2025 has proven to be a landmark year for Minecraft, highlighted by two engaging Minecraft Live events and an impressive four substantial content updates. As the holiday season approaches and the year draws to a close, the game is set to release its final update of the year, titled Mounts of Mayhem. This update not only marks the conclusion of 2025 but also serves as the last before Mojang implements changes to how Minecraft version numbers are assigned.
New Features and Content
Unveiled during the Minecraft Live event in September 2025, the Mounts of Mayhem update introduces a range of exciting features, including a new tiered weapon, a variety of new mobs, and a focus on mounted combat. Anna Lundgren, Senior Product Manager at Mojang Studios, expressed her enthusiasm for the update, stating, “It’s nice to end the year with some mayhem.” The update promises a more chaotic experience compared to its predecessors, and here’s a closer look at what players can expect:
- The Spear: After a long hiatus, Mojang has reintroduced a new tiered weapon to Minecraft.
- The spear, a melee weapon, boasts extended reach and can be crafted from various materials, including wood, stone, copper, iron, gold, diamond, or netherite.
- It features jab and charge attacks, with the jab delivering low damage and knockback, while the charge attack scales damage based on several factors.
- This weapon is designed for mounted combat and can be wielded by players as well as certain mobs.
- Additionally, the spear includes a unique lunge enchantment that transforms the jab into a horizontal lunge, albeit at the cost of durability and hunger.
- The Nautilus: A new mount has been introduced for underwater exploration.
- Spawning in all ocean biomes, the nautilus can also appear as the rare coral nautilus in warm ocean areas.
- This neutral mob can be tamed and bred using pufferfish.
- Equipped with a saddle and nautilus armor, players riding the nautilus gain the “Breath of the Nautilus” effect, preventing oxygen loss underwater.
- Furthermore, the nautilus can dash, similar to the camel, but operates underwater.
- Undead Mounts: The update also introduces three new undead mounts.
- The zombie horse now spawns naturally in Survival mode, accompanied by spear-wielding zombie riders.
- The camel husk appears in deserts, also ridden by spear-wielding husks, and is immune to sunlight.
- Lastly, the zombie nautilus can be found underwater with trident-wielding drowned riders.
- While hostile when ridden by an enemy, these undead mounts can be tamed (though not bred) once their hostile rider is eliminated.
- The Parch: A new hostile mob, the parched, has been added to the game.
- Serving as the skeleton archer equivalent of the husk, the parched spawns in deserts and is immune to sunlight.
- This mob fires arrows of weakness but has a slower rate of fire compared to regular skeletons.
- Interestingly, the parched can spawn with a husk riding a camel husk.
- Other Changes: In addition to the major updates, several other enhancements have been made.
- Mounts such as horses, donkeys, and camels now float rather than sink when ridden in water.
- Players can upgrade diamond horse armor to netherite using a smithing table.
- Minecraft: Java Edition has received new graphics presets and options for enhanced visual experiences.
Lundgren reflected on the year, noting the diverse updates that catered to builders and explorers alike. “We had some very nice, lovable things for builders and explorers with Spring to Life. Chasing Skies gave us the happy ghast to go flying in the sky with your friends. We had a Copper Age with all the new copper things,” she shared.
As the year concludes with Mounts of Mayhem, players can anticipate surprises, including the long-awaited introduction of the legendary zombie horse into Survival mode. Lundgren remarked on the historical context of the zombie horse’s absence, stating, “Unfortunately, the reason why the zombie horse never made it into Survival outside of using commands… That’s a story that has been lost with time.”
Looking ahead, Mojang has shifted its strategy regarding updates and announcements, opting for smaller yet more frequent releases and showcasing features only when they are nearly ready for testing. Lundgren highlighted the spear and the ability for horses to swim as her favorite aspects of the Mounts of Mayhem update, hinting at an exciting 2026 for Minecraft enthusiasts.
For those eager to explore every detail of the Mounts of Mayhem update, the changelogs for both Minecraft: Java Edition 1.21.11 and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition 1.21.130 are now available for review.
