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The seasonal content update for the block-building phenomenon has arrived — and it brings with it the first new weapon introduced into the title since the heavy club made its debut. The lance is finally here and it could very well revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also incorporates a host of fresh elements and enhancements related to animal mounts in the game. That central theme made the spear the natural choice for this release, as the creators had long felt it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we desired a new weapon that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," noted a senior product manager. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both felt great when we ran our trials and also made sense for the use case."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can charge at your friends on steeds, the answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an attack ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest functions for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead says. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the quick stab, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you lower your spear and inflict increased harm [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The chaotic fun doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the elytra and flying forth and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport immediately.

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 tamed and mounted for submarine exploration. Not only will it carry you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also conserve your oxygen levels, so there's no requirement to come up for air for fresh air.

The other inclusions are mostly things that want to kill you, as is the way of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a rotting sea creature popping up in the water, often with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've long considered this issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the ideal opportunity to also unveil something for underwater," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a number of concepts for aquatic rides that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus design sketches looked impressive, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also points out that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: regular and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] add variety to what you encounter underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific undead archers 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 desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an excellent design that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a analogous exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some much-anticipated tweaks to riding horses. Now, you can cross rivers and lakes while mounted on a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now available at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

In summary, the final game drop of the year is a solid offering. The spear on its own — and the pandemonium it invites — would have constituted a major improvement. Throw in the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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