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The winter game drop for Minecraft has arrived — and it features the first new weapon introduced into the title 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.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

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 ideal addition for this update, as the creators had already known it was time for a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we wanted a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," explained a lead developer. "We experimented with a number of concepts, 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 fighting from a saddle means you can tilt at your friends on horseback, the answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an offensive action excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary functions for the spear, and it's so much fun," the developer continues. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the jab attack, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and deal more damage [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment isn't limited to there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the wings and taking to the skies and making some real mayhem," she teases.

In other words: Sky jousting is now possible, and it needs to become an competitive event right away.

Another major addition in this new update is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the nautilus shells players have gathered for years, can be domesticated and mounted for underwater travel. Not only will it transport you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also maintain your oxygen levels, so there's no need to return to the surface for fresh air.

The rest of the additions are largely things that are out to get you, as is the way of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a undead nautilus popping up in the water, frequently with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've been thinking about this challenge on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the perfect moment to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for aquatic rides that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus design sketches looked compelling, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also adds that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety 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 getting away from them if you end up in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an striking appearance that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a similar rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a spear-carrying undead rider on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are refinements, including some much-anticipated adjustments to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse waterways while riding a horse. Additionally, high-tier barding is now available at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the final game drop of the year is a pretty good one. The spear on its own — and the potential for chaos — would have felt like a considerable upgrade. Throw in the Nautilus, and additional creatures trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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