- New Mounts and Weapons: At Minecraft LIVE (Sept 27, 2025), Mojang revealed the next game drop, “Mounts of Mayhem,” featuring a new tiered Spear weapon (craftable from copper to netherite) and new rideable mobs. The Spear “will give you an edge in both melee and mounted combat,” letting players jab on foot or charge to “knock foes from their mounts” [1]. Its damage scales with movement speed, rewarding fast horseback charges [2] [3]. The update also adds the Nautilus, a rideable underwater mollusk mount tamed with pufferfish. Unique “Breath of the Nautilus” effect means riding it pauses your air supply, so you can stay submerged longer [4] [5]. The Nautilus can even wear armor (copper through netherite) like a sea-going horse [6] [7].
- Undead Rides: As part of Mounts of Mayhem, undead mounts come to survival mode. Zombie Horses (previously Creative-only) will roam savannahs/plains, usually carrying zombie riders armed with spears [8] [9]. Likewise, Zombie Nautiluses ridden by Drowned will patrol the ocean depths. These undead mounts won’t attack on their own, but their spear-wielding riders do – offering dual threats for adventure-seekers [10] [11].
- Release Schedule: Mounts of Mayhem is due later this year (Holiday 2025), following the Copper Age update. It will arrive in beta/preview snapshots soon for testing [12] [13]. Mojang emphasizes this is part of a new cadence of frequent “game drops” – shorter updates released several times a year. As the official recap notes, “There’s two [Minecraft LIVE shows] a year to keep up with our regular game drops” [14], with Mounts of Mayhem being the fourth drop of 2025 [15].
- Copper Age Update: The current focus is The Copper Age (Minecraft 1.21.9), launching Sept 30, 2025 [16] [17]. This adds long-promised copper content: full copper tool/armor sets (durability between stone and iron) and even copper horse armor [18]. Most notably, the Copper Golem returns (a popular 2021 mob-vote favorite); it can be summoned via a pumpkin-on-copper-block and will sort items from copper chests into nearby regular chests [19]. The update also introduces Shelves – decorative yet functional blocks to display and swap items (like hanging item frames) [20]. All copper items and golems oxidize over time (changing color) unless waxed [21]. According to PC Gamer, “the Copper Age drop is all about bringing new purpose to [copper]” [22].
- Other News: Minecraft LIVE also teased a Dragon Ball Z crossover: a free Super Saiyan hair accessory is available now, and a full DBZ-themed DLC (with Kamehameha blasts, Spirit Bombs, etc.) will launch later this year [23] [24]. Mojang celebrated fan-favorite features like the Happy Ghast (from Chase the Skies) with a catchy animation. In broader context, Minecraft remains immensely popular – 350 million copies sold worldwide [25] – and its team is committed to steady updates and collaborations to keep the game fresh.
Mounts of Mayhem – New Combat and Exploration
At Minecraft LIVE, Mojang’s developers introduced Mounts of Mayhem – a game drop themed around new rideable creatures and combat gear. The centerpiece is the Spear, Minecraft’s first multi-material (“tiered”) weapon in years [26]. As the official blog explains, the spear can be crafted from copper up to netherite, and “will give you an edge in both melee and mounted combat” [27]. It offers two attacks: a quick jab from foot to keep enemies at bay, and a charge attack that can knock foes off their mounts with the right timing [28]. Notably, the spear’s damage increases with your speed, so hitting from a galloping horse or sprinting bite is lethal [29] [30]. GameSpot’s Eric Frederiksen highlights that “Mojang says” this damage scaling gives you every reason to ride hard into battle [31]. In short, players must rethink combat strategy: kiting zombies on land and jousting on horseback are now viable tactics.
The launch trailer revealed a brand-new underwater mount, the Nautilus. Unlike any mob seen before, the Nautilus is a passive aquatic creature that players can tame with pufferfish [32]. Once tamed, it can carry a player beneath the waves and even wear armor. PCGamesN’s Ken Allsop describes riding it as freeing – “a special effect will stop your air bubbles from being consumed, meaning you can stay underwater for as long as you like” [33]. The official site calls this the “Breath of the Nautilus” effect [34] – essentially pausing the lung-breath meter while mounted. In practice, explorers can safely scour ocean floors and underwater ruins without worrying about drowning. The Nautilus’s design (a shelled squid-like creature, dubbed “the happy ghast of the sea”) and its helmeted armor (copper/iron/gold/diamond/netherite versions) all hint at a whimsical focus on fun exploration [35] [36].
However, not all new rides are friendly. Minecraft LIVE confirmed that zombie variants of mounts are coming to survival mode. Zombie Horses (once only spawnable via commands) will now wander plains and savannah biomes, usually ridden by spear-wielding zombies [37] [38]. Zombie horses themselves won’t hurt you, but their undead jockeys will. Similarly, the Zombie Nautilus (a drowned mob’s favorite mount) will roam the deep seas. PC Gamer explains: “the undead also get a special treat when on dry land – the Zombie Horse… while their riders aren’t friendly, the horses themselves are actually passive towards you” [39]. These additions create new challenges: take on two foes at once on the open plain or even underwater.
