Mount up: Minecraft’s Mounts of Mayhem lands on Nintendo Switch

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Nintendo and Mojang have released the Mounts of Mayhem drop for Minecraft on Nintendo Switch, dated December 9, 2025. The update pivots around mounted traversal and combat, introducing a new spear weapon alongside several rideable mobs. Horses gain Netherite armor and can now swim, while hostile rider variants appear across land and sea. Access to the content requires a software update and an internet connection.

The spear reshapes mobility and combat

The update adds a tiered spear designed for both on-foot and mounted encounters. Its damage output scales with the player’s movement speed, rewarding momentum-driven play. The weapon supports two distinct attacks and a unique enchantment that emphasizes positioning and timing.

• Jab – a quick thrust with knockback to keep threats at arm’s length.
• Charge – deals increased damage the faster you are moving, ideally while mounted.
• Lunge enchantment – grants a brief speed burst when using Jab; higher enchantment levels propel you farther.
• Hunger trade-off – using an enchanted spear consumes hunger similar to sprinting or jumping, with higher levels consuming more.

Rideable mobs arrive across biomes

Mounts of Mayhem broadens traversal options with new mobs that can be tamed and ridden, each tailored to its environment. Several encounters begin with hostile riders, asking players to outmaneuver foes before claiming their prize.

• Nautilus and zombie nautilus – underwater mounts that move faster below the surface and apply the Breath of the Nautilus effect to preserve air supply. Both can be tamed using pufferfish. A rare zombie nautilus variant can be found in warmer waters.
• Camel husk – found in sandy biomes, these mounts do not burn in sunlight and can spawn with two riders. Expect a mix of mounted and ranged pressure before you can tame one.
• Zombie horse – a passive mount that spawns at night, initially ridden by spear‑wielding zombies. Unseat the rider before attempting to tame.

Netherite protection for horses

The drop adds Netherite horse armor, matching the game’s strongest armor tier and offering immunity to fire. Craft it at a smithing table by combining diamond horse armor, a Netherite ingot and a Netherite upgrade template. In addition, horses can now swim across bodies of water – slower than on land, but no ferrying required.

Hostile riders to watch for

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While the mounts listed above are tameable, their initial riders are highly aggressive and vary by biome. Expect ranged threats and close‑quarters pressure as you approach.

• Drowned with tridents riding zombie nautiluses.
• Zombies with spears mounted on zombie horses.
• Husks and the new “parched” sharing camel husks; the parched attacks with a bow and does not burn in daylight.

Availability and requirements

Mounts of Mayhem is available now on Nintendo Switch with a date of December 9, 2025. A free software update is required to access the content – downloading updates requires a broadband internet connection and a linked Nintendo Account. ESRB content descriptors for Minecraft include Fantasy Violence and Users Interact.

Why it matters – fresh momentum for mounted play

Mounts of Mayhem pushes Minecraft’s movement and combat forward on Switch: speed‑based spear play, underwater and desert-ready mounts, and fireproof horse gear open new routes and strategies. If you enjoy exploration with an edge, this drop makes traversal part of the fight.