The seasonal content update for the block-building phenomenon has landed — and it features the first new weapon introduced into the title since the mace made its debut. The spear is now available and it might just revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you thrive on pandemonium.
The Mounts of Mayhem update also introduces a host of fresh elements and enhancements related to animal mounts in the game. That focus made the spear the ideal addition for this release, as the development team had already known it was time for a fresh combat tool.
"From the outset, we understood that we aimed for a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," noted a senior product manager. "We experimented with a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we ran our trials and also made sense for the use case."
If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can charge at your allies on horseback, the answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an attack perfectly suited for it.
"[Jousting on horses is one of the biggest use cases for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead says. "The spear has two attacks: You have the thrust, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and deal more damage [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."
The chaotic fun can extend beyond there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an truly outlandish idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] ideal for strapping on the wings and going out and creating genuine chaos," she suggests.
In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, and it should be made an competitive event without delay.
Another major addition in this new update is the Nautilus. This underwater creature, which is modeled after the seashells players have gathered for years, can be tamed and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it carry you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also preserve your breath meter, so there's no requirement to surface for fresh air.
The remaining new features are largely things that seek your demise, as is the nature of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a zombie Nautilus popping up in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.
"We've been thinking about this issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the right time to also unveil something for underwater," the lead elaborates. "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 striking, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."
She also notes that there are actually a pair of variants of undead nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] give some flavor to what you discover underwater."
Further inclusions include the Parched, desert-exclusive skeletons that can withstand the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you end up in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an excellent design that sees their ribs poking out. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a comparable rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding undead rider on their back.
The remaining updates on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some highly requested changes to riding horses. Now, you can traverse rivers and lakes while riding a horse. Additionally, netherite horse armor is now obtainable at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the best defense it deserves.
All told, the last content update of the year is a notable addition. The spear on its own — and the pandemonium it invites — would have felt like a considerable upgrade. Add in the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.
The Mounts of Mayhem update is out now for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.
A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about emerging technologies and their impact on society, with a background in software development.
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