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The seasonal game drop for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it brings with it the first new weapon added to the title since the heavy club made its debut. The lance is now available and it has the potential to revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you thrive on pandemonium.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts update also adds a host of fresh elements and enhancements focused on riding animals in the game. That focus made the spear the natural choice for this update, as the creators had long felt it was time for a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we wanted a fresh armament that would add some more range, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," explained a lead developer. "We prototyped a number of concepts, but the lance was the one that both handled superbly when we ran our trials and also made sense for the intended purpose."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can charge at your friends on horseback, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an combat move ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest applications for the spear, and it's so much fun," the lead continues. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the quick stab, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you lower your spear and inflict greater injury [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for mounted duels."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The unruly pleasure isn't limited to there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the elytra and flying forth and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she teases.

In other words: Sky jousting is now real, and it deserves to be an competitive event without delay.

Another major addition in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This aquatic being, which is inspired by the nautilus shells found in-game for years, can be domesticated and mounted for underwater travel. Not only will it move you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also conserve your oxygen levels, so there's no necessity to surface for oxygen.

The remaining new features are mostly things that seek your demise, as is the nature of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a undead nautilus appearing in the water, sometimes with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in 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 issue for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the right time to also unveil something for underwater," the developer clarifies. "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 compelling, 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] give some flavor to what you encounter underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific skeletons that can survive in the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you end up in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another new mob. Camel husks have an excellent design that sees their ribs poking out. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a comparable rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some highly requested tweaks to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross rivers and lakes while mounted on a horse. Additionally, netherite horse armor is now craftable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the top-tier safeguarding it is worthy of.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

Overall, the last content update of the year is a pretty good one. The spear alone — and the pandemonium it invites — would have constituted a major improvement. Throw in the Nautilus, and additional creatures seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

The Mounts of Mayhem update is available for all major editions of Minecraft.