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The winter game drop for Minecraft has arrived — and it brings with it the initial fresh armament added to the game since the mace made its debut. The lance is finally here and it has the potential to alter your gameplay in Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts update also introduces a host of fresh elements and updates centered around riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the natural choice for this update, as the creators had already known it was time for a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we aimed for a new weapon that would increase combat distance, and we designed it specifically for fighting from atop a creature," noted a lead developer. "We tried out a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the intended purpose."

If you're asking yourself whether fighting from a saddle means you can tilt at your companions on steeds, the response is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an offensive action excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary use cases for the spear, and it's so much fun," the lead continues. "The spear has two attacks: You have the thrust, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you lower your spear and deal increased harm [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] perfect for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The chaotic fun doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the wings and taking to the skies and making some real mayhem," she teases.

In other words: Sky jousting is now a reality, and it needs to become an competitive event immediately.

Another significant inclusion in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is modeled after the seashells found in-game for years, can be tamed and mounted for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it transport you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also maintain your air supply, so there's no necessity to return to the surface for a breath.

The other inclusions are mostly things that seek your demise, as is the tradition of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a undead nautilus popping up in the water, often with a zombie villager on its back. If you manage to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've pondered this issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the perfect moment to also bring in something for underwater," the developer clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a several proposals for aquatic rides that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus design sketches looked striking, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also notes that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Other additions include the Parched, desert-exclusive undead archers that can withstand the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you venture in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an striking appearance that sees their ribs poking out. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a analogous exposed-rib aesthetic 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 highly requested changes to riding horses. Now, you can ford rivers and lakes while riding a horse. Additionally, netherite horse armor is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the year-end release of the year is a notable addition. The spear alone — and the mayhem it enables — would have felt like a major improvement. Throw in the Nautilus, and new threats seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

The Mayhem Mounts update is live for all major editions of Minecraft.