Minecraft Mounts of Mayhem — Release Date, Nautilus, Spear, Zombie Horses & Full Guide

This guide explains the confirmed launch timeline, details all new rideable/mount-adjacent mobs, how to find and tame the Nautilus, how mount armor and upgrades function, spear mechanics and Lunge enchantment, new hostile mounts, early access availability, tactical tips, and a strategic loot map for armor and spears. All release and technical data is based on official Mojang statements and latest snapshots.

Release date — when the mayhem begins

Mounts of Mayhem is scheduled to launch on December 9, 2025. This game drop is being distributed across Java (snapshot → release), and Bedrock (preview/beta → rollout) channels; Java snapshots are already available for testing.

New mounts and mount-like mobs (at a glance)

Nautilus — a tameable underwater mount that halts oxygen depletion while mounted and accepts armor.
Zombie Nautilus — undead variant which may spawn with drowned riders; functions as a hostile mount.
Zombie Horses — now available in Survival; spawn in savannah and plains biomes and appear with undead riders at night.
Camel Husk & Parched (desert variants) — undead mounts and mounted skeleton variants that change desert combat dynamics.

Every new mount transforms mobility and fighting strategy. Many offer unique armor or loot, establishing new reward paths such as ocean exploration for specialized Nautilus armor and deeper sea access.

Nautilus — how to find, tame, equip, and use it (step-by-step)

Where to find: Nautili appear in ocean biomes and may be encountered while exploring shipwrecks, ocean ruins, and near buried treasure areas during snapshot testing. How to tame: Taming is performed by offering pufferfish to the Nautilus (this is the official taming food noted in the reveal and test materials). Once tamed, a Nautilus can be saddled. Breath of the Nautilus: While mounted, the player receives a status tied to the Nautilus called Breath of the Nautilus — this effect pauses oxygen consumption while mounted (it does not refill oxygen bubbles and has a finite duration). Use the effect to bridge long underwater crossings without having to repeatedly surface. Armor and upgrades: Nautilus armor exists in multiple material tiers—Copper, Iron, Gold, Diamond, and Netherite—and can be equipped similarly to horse armor. The armor pieces are currently obtainable from structure loot (shipwrecks, ocean ruins, buried treasure), and diamond pieces are upgradeable to Netherite via smithing. Practical tips

Bring a small supply of pufferfish and a saddle before ocean expeditions.
Nautilus armor reduces risk from guardians, drowned, and other ocean hazards; prioritize iron/diamond pieces while exploring deep monuments.

The spear — weapon design, attacks, and practical uses

Weapon tiers and crafting: The spear is a tiered weapon craftable from wood, copper, iron, gold, diamond, and Netherite. It joins the combat roster with a distinct reach and attack pattern that changes mounted combat. Attacks:

Jab attack: quick, longer reach; keeps enemies at distance (excellent for mounted defense).
Charge attack: damage scales with movement speed; using the charge while sprinting, riding, or using elytra/minecart/boat increases damage and provides knockback. This enables effective mounted strike combos and jousting-style engagements.

New enchantment — Lunge: Snapshots and previews introduce an enchantment (Lunge) that grants a short burst of speed on hit or use; it’s useful both in combat and for traversing the overworld faster while mounted. Use Lunge on spears when you plan to engage at speed or to turn mounted hit-and-run into a reliable tactic. Tactical guidance

Pair a mid-tier spear (iron or copper) with movement enchants for a cost-effective mounted build.
On foot, the spear’s reach beats swords against mounted or jumping opponents. When mounted, combine charge attacks with knockback-resistant armor on your mount to keep momentum.

