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The winter content update for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it features the first new weapon introduced into the title since the mace made its debut. The spear is now available and it could very well revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem update also adds several new features and updates centered around animal mounts in the game. That focus made the spear the ideal addition for this update, as the creators had already known it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a new weapon that would add some more range, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," noted a lead developer. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both handled superbly when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the intended purpose."

If you're wondering whether mounted combat means you can joust against your allies on steeds, the answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an offensive action perfectly suited for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest use cases for the spear, and it's so much fun," the lead adds. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the jab attack, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and inflict increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for jousting on horses."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The unruly pleasure 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 very late, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the wings and flying forth and creating genuine chaos," she hints.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now real, and it should be made an competitive event without delay.

Another key feature in this new update is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, 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 maintain your breath meter, so there's no requirement to return to the surface for a breath.

The other inclusions are largely things that are out to get you, as is the nature of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a undead nautilus spawning in the water, frequently with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've been thinking about this challenge periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the perfect moment to also introduce something for aquatic environments," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for sea mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus concept art looked striking, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also points out that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: regular 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 getting away from them if you end up in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an striking appearance that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a lance-wielding zombie 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 rivers and lakes while riding a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now craftable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the year-end release of the year is a notable addition. The spear on its own — and the pandemonium it invites — would have felt like a considerable upgrade. Combine that with the Nautilus, and additional creatures seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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