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The winter game drop for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it includes the first new weapon added to the game since the heavy club made its debut. The spear is finally here and it might just change how you play Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also adds several new features and enhancements centered around animal mounts in the game. That driving concept made the spear the natural choice for this release, as the creators had long felt it was time for a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we aimed for a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," stated a senior product manager. "We experimented with a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both handled superbly when we tested our prototypes and also was visually fitting for the use case."

If you're curious whether fighting from a saddle means you can joust against your companions on horseback, the answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an attack ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary use cases for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer adds. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the quick stab, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you lower your spear and get increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The unruly pleasure isn't limited to there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] ideal for equipping the elytra and flying forth and creating genuine chaos," she teases.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now real, and it needs to become an competitive event immediately.

Another key feature in this latest drop is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is based on the seashells players have gathered for years, can be tamed and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it move you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also conserve your breath meter, so there's no necessity to come up for air for a breath.

The remaining new features are primarily things that want to kill you, as is the way of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a zombie Nautilus popping up in the water, frequently with a Drowned on its back. If you are able to defeat the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've pondered this problem on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to also introduce something for aquatic environments," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for sea mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus concept art looked striking, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also adds that there are actually two different types of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you encounter underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the Parched, desert-exclusive skeletons that can endure the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you find yourself in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another new mob. Camel husks have an notable look that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a comparable rib-popping design and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a spear-carrying undead rider on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some long-overdue tweaks to riding horses. Now, you can cross waterways while atop a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

Overall, the last content update of the year is a notable addition. The spear by itself — and the mayhem it enables — would have seemed like a significant enhancement. Add in the Nautilus, and additional creatures trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

The Mayhem Mounts content drop is out now for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.