Minecraft's Mayhem Mounts Update Brings Forth a Beautifully Chaotic New Spear to the Game

The winter content update for Minecraft has touched down — and it includes the initial fresh armament added to the title since the mace made its debut. The lance is finally here and it has the potential to change how you play Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts update also introduces several new features and updates centered around riding animals in the game. That focus made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," stated a senior product manager. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both handled superbly when we ran our trials and also made sense for the intended purpose."

If you're wondering whether fighting from a saddle means you can charge at your friends on steeds, the response is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an attack excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary functions for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer says. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the thrust, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and inflict greater injury [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] perfect 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 explored The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] excellent for equipping the elytra and going out and creating genuine chaos," she hints.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now a reality, and it should be made an competitive event immediately.

Another major addition in this new update is the underwater mount. This aquatic being, which is inspired by the seashells found in-game for years, can be tamed and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it move you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also preserve your oxygen levels, so there's no requirement to come up for air for oxygen.

The other inclusions are largely things that seek your demise, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a undead nautilus popping up in the water, often 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 blowfish.

"We've pondered this challenge periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the right time to also bring in something for the ocean depths," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for underwater mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus concept art looked compelling, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also adds that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] give some flavor to what you discover underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the Parched, biome-specific undead archers that can survive in the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you find yourself in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an striking appearance that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a similar rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some much-anticipated tweaks to riding horses. Now, you can cross waterways while atop a horse. Additionally, high-tier barding is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the top-tier safeguarding it is worthy of.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

All told, the last content update of the year is a notable addition. The spear alone — and the potential for chaos — would have constituted a considerable upgrade. Add in the Nautilus, and new threats trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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