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The seasonal content update for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it features the initial fresh armament introduced into the game since the heavy club made its debut. The spear is finally here and it might just alter your gameplay in Minecraft, particularly when you love chaos.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

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

"From the outset, we understood that we aimed for a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," explained a senior product manager. "We experimented with a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both played wonderfully 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 charge at your friends on steeds, the answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an offensive action perfectly suited for it.

"[Jousting on horses is one of the biggest applications for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer says. "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 lower your spear and inflict more damage [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] ideal for knightly combat."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment isn't limited to there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] ideal for equipping the elytra and going out and creating genuine chaos," she teases.

In other words: Sky jousting is now a reality, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport right away.

Another major addition in this fresh content is the underwater mount. This underwater creature, which is based on the nautilus shells found in-game for years, can be tamed and mounted for submarine exploration. Not only will it move you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also maintain your air supply, so there's no necessity to come up for air for fresh air.

The remaining new features are primarily things that seek your demise, as is the tradition of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a zombie Nautilus popping up in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you are able to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've pondered this problem on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the right time to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a number of concepts for underwater mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked compelling, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also points out that there are actually two different types of undead nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] add variety to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive skeletons that can endure the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you end up in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an striking appearance 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 undead rider on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are refinements, including some long-overdue changes to riding horses. Now, you can traverse rivers and lakes while atop a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now available at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

All told, the last content update of the year is a solid offering. The spear on its own — and the mayhem it enables — would have felt like a significant enhancement. Throw in the Nautilus, and new threats 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.