🔗 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 heavy club made its debut. The lance is now available and it might just alter your gameplay in Minecraft, especially if you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts drop also adds a host of fresh elements and updates centered around riding animals in the game. That focus made the spear the ideal addition for this update, as the creators had long felt it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," stated a lead developer. "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 intended purpose."

If you're asking yourself whether mounted combat means you can joust against your companions on steeds, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack perfectly suited for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a major functions for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer continues. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the thrust, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and get more damage [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're far 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 elytra and taking to the skies and creating genuine chaos," she teases.

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

Another key feature in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is inspired by the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and ridden for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it transport you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also maintain your air supply, so there's no need to come up for air for fresh air.

The rest of the additions are largely things that want to kill you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a rotting sea creature spawning in the water, frequently with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to defeat the Drowned, though, you can tame the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky 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 unveil something for the ocean depths," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a number of concepts for sea mounts that we wanted to try out, 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 zombie Nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you encounter underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific skeletons that can endure the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you find yourself in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an excellent design that sees their ribs poking out. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a comparable rib-popping design and can sometimes be found at night with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some long-overdue changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can ford rivers and lakes while atop a horse. Also, netherite horse armor is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

In summary, the year-end release of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the mayhem it enables — would have felt like a significant enhancement. Throw in the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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