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The seasonal game drop for Minecraft has landed — and it brings with it the initial fresh armament introduced into the title since the mace 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 Mayhem Mounts update also incorporates a host of fresh elements and enhancements centered around riding animals in the game. That central theme made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the development team had long felt it was time for a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we aimed for a new weapon that would increase combat distance, and we envisioned it for mounted combat," noted a senior product manager. "We experimented with a number of concepts, but the spear 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 steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an offensive action ideally crafted for it.

"[Jousting on horses is one of the biggest functions for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the lead continues. "The spear has two attacks: You have the quick stab, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and get increased harm [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] ideal for jousting on horses."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] excellent for strapping on the wings and going out and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport without delay.

Another key feature in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This underwater creature, which is based on the seashells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and ridden for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it carry you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also preserve your air supply, so there's no necessity to return to the surface for fresh air.

The other inclusions are primarily things that seek your demise, as is the way of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a zombie Nautilus spawning in the water, frequently with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've long considered this problem for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the right time to also bring in something for the ocean depths," the lead explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a number of concepts for aquatic rides that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked compelling, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also notes that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie 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 undead archers that can survive in the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you end up in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. Camel husks have an striking appearance that sees their ribs poking out. 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 refinements, including some much-anticipated tweaks to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse rivers and lakes while mounted on a horse. Furthermore, netherite horse armor 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 final game drop of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the potential for chaos — would have felt like a considerable upgrade. Throw in the Nautilus, and new threats seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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