Minecraft's Mounts of Mayhem Update Introduces a Beautifully Chaotic New Spear to Your World

The seasonal game drop for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it features the first new weapon introduced into the game since the mace made its debut. The javelin is now available and it might just alter your gameplay in Minecraft, especially if you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts update also incorporates a host of fresh elements and enhancements focused on animal mounts in the game. That focus made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the creators had already known it was time for a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we aimed for a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for fighting from atop a creature," stated a senior product manager. "We experimented with a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both handled superbly when we ran our trials and also made sense for the use case."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can tilt at your companions on steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an offensive action perfectly suited for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a major use cases for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead continues. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the quick stab, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you couch your lance and deal greater injury [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for knightly combat."

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 delightfully absurd idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] ideal for equipping the elytra and flying forth and making some real mayhem," she hints.

In other words: Sky jousting is now a reality, and it needs to become an competitive event without delay.

Another significant inclusion in this new update is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is modeled after the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be tamed and ridden for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it transport you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also maintain your air supply, so there's no requirement to surface for a breath.

The remaining new features are mostly things that seek your demise, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a undead nautilus appearing in the water, sometimes with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to defeat the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've pondered this issue periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to also bring in something for the ocean depths," the lead explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for aquatic rides that we wanted to try out, 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 notes that there are actually two different types of undead nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] add variety to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Additional features include the Parched, desert-exclusive skeletons that can endure the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you end up in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an notable look that sees their ribs poking out. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a analogous exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding undead rider on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some highly requested changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse bodies of water while mounted on a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now available at the workbench, so you can give your horse the ultimate protection it is worthy of.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

Overall, the year-end release of the year is a pretty good one. The spear on its own — and the mayhem it enables — would have seemed like a significant enhancement. Throw in the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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