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

The winter content update for Minecraft has landed — and it features the first new weapon added to the title since the mace made its debut. The spear is finally here and it could very well change how you play Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts update also incorporates several new features and updates focused on riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the ideal addition for this update, as the creators had long felt it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a new weapon that would provide extended reach, and we envisioned it for mounted combat," stated a senior product manager. "We experimented with a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both handled superbly when we ran our trials and also looked good for the use case."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can charge at your companions on horseback, the response is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an combat move ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest applications for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer says. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the quick stab, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you lower your spear and deal increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] perfect for knightly combat."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment isn't limited to there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've explored The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] ideal for equipping the wings and flying forth and creating genuine chaos," she suggests.

In other words: Sky jousting is now a reality, and it needs to become an competitive event right away.

Another key feature in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is based on the seashells players have gathered for years, can be domesticated and mounted for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it transport you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also maintain your breath meter, so there's no need to come up for air for oxygen.

The other inclusions are primarily things that are out to get you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a rotting sea creature popping up in the water, frequently with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to take care of the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've been thinking about this problem periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the right time to also unveil something for the ocean depths," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a few different ideas for sea mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus design sketches looked compelling, 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] add variety to what you encounter underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the Parched, biome-specific undead archers that can endure the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you find yourself in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an striking appearance that sees their ribs poking out. The same goes for zombie horses, 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 bodies of water while atop a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now available at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

Overall, the year-end release of the year is a solid offering. The spear by itself — and the potential for chaos — would have felt like a major improvement. Throw in the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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