The winter game drop for the block-building phenomenon has arrived — and it features the initial fresh armament added to the title since the heavy club made its debut. The spear is finally here and it might just alter your gameplay in Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.
An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides
The Mayhem Mounts drop also adds several new features and updates centered around animal mounts in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.
"We knew initially that we aimed for a new weapon that would increase combat distance, and we envisioned it for mounted combat," stated a lead developer. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the intended purpose."
If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can tilt at your friends on steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack excellently designed for it.
"[Jousting on horses is one of the biggest use cases for the spear, and it's so much fun," the developer says. "The spear has two attacks: You have the thrust, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you lower your spear and deal greater injury [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] ideal for knightly combat."
Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures
The chaotic fun isn't limited to 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 very late, [spears are] perfect for equipping the elytra and flying forth and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she suggests.
In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, and it should be made an Olympic sport right away.
Another significant inclusion in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is inspired by the seashells we've all been collecting for years, can be tamed and mounted for submarine exploration. Not only will it carry you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also maintain your oxygen levels, so there's no requirement to return to the surface for fresh air.
The other inclusions are primarily things that are out to get you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a rotting sea creature popping up in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to defeat the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a blowfish.
"We've been thinking about this problem for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the ideal opportunity to also bring in something for underwater," the lead explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals 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 already in the game."
She also notes that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] give some flavor to what you discover underwater."
Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks
Further inclusions include the Parched, 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 camel husks, another new mob. Camel husks have an striking appearance that sees their ribs poking out. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a analogous exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be found at night with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.
The last two things on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some highly requested adjustments to riding horses. Now, you can traverse waterways while atop a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now craftable at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it is worthy of.
A Spicy Send-Off for the Year
Overall, the final game drop of the year is a notable addition. The spear alone — and the mayhem it enables — would have felt like a significant enhancement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.
The Mounts of Mayhem content drop is live for all major editions of Minecraft.
