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The winter game drop for Minecraft has landed — and it includes the first new weapon added to the title since the mace made its debut. The lance is finally here and it could very well revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts update also incorporates several new features and updates focused on animal mounts in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the development team had already known it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we aimed for a new weapon that would increase combat distance, and we envisioned it for mounted combat," explained a lead developer. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both handled superbly when we tested our prototypes and also was visually fitting for the use case."

If you're asking yourself whether fighting from a saddle means you can joust against your friends on horseback, the response is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an attack ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest applications for the spear, and it's so much fun," the lead adds. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the thrust, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you lower your spear and inflict greater injury [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] perfect for knightly combat."

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 delightfully absurd idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] ideal for equipping the elytra and taking to the skies and creating genuine chaos," she suggests.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now possible, and it should be made an Olympic sport right away.

Another major addition in this new update is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is modeled after the nautilus shells found in-game for years, can be tamed and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it move you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also maintain your breath meter, so there's no requirement to surface for fresh air.

The remaining new features are mostly things that are out to get you, as is the nature 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 manage to take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've long considered this challenge for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the perfect moment to also bring in something for the ocean depths," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for sea mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked striking, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also notes that there are actually two different types of zombie Nautilus: regular and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you encounter underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions 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 excellent design that sees their ribs poking out. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be found at night with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some highly requested changes to riding horses. Now, you can traverse rivers and lakes while mounted on a horse. Furthermore, netherite horse armor is now craftable at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

Overall, the year-end release of the year is a notable addition. The spear by itself — and the mayhem it enables — would have felt like a considerable upgrade. Throw in the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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