The winter content update for Minecraft has landed — and it brings with it the initial fresh armament added to the game since the heavy club made its debut. The spear is now available and it has the potential to alter your gameplay in Minecraft, particularly when you love chaos.
An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides
The Mounts of Mayhem drop also introduces several new features and enhancements focused on animal mounts in the game. That central theme made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the creators had already known it was time for a new weapon.
"From the outset, we understood that we aimed for a new weapon that would add some more range, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," noted a lead developer. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both handled superbly when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the intended purpose."
If you're asking yourself whether fighting from a saddle means you can tilt at your friends on steeds, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an offensive action ideally crafted for it.
"[Jousting on horses is a primary use cases for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead continues. "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 get greater injury [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] perfect for knightly combat."
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 explored The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] perfect for equipping the elytra and flying forth and creating genuine chaos," she hints.
In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now possible, and it should be made an competitive event right away.
Another key feature in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This underwater creature, which is modeled after the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and mounted for underwater travel. Not only will it carry you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also conserve your air supply, so there's no need to surface for fresh air.
The rest of the additions are mostly things that are out to get you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a rotting sea creature appearing in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you manage to take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a puffer fish.
"We've pondered this issue for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the perfect moment to also unveil something for the ocean depths," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a number of concepts for aquatic rides that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus concept art looked striking, 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] give some flavor to what you find underwater."
Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements
Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive undead archers that can endure the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you venture in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another new mob. Camel husks have an notable look that sees their ribs poking out. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a comparable rib-popping design and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.
The final pair of items on the drop's list are refinements, including some highly requested adjustments to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross waterways while mounted on a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the best defense it is worthy of.
A Fittingly Chaotic Finale
In summary, the last content update of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the potential for chaos — would have constituted a considerable upgrade. Throw in the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.
The Mounts of Mayhem content drop is out now for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.
