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The winter game drop for Minecraft has touched down — and it features the initial fresh armament introduced into the title since the heavy club made its debut. The lance is finally here and it could very well change how you play Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also introduces a host of fresh elements and enhancements related to riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a new weapon that would increase combat distance, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," noted a lead developer. "We experimented with a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both felt great when we ran our trials and also made sense for the intended purpose."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can joust against your companions on steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an combat move ideally crafted for it.

"[Jousting on horses is one of the biggest applications for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead says. "The spear has two attacks: You have the quick stab, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you couch your lance and get greater injury [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment can extend beyond there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've explored The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] ideal for strapping on the elytra and going out and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she hints.

In other words: Sky jousting is now real, and it should be made an Olympic sport right away.

Another key feature in this new update is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be tamed and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it move you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also maintain your oxygen levels, so there's no necessity to return to the surface for fresh air.

The rest of the additions are largely things that are out to get you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a rotting sea creature spawning in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've pondered this problem periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the perfect moment to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the lead elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for underwater mounts that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked impressive, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also points out that there are actually two different types of undead nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] give some flavor to what you discover underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Other additions include the Parched, biome-specific skeletons that can endure the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you find yourself in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an notable look that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a analogous rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding undead rider on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some long-overdue adjustments to equestrian travel. Now, you can ford rivers and lakes while riding a horse. Also, netherite horse armor is now available 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 solid offering. The spear on its own — and the pandemonium it invites — would have constituted a significant enhancement. Throw in the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

The Mounts of Mayhem update is available for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.