🔗 Share this article

The winter game drop for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it brings with it the first new weapon introduced into the title since the mace made its debut. The spear is now available and it could very well change how you play Minecraft, especially if you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts drop also introduces a host of fresh elements and enhancements related to riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the creators had long felt it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we wanted a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we wanted it to be fighting from atop a creature," explained a senior product manager. "We tried out a few different ideas, 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 curious whether fighting from a saddle means you can joust against your companions on steeds, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack excellently designed for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a primary applications for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead adds. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the thrust, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you couch your lance and get increased harm [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] perfect for mounted duels."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The unruly pleasure isn't limited to there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an truly outlandish idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] ideal for equipping the wings and taking to the skies and creating genuine chaos," she teases.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, 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 modeled after the seashells found in-game for years, can be domesticated and mounted for underwater travel. Not only will it move you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also preserve your breath meter, so there's no need to come up for air for a breath.

The remaining new features are primarily things that want to kill you, as is the way of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a zombie Nautilus popping up in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to defeat the Drowned, though, you can claim the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've been thinking about this problem on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the perfect moment to also unveil something for the ocean depths," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a few different ideas for underwater mounts that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus concept art looked compelling, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing 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 find underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the Parched, biome-specific skeletons that can survive in the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you find yourself in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. Camel husks have an striking appearance that sees their bones protruding. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a comparable rib-popping design and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some much-anticipated changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can ford bodies of water while riding a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now craftable at the workbench, so you can give your horse the top-tier safeguarding it is worthy of.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

In summary, the year-end release of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the pandemonium it invites — would have seemed like a considerable upgrade. Add in the Nautilus, and additional creatures trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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