The nautilus has become one of the most exciting additions to Minecraft's oceans with the upcoming Mounts of Mayhem update, announced at Minecraft Live in September 2025. Previously known only through the nautilus shell item used for crafting conduits, the nautilus is now a fully realized neutral mob that serves as a tamable, rideable underwater mount.
In this article, Gurugamer will showcase everything to know about this mob.
1. Regular Nautilus
The standard, living nautilus is the most common type, spawning in all ocean biomes either alone or in small groups of 2-3. They are neutral mobs that cannot survive on land and use a dash attack if provoked. Tame them by feeding pufferfish—hearts will appear upon success. Once tamed, breed them using any fish or fish bucket to produce baby nautili. Feed tamed adults fish to heal them.
Equip a saddle to ride, enabling fast underwater propulsion and the Breath of the Nautilus effect. They drop nautilus shells upon death, tying back to the classic item.
2. Zombie Nautilus
This undead variant spawns exclusively as a zombie nautilus jockey: a trident-wielding drowned riding it (50% chance for drowned spawning outside river/frozen river biomes with a trident). They appear in ocean biomes and even dripstone caves. The drowned controls the nautilus, charging at players aggressively.
Defeat the rider first, then tame the zombie nautilus with pufferfish. It behaves like the regular version once tamed—rideable and armor-compatible—but cannot breed. Heal with fish (raw or cooked), and it drops rotten flesh and XP orbs.
3. Coral Zombie Nautilus
Introduced in snapshot 25w45a, this biome-specific variant of the zombie nautilus spawns only in warm oceans, replacing the standard zombie nautilus there. It features vibrant corals growing on its shell for a colorful, reef-inspired look—though corals are hidden when armor is equipped.
Functionally identical to the zombie nautilus: tame after killing the drowned jockey, no breeding, same taming and riding mechanics. Zombie nautilus variants are data-driven, allowing for future expansions.
Nautilus Armor: Protecting Your Mount
Nautilus armor works like horse armor, equipping via right-click on a tamed nautilus. It displays shield points above the health bar when riding. All pieces (except netherite) are found in loot chests from buried treasures, shipwrecks, and ocean ruins—no crafting required. Netherite is upgraded from diamond at a smithing table.
| Armor Type | Shield Points | Loot Chance (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 4 | 10.8% | Most common |
| Iron | 5 | 5.4% | |
| Gold | 7 | 2.7% | |
| Diamond | 11 | 1.1% | Rarest loot |
| Netherite | 19 + Knockback Resistance | Craft only | Ultimate protection |
The Classic Nautilus Shell
Don't forget the original: the nautilus shell item, unchanged by the mob addition. Obtain via fishing treasure, drowned drops, or buried treasure chests. Eight shells plus a heart of the sea craft a conduit for underwater bases.
These nautili transform ocean adventures—tame one, armor it up, and dive into the deeps! Test in current snapshots or betas; full release expected by end of 2025.
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