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The winter game drop for the block-building phenomenon has landed — and it brings with it the initial fresh armament introduced into the game since the mace made its debut. The spear is finally here and it could very well alter your gameplay in Minecraft, particularly when you thrive on pandemonium.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts drop also adds a host of fresh elements and updates related to riding animals in the game. That focus made the spear the natural choice for this update, as the development team had already known it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we aimed for a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," explained a senior product manager. "We tried out a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the intended purpose."

If you're curious whether fighting from a saddle means you can tilt at your friends on steeds, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary functions for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the lead continues. "The spear has two attacks: You have the quick stab, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and deal greater injury [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] perfect for knightly combat."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment isn't limited to 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] ideal for equipping the elytra and going out and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, and it deserves to be an competitive event right away.

Another major addition in this latest drop is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the nautilus shells players have gathered for years, can be tamed and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it carry you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also preserve your air supply, so there's no need to surface for a breath.

The rest of the additions are primarily things that want to kill you, as is the nature of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a undead nautilus appearing in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can befriend the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've long considered this challenge on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the right time to also introduce something for the ocean depths," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for underwater mounts that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus design sketches looked striking, and we have the connection 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] provide diversity to what you encounter underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the Parched, biome-specific undead archers that can survive in the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you find yourself in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an striking appearance that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a similar 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 refinements, including some much-anticipated adjustments to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross bodies of water while mounted on a horse. Furthermore, netherite horse armor is now available at the workbench, so you can give your horse the ultimate protection it is worthy of.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

Overall, the final game drop of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the potential for chaos — would have seemed like a major improvement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and new threats seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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