🔗 Share this article

The seasonal content update for the block-building phenomenon 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 could very well revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem update also incorporates a host of fresh elements and enhancements focused on riding animals in the game. That central theme made the spear the natural choice for this update, as the development team had long felt it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a new weapon that would add some more range, and we designed it specifically for fighting from atop a creature," stated a lead developer. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both handled superbly when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the use case."

If you're wondering whether fighting from a saddle means you can joust against your allies on horseback, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest use cases for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer continues. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the thrust, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you lower your spear and inflict more damage [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The chaotic fun isn't limited to there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've explored The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] perfect for equipping the wings and flying forth and making some real mayhem," she teases.

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

Another significant inclusion in this new update is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be tamed and ridden for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it move you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also maintain your oxygen levels, so there's no requirement to come up for air for a breath.

The remaining new features are primarily things that seek your demise, as is the way of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a zombie Nautilus appearing in the water, sometimes with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in defeat the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've long considered this issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the perfect moment to also bring in something for the ocean depths," the lead explains. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for aquatic rides that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus concept art looked impressive, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also points out that there are actually two different types of undead nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you encounter underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific skeletons that can withstand the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you end up in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an notable look that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a analogous rib-popping design and can sometimes be found at night with a spear-carrying undead rider on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some much-anticipated adjustments to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse rivers and lakes while mounted on a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now obtainable at the workbench, so you can give your horse the best defense it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

In summary, the last content update of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the pandemonium it invites — would have constituted a major improvement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and new threats seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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