The Latest Mounts of Mayhem Update Introduces a Stunningly Wild New Spear to the Game

The winter game drop for Minecraft has arrived — and it includes the first new weapon introduced into the game since the mace made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it has the potential to revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem update also introduces a host of fresh elements and enhancements focused on animal mounts in the game. That central theme made the spear the natural choice for this release, as the development team had long felt it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we desired a new weapon that would increase combat distance, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," stated a lead developer. "We prototyped a number of concepts, but the lance was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the use case."

If you're wondering whether fighting from a saddle means you can charge at your companions on steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack perfectly suited for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a major use cases for the spear, and it's so much fun," the developer adds. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the quick stab, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you couch your lance and get more damage [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The chaotic fun can extend beyond there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an truly outlandish idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] ideal for equipping the elytra and taking to the skies and making some real mayhem," she hints.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport without delay.

Another key feature in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is based on the seashells found in-game for years, can be tamed and mounted for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it carry you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also maintain your breath meter, so there's no requirement to come up for air for a breath.

The rest of the additions are primarily things that are out to get you, as is the way of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a zombie Nautilus appearing in the water, frequently with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can claim the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've been thinking about this challenge on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the perfect moment to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the developer clarifies. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for underwater mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked compelling, and we have the connection 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: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety to what you find underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Other additions include the Parched, desert-exclusive undead archers that can withstand the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you venture in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an striking appearance that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a lance-wielding undead rider 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 ford rivers and lakes while mounted on a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now craftable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the last content update of the year is a notable addition. The spear on its own — and the potential for chaos — would have felt like a major improvement. Add in the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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