Minecraft’s final game drop of 2025 has arrived, and Mounts of Mayhem is rewriting the rules of mounted combat. Released December 9 as Java Edition 1.21.11 and Bedrock Edition 1.21.130, this free update introduces underwater nautilus mounts, naturally spawning zombie horses, the versatile spear weapon, and hostile camel husks with dual riders. Whether you’re a survival veteran or returning player, preparation is key to dominating these new challenges. Here are five crucial activities to complete before charging into battle.
Table of Contents
Mounts of Mayhem Minecraft Reference
| Feature | Details | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|
| Nautilus | Tamable aquatic mount, grants infinite air | Cold Ocean biomes (50% spawn rate) |
| Zombie Horse | Now spawns naturally with zombie riders | Plains and savanna biomes at night |
| Spear | New tiered weapon with jab & charge attacks | Craft with 1 stick + 2 minerals |
| Camel Husk | Undead camel with husk + parched riders | Desert biomes |
| Netherite Horse Armor | Strongest mount protection | Upgrade diamond armor at smithing table |
1. Stockpile Saddles for Instant Taming
Four new rideable creatures join the roster: nautilus, zombie nautilus, camel husk, and zombie horse. If you want to claim these mounts immediately after defeating their hostile riders, craft multiple saddles ahead of time. Thanks to recent updates, saddles are now craftable using three leather and one iron ingot—no more relying on dungeon chests or fishing.
Pro strategy: Craft at least five saddles before the update drops. Zombie horses spawn in plains and savanna biomes at night as hostile zombie horsemen, so you’ll need quick taming abilities to secure them before sunrise. The camel husk spawns in desert biomes but comes equipped with two hostile riders (a spear-wielding husk and the new parched skeleton), making these mounts challenging trophies.
2. Scout Cold Ocean Biomes for Nautilus Spawns
The nautilus represents Minecraft’s most significant aquatic mount addition since Update Aquatic. These creatures spawn exclusively in cold ocean variants—Frozen Ocean, Cold Ocean, Deep Cold Ocean, and Deep Frozen Ocean—with a 50% spawn rate, according to official Minecraft documentation.
Start exploring cold waters now and mark coordinates using maps or lodestones. When ridden, nautiluses grant the “Breath of the Nautilus” effect, preventing oxygen depletion and allowing indefinite underwater exploration. This mechanic revolutionizes ocean monument raids, coral reef mining, and underwater base construction. For more tips on ocean exploration in Minecraft, check our comprehensive biome guides.
3. Hoard Pufferfish for Nautilus Taming
Unlike horses that accept carrots or apples, nautiluses require pufferfish for taming. These spiky fish spawn with only 3-11% probability in warm and lukewarm ocean biomes—making them surprisingly rare. You’ll need multiple pufferfish per nautilus, so dedicated fishing sessions are essential.
Best farming method: Locate warm ocean biomes (identified by tropical fish and coral reefs), then fish during rainy weather for increased spawn rates. Alternatively, use a bucket of pufferfish for more efficient taming. Store extras in chests near your base, as zombie nautiluses (the undead variant that spawns with drowned riders) also accept pufferfish for taming after you’ve knocked off their hostile jockeys.
4. Master Spear Combat in Beta/Snapshot Versions
The spear introduces Minecraft’s first momentum-based melee weapon with two distinct attack types: stationary jabs for close combat and devastating charge attacks that deal damage based on your movement speed. Available in seven tiers (wooden through netherite), spears also feature the exclusive Lunge enchantment that boosts charge speed and can dismount hostile riders.
Get ahead of the learning curve by testing spears in Java snapshots and Bedrock beta versions right now. The weapon’s diagonal crafting recipe (one stick plus two minerals in diagonal formation) differs from traditional tools, requiring adjustment. Practice charging with elytra for maximum damage potential, or experiment with mounted spear combat against phantom packs. Note that enchanted spears consume hunger points based on enchantment levels, so always carry food.
The spear’s tactical applications extend beyond mounted combat—use it in minecarts for railway defense, combine it with riptide tridents for aquatic mobility, or enhance shield-breaking strategies in PvP scenarios.
5. Mine Ancient Debris for Netherite Horse Armor
For the first time in Minecraft history, netherite horse armor becomes craftable through the Mounts of Mayhem update. This represents the strongest mount protection available, providing 19 armor points, 3 armor toughness, and 1 knockback resistance—significantly outperforming diamond horse armor’s 11 armor points.
Preparation checklist: Locate a bastion remnant for the netherite upgrade smithing template, then mine ancient debris at Y-level 15 in the Nether (requires diamond pickaxe minimum). You’ll need one netherite ingot per horse armor upgrade, so budget four ancient debris blocks (for smelting into scraps) plus four gold ingots per armor piece. With horses now able to swim without dismounting riders—another Mounts of Mayhem improvement—netherite-equipped steeds become legitimate end-game exploration companions.
Bonus Preparation: Nautilus Armor Materials
The update introduces tiered nautilus armor sets (copper, iron, gold, diamond, netherite) that function similarly to horse armor but for aquatic mounts. These can be found in buried treasure chests or crafted using standard armor recipes. Start mining copper and iron deposits now, as fully armored nautiluses dramatically improve survivability during underwater combat against drowned mobs and guardians.
Why This Update Changes Everything
Mounts of Mayhem represents Mojang’s most aggressive mounted combat expansion yet. The hostile mounted mobs—zombie horsemen, camel husks with dual riders, and drowned-piloted zombie nautiluses—create tactical challenges requiring quick thinking and proper gear. The parched skeleton (exclusive to camel husk jockeys) fires Weakness arrows, while drowned riders wield tridents with deadly accuracy.
These preparations ensure you’re not scrambling for resources when facing multiple mounted threats simultaneously. Combined with the spear’s dismounting capabilities and improved horse swimming mechanics, this update finally makes mounted gameplay competitive with elytra flight for overworld traversal.
FAQs
Q: Can I tame hostile mounted mobs like zombie horses and camel husks?
Yes! After defeating their riders, zombie horses become tamable with saddles like regular horses. Camel husks require defeating both the husk and parched riders first, then can be saddled. Zombie nautiluses need their drowned riders eliminated before taming with pufferfish.
Q: Does the spear replace swords as the primary combat weapon?
Not entirely. Spears excel at mounted combat and mid-range engagements thanks to charge attacks, but swords maintain higher DPS for stationary close-quarters combat. The spear’s Lunge enchantment makes it ideal for PvP dismounting tactics and elytra charges, while swords remain superior for dungeon crawling and mob farming. Most players will carry both weapons for tactical flexibility.
