Minecraft Mounts of Mayhem Update: New Mounts, Spears & Combat Guide
Minecraft just got a MAJOR combat and mount overhaul! The Mounts of Mayhem update dropped December 9, 2024.
After three previous 2024 updates (Spring to Life, Chase the Skies, and The Copper Age), Mojang is ending the year with an action-packed update focused on mounts and combat. New underwater mounts, zombie horses in survival mode, a brand-new spear weapon, and massive mount improvements make this one of the most exciting Minecraft updates in years.
Let's break down everything new in Mounts of Mayhem!
🗓️ Release Information
Release Date: December 9, 2024
Platforms: Java Edition, Bedrock Edition
Update Name: Mounts of Mayhem (Final 2024 Game Drop)
Previous 2024 Updates:
- Spring to Life (aesthetic overhaul)
- Chase the Skies (Nether expansion)
- The Copper Age (copper items)
🐚 The Nautilus: New Underwater Mount
Finally, underwater exploration is fun!
What is the Nautilus?
The Nautilus is a new rideable underwater mob that revolutionizes ocean travel.
Key Features:
Air Preservation
- Riding a Nautilus preserves your air supply
- No more drowning while exploring
- Extended underwater adventures
Speed Boost
- Faster than swimming
- Comparable to boat speed underwater
- Makes ocean travel efficient
Multiple Variants
- Different Nautilus types
- Unique appearances
- Special abilities (some variants)
How to Tame:
Taming Process:
- Find Nautilus in ocean biomes
- Feed them puffer fish
- Repeat until hearts appear
- Mount and ride!
Where to Find:
- Deep ocean biomes
- Coral reefs
- Underwater caves
- Near ocean monuments
Nautilus Armor:
Armor Types:
- Copper Nautilus Armor
- Gold Nautilus Armor
- Diamond Nautilus Armor
- Netherite Nautilus Armor
Benefits:
- Increased protection
- Better speed
- Enhanced durability
- Visual customization
Why This Changes Everything:
Before Mounts of Mayhem:
- Underwater exploration was tedious
- Constant air management
- Slow swimming
- Limited ocean content
After Mounts of Mayhem:
- Fast, efficient ocean travel
- No air concerns
- Armored protection
- Exciting underwater adventures
🧟 Zombie Horses: Now in Survival!
After 10+ years, zombie horses are FINALLY obtainable!
The Background:
Zombie horses have existed in Minecraft since 2013, but were only available through:
- Creative mode
- Commands (
/summon) - Never naturally spawning
Mounts of Mayhem changes this!
How to Get Zombie Horses:
Natural Spawning:
- Zombie horses now spawn naturally in the world
- Often ridden by zombies wielding spears
- Found in various biomes
- Rare but obtainable
Taming:
- Defeat the zombie rider
- Mount the zombie horse
- Repeatedly mount until tamed
- Add saddle to ride
Zombie Horse Features:
Stats:
- Same speed as regular horses
- Undead mob (affected by smite)
- Don't need food
- Can't be bred
Unique Traits:
- Zombie aesthetic
- Rideable in survival
- Compatible with horse armor
- Immune to drowning
Why Players Love It:
- Finally accessible
- Unique appearance
- Collector's item
- Combat mount
🗡️ The Spear: New Multi-Use Weapon
Minecraft's first throwable melee weapon!
Spear Basics:
Weapon Type: Tiered melee/ranged hybrid
Available Tiers:
- Stone Spear
- Copper Spear
- Iron Spear
- Gold Spear
- Diamond Spear
- Netherite Spear
Combat Mechanics:
Charge Attack:
- Hold to charge
- Damage increases with travel speed
- Similar to mace mechanics
- Devastating on mounts
Jousting:
- Use while riding mounts
- Speed-based damage
- Can knock players off mounts
- Medieval combat vibes
Throwing:
- Right-click to throw
- Ranged attack option
- Retrievable after throw
- Precision weapon
Damage Scaling:
Speed-Based Damage:
- Faster movement = more damage
- Perfect for mounted combat
- Encourages aggressive play
- Rewards positioning
Tier Comparison:
- Stone: Basic damage
- Iron: Moderate damage
- Diamond: High damage
- Netherite: Maximum damage
Crafting Recipes:
Stone Spear:
- 1 stick + 2 cobblestone
Iron Spear:
- 1 stick + 2 iron ingots
Diamond Spear:
- 1 stick + 2 diamonds
Netherite Spear:
- Diamond spear + netherite ingot (smithing table)
Why Spears Are Game-Changing:
New Combat Options:
- Ranged melee hybrid
- Mounted combat
- Jousting mechanics
- Player knockback
Strategic Depth:
- Speed management
- Positioning matters
- Mount synergy
- Skill-based combat
🐴 Mount Improvements
All mounts got major upgrades!
No More Sinking:
Before:
- Horses sank in water
- Dismounting required
- Tedious river crossings
After:
- All mounts float/swim
- Horses, donkeys, camels
- Seamless water travel
- No dismounting needed
Netherite Horse Armor:
New Upgrade Path:
- Diamond horse armor + netherite ingot
- Smithing table upgrade
- Best protection for mounts
- Matches player armor progression
Stats:
- Highest protection
- Durability
- Visual appeal
- Endgame content
Mount Types:
All Rideable Mounts:
- Horses
- Donkeys
- Mules
- Camels
- Zombie Horses (NEW!)
