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The winter game drop for Minecraft has arrived — and it features the initial fresh armament added to the game since the heavy club made its debut. The lance is finally here and it could very well alter your gameplay in Minecraft, particularly when you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts drop also incorporates several new features and updates related to riding animals in the game. That focus made the spear the ideal addition for this release, as the creators had long felt it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we wanted a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," noted a lead developer. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both felt great when we ran our trials and also looked good for the use case."

If you're wondering whether mounted combat means you can charge at your companions on horseback, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an combat move excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary functions for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer continues. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the thrust, 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."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The chaotic fun isn't limited to there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an truly outlandish idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] ideal for equipping the elytra and going out and making some real mayhem," she teases.

In other words: Sky jousting is now real, and it should be made an Olympic sport right away.

Another key feature in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is modeled after the nautilus shells players have gathered for years, can be domesticated and ridden for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it move you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also preserve your air supply, so there's no requirement to surface for a breath.

The other inclusions are largely things that want to kill you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a rotting sea creature spawning in the water, often with a zombie villager on its back. If you succeed in take care of the Drowned, though, you can claim the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've been thinking about this issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the perfect moment to also introduce something for the ocean depths," the lead elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for sea mounts that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus design sketches 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 undead nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety to what you discover underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific undead archers that can survive in the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you find yourself in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an notable look that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a similar exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be found at night with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some highly requested changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can ford bodies of water while atop a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now craftable at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the best defense it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the last content update of the year is a notable addition. The spear on its own — and the potential for chaos — would have felt like a major improvement. Add in the Nautilus, and additional creatures seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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