Mounts of Mayhem is slated for Holiday 2025 release. Windows Central notes it “does not currently have a release date, but is expected to launch at some point in Holiday 2025” [40]. PCGamesN confirms it will enter public preview builds soon (Bedrock Beta and Java snapshots) [41]. Mojang’s shift to this model means fans get new content in smaller batches instead of waiting years. As the official recap reminds readers, “there’s two [Minecraft LIVE shows] a year to keep up with our regular game drops” [42] – and Mounts of Mayhem will be the fourth drop of 2025 [43].
The Copper Age Update – Reviving Copper
Alongside the Mounts of Mayhem preview, Minecraft LIVE gave full details (and a date) for the Copper Age update, the third game drop of 2025. Releasing on September 30, 2025, the Copper Age finally makes the once-“least useful ore” (copper) truly valuable [44] [45]. This update adds a full suite of copper tools, armor, and even horse armor – filling a long-standing gap between stone and iron tiers [46]. New copper lanterns, torches, chains, and bars will let builders decorate in steely tones.
The most exciting addition is the Copper Golem. Originally a failed 2021 mob vote candidate, the copper golem is now reborn as a helpful automated helper [47]. Tamed by placing a carved pumpkin on a copper block, the golem will organize your chests: it removes items from a new copper chest and carries them to nearby regular chests [48]. As PC Gamer notes, “copper golems are capable of opening and removing items from new copper chests, and carrying them back to your base” [49] – essentially acting like a sorter bot for looted items. Of course, copper and its creations still oxidize (rust) over time. Golems and blocks will turn verdigris unless waxed, so players can either maintain them or decorate with patina.
To complement the new focus on item organization, Shelves are introduced. These sit-flat storage/display blocks (crafted from any wood) let you show off up to three items per shelf [50]. Kara Phillips explains: they work “similar to picture frames, but a lot easier to grab – you can swap items directly from the shelf” [51]. Connect multiple shelves or power them with redstone for even larger displays. Shelves give builders a stylish way to manage inventory overflow or decorate bases – a nice creative option alongside copper’s utilitarian upgrades.
Overall, the Copper Age is about grounding your world in copper durability and convenience. PC Gamer summarizes: “The Copper Age drop is all about bringing new purpose to a material that has already been in the game for years” [52]. Once it goes live on Sept. 30, players can immediately mine, smelt and craft copper gear, give themselves trusty copper-assisted golems, and spruce up bases with lanterns and shelves.
Other Announcements and Context
Minecraft LIVE offered a few more treats. As noted, there’s a Dragon Ball Z collaboration on the way. Currently, all players can claim a free Super Saiyan hair cosmetic item through November 4, 2025 [53]. Later this year, a full DBZ-themed DLC will arrive, letting heroes wield Kamehameha blasts and Spirit Bombs in blocky form [54]. This crossover follows recent tie-ins (e.g. Marvel skins, Halo armor) and shows Mojang’s willingness to blend Minecraft with pop culture.
From a business perspective, Minecraft continues to dominate. Windows Central highlights that the game has sold a “mind-boggling 350 million copies” [55], making it the second-best-selling entertainment product ever. It’s available on all major consoles and PCs (and on Game Pass), which helps explain the broad engagement with updates like Mounts of Mayhem. In fact, the success of Minecraft: The Movie (nearly $1 billion box office) was also mentioned during the show [56], underscoring the franchise’s cultural impact.
How does this compare to other games? The move toward multiple smaller “game drops” each year is relatively unique among big franchises. Some live-service titles (like Fortnite or Destiny) use seasons or major expansions, but Minecraft’s content model is still free and additive. Fans in the community have debated the pros and cons of “drops” vs old-style major updates; Windows Central’s Zachary Boddy noted in late 2024 that Mojang’s new approach means players don’t have to wait months (or years) for fresh content [57]. In practice, many players appreciate the steady stream: for example, one PC Gamer guide observed “there’s never been a better time to play” since the annual-update model was retired [58].
Compared to similar sandbox games, Minecraft’s update pace is now more aggressive. Terraria, another popular craft/survival game, has also added mounts and underwater content in its post-launch expansions (e.g. Journey’s End added mounts like the Pirate Ship). But Minecraft’s sheer scale and community size make every new mount or mob a big deal worldwide. The Nautilus is perhaps comparable to adding a sea steed (like Zelda’s Zora’s Fountain mount) – it fundamentally changes how you explore ocean biomes. The Spear’s addition is similar to combat updates in other games (echoing polearm weapons in RPGs), but in Minecraft it also incentivizes old activities (riding horses) in new ways. And the Copper Age content, focusing on tidying and utility, has a parallel in other survival games adding quality-of-life features.
In summary, Minecraft LIVE Fall 2025 delivered a trove of news. Mounts of Mayhem promises to “mix up combat” with its new weapon and mounts [59] – giving players fresh strategies for fight and travel. The soon-to-drop Copper Age revives a long-neglected resource with tools and the mechanical Copper Golem [60] [61]. These updates, coupled with lighthearted DLCs (DBZ) and community highlights (Happy Ghast), illustrate Mojang’s intent to keep Minecraft evolving. As Mojang put it, this year’s updates have been like “entering a new Minecraft era” [62]. Between expert news coverage and the official recap, fans now know what’s coming, when to expect it, and why it matters – whether you’re a creative builder, an intrepid explorer, or a dedicated survivalist in the Overworld.
Sources: Official Minecraft blog and event recap [63] [64] [65]; coverage from PCGamesN [66] [67], Windows Central [68] [69], PC Gamer [70] [71], and GameSpot [72] [73].
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