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The seasonal content update for the block-building phenomenon has landed — and it brings with it the first new weapon added to the game since the mace made its debut. The lance is finally here and it could very well alter your gameplay in Minecraft, especially if 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 driving concept made the spear the natural choice for this update, as the creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a new weapon that would increase combat distance, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," explained a lead developer. "We experimented with a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the use case."

If you're wondering whether mounted combat means you can charge at your friends on horseback, the response is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an attack perfectly suited for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest use cases for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer adds. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the thrust, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you couch your lance and get increased harm [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] ideal for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The unruly pleasure doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] ideal for strapping on the elytra and taking to the skies and creating genuine chaos," she suggests.

In other words: Sky jousting is now real, and it should be made an Olympic sport without delay.

Another significant inclusion in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and mounted for underwater travel. Not only will it carry you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also conserve your air supply, so there's no requirement to come up for air for fresh air.

The other inclusions are primarily things that want to kill you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a rotting sea creature popping up in the water, often with a zombie villager on its back. If you succeed in take care of the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've long considered this challenge periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the perfect moment to also unveil something for underwater," the lead elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a number of concepts for aquatic rides that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus concept art 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 a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety to what you discover underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Additional features include the Parched, desert-exclusive skeletons that can withstand the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you venture in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an striking appearance that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a similar exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding undead rider on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some much-anticipated adjustments to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross waterways while atop a horse. Furthermore, netherite horse armor is now available at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

Overall, 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 considerable upgrade. Add in the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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