The Latest Mounts of Mayhem Drop Brings Forth a Stunningly Wild New Spear to Your World

The seasonal game drop for Minecraft has landed — and it features the initial fresh armament introduced into the game since the heavy club made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it might just revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, especially if you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts drop also incorporates several new features and enhancements related to animal mounts in the game. That focus made the spear the natural choice for this update, as the development team had long felt it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we designed it specifically 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 tested our prototypes and also made sense for the intended purpose."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can tilt at your companions on steeds, the answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an offensive action excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest applications for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the lead continues. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the thrust, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and get more damage [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] ideal for jousting on horses."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The chaotic fun doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the elytra and going out and creating genuine chaos," she suggests.

In other words: Sky jousting is now a reality, and it should be made an Olympic sport without delay.

Another major addition in this new update is the Nautilus. This underwater creature, which is modeled after the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be tamed and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it transport you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also preserve your breath meter, so there's no requirement to return to the surface for oxygen.

The other inclusions are largely things that are out to get you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a zombie Nautilus spawning in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you manage to defeat the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've pondered this challenge periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the right time to also bring in something for aquatic environments," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for sea mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus design sketches looked impressive, 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] give some flavor to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Other additions include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive undead archers that can survive in the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you end up in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, 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 similar 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 smaller gameplay updates, including some long-overdue adjustments to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross bodies of water while mounted on a horse. Also, netherite horse armor is now available at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the final game drop of the year is a notable addition. The spear on its own — and the mayhem it enables — would have constituted a considerable upgrade. Combine that with the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

The Mayhem Mounts update is available for all major editions of Minecraft.