nautilus popping up in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you succeed in dispatch the Drowned, though, you can claim the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've long considered this issue for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the perfect moment to also introduce something for the ocean depths," the developer clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for aquatic rides that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus design sketches looked striking, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also adds that there are actually a pair of variants of undead nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Additional features include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive undead archers that can endure 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 new mob. Camel husks have an notable look that sees their ribs poking out. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a comparable rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some long-overdue changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse bodies of water while riding a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now craftable at the workbench, so you can give your horse the best defense it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the year-end release 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 more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

The Mayhem Mounts content drop is out now for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.