The Latest Mayhem Mounts Update Introduces a Stunningly Wild New Spear to the Game

The seasonal content update for Minecraft has landed — and it features the first new weapon introduced into the title since the mace made its debut. The javelin is now available and it might just change how you play Minecraft, especially if you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts drop also adds several new features and updates focused on riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the ideal addition for this release, as the development team had long felt it was time for a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for fighting from atop a creature," explained a lead developer. "We prototyped a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we ran our trials and also made sense for the use case."

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

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary use cases for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the lead adds. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the thrust, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you lower your spear and get greater injury [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment isn't limited to 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] ideal for equipping the elytra and taking to the skies and making some real mayhem," she hints.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, and it needs to become an competitive event immediately.

Another major addition in this new update is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is inspired by 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 more swiftly than swimming, it'll also preserve your oxygen levels, so there's no necessity to come up for air for oxygen.

The other inclusions are largely things that are out to get you, as is the nature of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a rotting sea creature spawning in the water, often with a zombie villager on its back. If you succeed in take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've long considered this challenge for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the perfect moment to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a several proposals for aquatic rides that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked striking, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also notes that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] give some flavor to what you encounter underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Additional features include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific skeletons that can survive in the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you venture in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an excellent design that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a analogous rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some highly requested adjustments to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross waterways while atop a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now available at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

In summary, the final game drop of the year is a solid offering. The spear on its own — and the mayhem it enables — would have felt like a significant enhancement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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