- Nautilus (NEW!)
⚔️ Combat Strategies
How to dominate with new features:
Mounted Spear Combat:
Jousting Tips:
- Build up speed
- Charge with spear
- Time your strike
- Retreat and repeat
Best Mounts for Combat:
- Fast horses (speed damage)
- Zombie horses (intimidation)
- Camels (height advantage)
Underwater Combat:
Nautilus Strategies:
- Armor your Nautilus
- Use trident + Nautilus combo
- Explore ocean monuments safely
- Escape hostile mobs quickly
PvP Applications:
Spear in PvP:
- Knock players off mounts
- Ranged harassment
- Jousting duels
- Hit-and-run tactics
🎯 Best Uses for New Content
Exploration:
Ocean Exploration:
- Nautilus for deep dives
- Discover ocean monuments
- Find shipwrecks
- Collect underwater resources
Land Exploration:
- Zombie horses for aesthetics
- Regular horses for speed
- Spears for protection
Building:
Medieval Builds:
- Jousting arenas
- Castle defenses
- Knight roleplay
- Tournament grounds
Aquatic Builds:
- Underwater bases
- Nautilus stables
- Ocean pathways
- Marine sanctuaries
Survival:
Early Game:
- Craft stone spear quickly
- Tame horses early
- Explore efficiently
Late Game:
- Netherite spear + armor
- Fully armored Nautilus
- Zombie horse collection
📊 Comparison: Before vs After
Ocean Travel:
| Feature | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Slow swimming | Fast Nautilus |
| Air | Constant management | Preserved on mount |
| Protection | None | Nautilus armor |
| Fun Factor | Tedious | Exciting |
Mounted Combat:
| Feature | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Weapons | Bow only | Spear + bow |
| Damage | Static | Speed-based |
| Jousting | Not possible | Full mechanics |
| Strategy | Limited | Deep |
🎮 How to Get Started
Quick Start Guide:
Step 1: Craft a Spear
Materials needed:
- 1 stick
- 2 stone/iron/diamond
Step 2: Find a Nautilus
- Head to ocean biome
- Bring puffer fish
- Tame and armor
Step 3: Hunt Zombie Horses
- Explore at night
- Look for zombie riders
- Defeat and tame
Step 4: Upgrade Mounts
- Craft netherite horse armor
- Armor your Nautilus
- Prepare for adventure
🌊 Best Biomes for New Content
Where to find everything:
For Nautilus:
- Deep Ocean
- Warm Ocean
- Coral Reef
- Near Ocean Monuments
For Zombie Horses:
- Plains (night)
- Forest (night)
- Savanna (night)
- Any overworld biome
For Spear Materials:
- Mines (iron, diamond)
- Nether (netherite)
- Surface (stone)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I breed Nautilus?
A: Not confirmed yet. Likely in future updates.
Q: Do zombie horses despawn?
A: No, once tamed they're permanent like regular horses.
Q: Can I enchant spears?
A: Yes! Sharpness, Unbreaking, Mending all work.
Q: Does the spear break?
A: Yes, it has durability like other tools.
Q: Can I use spears with shields?
A: No, spears require both hands when charging.
Q: Do Nautilus need food?
A: Only puffer fish for taming, not for maintenance.
Q: Can I put chests on Nautilus?
A: No, they're mounts only, not pack animals.
Q: Does netherite horse armor protect against lava?
A: No, horses still take lava damage.
🎯 Pro Tips & Tricks
Expert Strategies:
Spear Mastery:
- Practice charge timing
- Use high ground advantage
- Combine with speed potions
- Master throwing distance
Nautilus Optimization:
- Always carry puffer fish
- Armor ASAP
- Mark good spawn locations
- Use for monument raids
Zombie Horse Hunting:
- Hunt at night
- Bring healing potions
- Use bow for zombie rider
- Tame immediately
🚀 What's Next for Minecraft?
Future Updates:
Confirmed:
- Continued "game drop" model
- More frequent updates
- Community feedback integration
Speculation:
- More mount types?
- Additional weapons?
- Mount breeding?
- Underwater expansion?
2025 Roadmap: Expected announcement early 2025
🎮 Why This Update Matters
Impact on Minecraft:
Gameplay Evolution:
- More combat variety
- Better exploration
- Enhanced mobility
- Deeper strategy
Community Response:
- Overwhelmingly positive
- Long-requested features
- Fresh content
- Renewed interest
Long-term Value:
- Replayability
- Build opportunities
- PvP meta shift
- Content creation
🏆 Final Thoughts
Mounts of Mayhem is exactly what Minecraft needed - exciting new mechanics that enhance core gameplay without overwhelming complexity.
The Nautilus makes ocean exploration actually fun. Zombie horses fulfill a decade-long request. The spear adds skill-based combat. Mount improvements remove annoying limitations.
This update proves Mojang is listening to players and willing to evolve Minecraft's combat and exploration systems. If this is the quality we can expect from future "game drops," Minecraft's future looks incredibly bright.
Grab your spear, mount your Nautilus, and dive into the mayhem! 🌊🗡️🐴
🔗 Official Resources
Learn More:
More Gaming News:
The Mounts of Mayhem await. Ready to ride? ⚔️🌊
Last Updated: December 14, 2024
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