Minecraft’s Mounts & Mayhem Update – Full Overview (2025 Release)

Introduction

Minecraft’s brand-new Mounts & Mayhem Update drops today, bringing one of the biggest mobility and combat shake-ups the game has seen in years. Players can now dive into the world with new rideable creatures, improved underwater exploration, revamped desert threats, and a brand-new weapon class.

This update focuses heavily on movement, mount variety, and mounted combat, making exploration more dynamic and dangerous than ever.

In this blog, we break down every major feature, including new mobs, mounts, weapons, combat mechanics, biome changes, and strategies for getting started quickly.

What’s Included in the Mounts & Mayhem Update?

A quick look at the headline additions:

• Three new mount types (including underwater mounting for the first time ever)
• New undead variations of classic mobs
• Major improvements to mount behavior (swimming, handling, stamina feel)
• Brand-new Spear weapon class
• Craftable Netherite Mount Armor
• Updated desert and ocean encounters
• New hostile riders and elite variants
• World-gen encounters tied to new mobs

New Mounts & Rideable Creatures

1. Nautilus — The First Underwater Mount

Minecraft finally introduces a fully-controllable aquatic mount.

Key Features

• Rideable underwater (first in the game)
• Tameable using pufferfish
• Grants Breath of the Nautilus = infinite water breathing while mounted
• High underwater speed
• Comes with a hostile undead variant: Zombie Nautilus

2. Zombie Nautilus

A darker undead form that appears in deep-ocean danger zones.

Notable Traits

• Hostile toward players
• Often found alongside Drowned
• Can be tamed after defeating its rider
• Slightly slower than normal Nautilus, but tankier

3. Zombie Horse — Now in Survival

Zombie horses finally enter Survival mode.

Spawn Behavior

• Spawns at night in plains & savannas
• Sometimes appears with zombie riders
• Can be tamed once the rider is defeated

Why It Matters

This is the fastest undead mount currently in the game and one of the most accessible.

4. Camel Husk (Undead Camel)

The desert gets a massive difficulty spike.

Traits

• Passive until mounted by hostile mobs
• Commonly carries:
  • Husk Spearmen
  • Parched Skeletons
• Can be tamed when unmounted

Threat Level: 🔥 High — These spawns make deserts deadly again.

New Hostile Variants & Encounters

Parched Skeleton

A desert-hardened skeleton that:

• Does not burn in daylight
• Uses arrows that apply Weakness
• Spawns with Camel Husks as mounted patrols

This mob changes early-game desert progression significantly.

New Weapon Class: The Spear

The Spear is the update’s signature weapon — designed for both ground and mounted combat.

Combat Features

• Two attack modes:
  • Quick Jab
  • Charged Thrust (more damage, especially while moving fast)
• Works with all mount types
• Tiered from Wood → Netherite
• Longest melee reach of any non-trident melee weapon

Gameplay Impact

Mounted combat now becomes a legitimate choice in PvE and even PvP arenas.

Mount Armor Upgrade: Netherite Armor

Minecraft introduces craftable Netherite mount armor for the first time.

Stats

• ~19 Armor Points (best in class)
• High durability
• Best pairing for Zombie Horses & Camel Husks

Great for players exploring tough biomes or battling new mounted enemies.

Mount Behavior Improvements

This update fixes long-standing mount pain points.

All mounts now:

• Float properly when swimming
• Have smoother acceleration & turning
• Feel more responsive during combat
• Transition better between land/water

These changes finally make mounts reliable for exploration.

Biome Difficulty Updates

Oceans

• New underwater patrols
• Zombie Nautilus encounters
• Incentivizes riding a Nautilus for exploration

Deserts

• Camel Husk raids
• Parched skeletons
• Increased nighttime mob density

Final Thoughts

The Mounts & Mayhem Update is one of the most transformative mobility updates Minecraft has released in years.

It makes exploration deeper, combat more tactical, and biomes more dangerous. Whether you’re charging across plains on a zombie horse or diving into the ocean atop a Nautilus, these new systems open up a brand-new style of Minecraft gameplay.

Ready to Try the Update? Start a Server in Seconds

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👉 https://www.serverwave.com/game/minecraft-java

Spin up a server, explore the new mounts, test the spear, and start your own adventure today. Claim your $10 Signup bonus for free.