Undead mounts and mounted enemies — new dangers and how to counter them

Zombie Nautilus & Drowned Jockeys: Some Nautili spawn as zombie nautilus ridden by drowned. These are fast underwater threats; treat ocean travel like a hybrid PvE encounter where the mount can be both transport and hazard. Use ranged crossbow attacks and spear jabs to dismount riders first. Zombie horses: Zombie horses spawn naturally in the savannah and plains; riders spawn with them. They behave like passive horses until a hostile rider is present. According to Minecraft.net, zombie horses now spawn in savannah and plains biomes and have a distinctive undead green color. Camel Husk & Parched: Desert combat becomes more complex: mounted skeleton-like Parched mobs and Camel Husks create hit-and-run scenarios on sand dunes. Use terrain (hills, cacti) and spear charge attacks to break rider momentum.

Loot map — where to find spears and mount armor (high yield locations)

Current snapshot notes and preview docs list loot sources as follows:

Nautilus armor (Copper/Iron/Gold/Diamond/Netherite): can appear in Buried Treasure, Ocean Ruins, Shipwreck chests. According to HardReset.info, players can now find spears in various structure chests throughout Minecraft: iron spears are available in buried treasure and weaponsmith chests, copper and stone spears appear in ocean ruins or village chests, and diamond or higher-tier spears can be found in bastions and end cities.

Loot route strategy

Start with shipwrecks and ocean ruins in the early game to collect copper/iron nautilus armor and lower-tier spears.
Progress to buried treasure for iron spears and better armor components.
Endgame: Bastions and End Cities contain diamond spears and high-tier mount gear suitable for Nether excursions.

Snapshot and testing notes (Java vs Bedrock)

Java snapshots for Mounts of Mayhem features are already available for testing; Bedrock previews/beta versions follow and will receive the same features shortly. Expect slight numbering differences between Java (1.21.11) and Bedrock (preview 1.21.130.x) if you rely on Bedrock-only redstone or behavior, test carefully once Bedrock preview drops.

Combat and exploration builds — recommended loadouts

Deep-sea explorer

Mount: Nautilus (saddled, iron/diamond armor)
Player armor: Depth-oriented enchant set (Respiration, Aqua Affinity still useful for dismount situations)
Weapon: Spear with Lunge enchant (or crossbow backup)
Inventory: pufferfish x10, silk touch/loot tools, depth potions

Mounted raider (overland/jousting)

Mount: Horse (diamond or Netherite horse armor when available) or Camel Husk (tamed)
Player armor: Full Netherite / Protection set
Weapon: Spear (Netherite) with Lunge or Knockback depending on style
Strategy: Speed charge (sprint + charge attack) → jab to disrupt riders → dismounting knockback

Anti-mounted sentinel

Build: Pillars, choke points, caltrops (cacti), crossbow turrets.
Weapons: Long-range crossbows with quick-loading enchantment, spears for close interrupts
Use: Defense of village gates and coastal routes against undead mounted raids.

Frequently overlooked mechanics and advanced tips.

Breath of the Nautilus does not refill oxygen; it merely halts consumption while mounted. Plan short surface stops to refill if you intend to remain underwater beyond the effect duration.
Diamond nautilus armor can be upgraded to Netherite via smithing—don’t waste Netherite until you have diamond pieces to upgrade.
Spears are multi-context tools — they work on foot, while mounted, with elytra, in boats, and in minecarts. Don’t pigeonhole the spear as only a horseback toy.

One-page checklist before you jump into Mounts of Mayhem

Update to the latest snapshot or preview (Java snapshots available now).
Stock pufferfish, saddles, and a crafting kit for early spears.
Map ocean regions and mark shipwrecks/ocean ruins/buried treasure.
Prepare an endgame plan for Netherite horse/nautilus armor upgrades.

Sources and confirmations (official/snapshot)

We based the technical details and release date on Mojang’s official pages and snapshot/preview posts, plus major coverage and snapshots that documented the testing phase and loot updates. Key references: official Mounts of Mayhem announcement and snapshots from Minecraft.net (release date and spear mechanics), preview/snapshot notes listing Nautilus armor tiers and where they appear in loot, and reporting around the snapshot test windows.