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The winter game drop for Minecraft has touched down — and it brings with it the first new weapon added to the title since the heavy club made its debut. The lance is now available and it might just revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem update also introduces several new features and enhancements related to riding animals in the game. That central theme made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," stated a lead developer. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both felt great when we tested our prototypes and also was visually fitting for the use case."

If you're asking yourself whether fighting from a saddle means you can joust against your allies on horseback, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an offensive action excellently designed for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a major applications for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the lead adds. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the jab attack, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you lower your spear and inflict increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment isn't limited to 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] perfect for equipping the wings and flying forth and creating genuine chaos," she hints.

In other words: Sky jousting is now possible, and it needs to become an competitive event without delay.

Another major addition in this new update is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the nautilus shells found in-game for years, can be domesticated and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it carry you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also conserve your air supply, so there's no necessity to return to the surface for fresh air.

The other inclusions are primarily things that are out to get you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a zombie Nautilus appearing in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you manage to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can claim the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've long considered this problem periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the perfect moment to also introduce something for underwater," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a several proposals for aquatic rides that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus design sketches looked impressive, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also adds that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety to what you discover underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Other additions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific skeletons that can endure the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you venture in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, 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 similar rib-popping design and can sometimes be found at night with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some much-anticipated changes to riding horses. Now, you can traverse rivers and lakes while atop a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now obtainable at the workbench, so you can give your horse the top-tier safeguarding it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

Overall, the final game drop of the year is a notable addition. The spear alone — and the potential for chaos — would have felt like a considerable upgrade. Throw in the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

The Mayhem Mounts content drop is out now for all major editions of Minecraft.