🔗 Share this article

The winter game drop for Minecraft has arrived — and it brings with it the initial fresh armament introduced into the title since the mace made its debut. The lance is finally here and it has the potential to alter your gameplay in Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts drop also introduces a host of fresh elements and enhancements related to animal mounts in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the development team had already known it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," noted a senior product manager. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both felt great when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the use case."

If you're asking yourself whether fighting from a saddle means you can charge at your friends on steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an combat move perfectly suited for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a major use cases for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead adds. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the quick stab, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you lower your spear and get more damage [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for jousting on horses."

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 truly outlandish idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] ideal for equipping the wings and flying forth and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she hints.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, and it needs to become an competitive event without delay.

Another key feature in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is modeled after the nautilus shells players have gathered for years, can be domesticated and mounted for underwater travel. Not only will it carry you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also maintain your air supply, so there's no need to surface for fresh air.

The remaining new features are primarily things that are out to get you, as is the way of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a undead nautilus popping up in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to defeat the Drowned, though, you can tame the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've been thinking about this issue periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to also introduce something for aquatic environments," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a several proposals for underwater mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus concept art looked striking, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

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

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the Parched, desert-exclusive undead archers that can survive in the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you venture in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another new mob. Camel husks have an notable look that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a analogous exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some highly requested adjustments to riding horses. Now, you can traverse bodies of water while riding a horse. Additionally, netherite horse armor is now available at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the best defense it is worthy of.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

In summary, the last content update of the year is a notable addition. The spear alone — and the mayhem it enables — would have felt like a significant enhancement. Throw in the Nautilus, and additional creatures seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

The Mayhem Mounts update is available for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.