Minecraft's Mayhem Mounts Drop Brings Forth a Stunningly Wild New Spear to the Game

The seasonal content update for Minecraft has touched down — and it features the first new weapon introduced into the title since the mace made its debut. The lance is finally here and it could very well revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, especially if you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

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 development team had long felt it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a new weapon that would increase combat distance, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," explained a lead developer. "We experimented with a number of concepts, but the spear 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 answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an attack excellently designed for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a primary use cases for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer continues. "The spear has two attacks: You have the jab attack, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and deal greater injury [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The unruly pleasure doesn't have to stop 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 equipping the wings and taking to the skies and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, and it should be made an competitive event right away.

Another key feature in this new update is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is modeled after the seashells found in-game for years, can be tamed and mounted for underwater travel. Not only will it move you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also maintain your oxygen levels, so there's no need to return to the surface for a breath.

The remaining new features are primarily things that want to kill you, as is the tradition 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 tame the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've been thinking about this problem on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the perfect moment to also bring in something for aquatic environments," the lead elaborates. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a number of concepts for aquatic rides that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus design sketches looked impressive, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also notes that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you encounter underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Other additions include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive undead archers that can withstand the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you end up in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an notable look that sees their ribs poking out. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a similar exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a lance-wielding 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 traverse waterways while riding a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now craftable at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the top-tier safeguarding it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

Overall, the last content update of the year is a notable addition. The spear on its own — and the potential for chaos — would have constituted a significant enhancement. Throw in the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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