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The winter content update for the block-building phenomenon has arrived — and it features the initial fresh armament added to the title since the mace made its debut. The spear is finally here and it could very well revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you love chaos.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem update also incorporates several new features and updates related to animal mounts in the game. That central theme made the spear the natural choice for this release, 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 increase combat distance, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," stated a senior product manager. "We prototyped a number of concepts, but the lance was the one that both felt great when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the use case."

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

"[Jousting on horses is a major functions for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the lead says. "The spear has two attacks: You have the thrust, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you lower your spear and deal greater injury [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] perfect for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment can extend beyond there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an truly outlandish idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] perfect for equipping the wings and going out and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now possible, and it should be made an Olympic sport without delay.

Another major addition in this new update is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is modeled after the seashells players have gathered for years, can be tamed and mounted for underwater travel. Not only will it transport you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also conserve your air supply, so there's no need to return to the surface for oxygen.

The remaining new features are mostly things that seek your demise, as is the way of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a zombie Nautilus spawning in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in defeat the Drowned, though, you can claim the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've long considered this issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the ideal opportunity 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 test, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked impressive, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also notes that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] give some flavor to what you find underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Additional features include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific undead archers that can endure the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you end up in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an excellent design that sees their ribs poking out. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic 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 refinements, including some long-overdue tweaks to riding horses. Now, you can traverse waterways while mounted on a horse. Also, netherite horse armor is now obtainable at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the top-tier safeguarding it is worthy of.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

Overall, the year-end release of the year is a solid offering. The spear alone — and the potential for chaos — would have constituted a significant enhancement. Throw in the Nautilus, and additional creatures seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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