The Latest Mayhem Mounts Drop Brings Forth a Stunningly Wild Fresh Weapon to the Game

The seasonal game drop for the block-building phenomenon has landed — and it includes the first new weapon introduced into the title since the heavy club made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it could very well alter your gameplay in Minecraft, particularly when you love chaos.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also adds a host of fresh elements and updates focused on riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a new weapon that would add some more range, and we envisioned it for mounted combat," explained a lead developer. "We tried out a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both felt great when we ran our trials and also looked good for the intended purpose."

If you're asking yourself whether fighting from a saddle means you can charge at your friends on horseback, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an offensive action ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest use cases for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer says. "The spear has two attacks: You have the jab attack, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and deal greater injury [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The chaotic fun doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] excellent for strapping on the wings and taking to the skies and making some real mayhem," she teases.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now real, and it needs to become an Olympic sport without delay.

Another significant inclusion in this new update is the underwater mount. This underwater creature, which is inspired by the seashells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it move you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also preserve your breath meter, so there's no necessity to surface for oxygen.

The rest of the additions are largely things that are out to get you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a undead nautilus appearing in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in defeat the Drowned, though, you can tame the undead mount — or the regular one, 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 seemed like the perfect moment to also introduce something for underwater," the lead explains. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a number of concepts for sea mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked impressive, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also adds that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific undead archers 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 zombified camels, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an notable look that sees their bones protruding. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a similar rib-popping design and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a spear-carrying undead rider on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are refinements, including some long-overdue tweaks to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse bodies of water while atop a horse. Also, netherite horse armor is now available at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the ultimate protection it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

Overall, the final game drop of the year is a notable addition. The spear alone — and the pandemonium it invites — would have seemed like a major improvement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and additional creatures trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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

Tyler Willis
Tyler Willis

A seasoned DJ and music producer with over a decade of experience in the electronic music scene, sharing insights and tutorials.