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The winter content update for Minecraft has touched down — and it brings with it the initial fresh armament introduced into the title since the heavy club made its debut. The lance is now available and it might just alter your gameplay in Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also incorporates a host of fresh elements and enhancements related to riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the creators had long felt it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we wanted a new weapon that would increase combat distance, and we envisioned it for mounted combat," noted a lead developer. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both felt great when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the use case."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can tilt at your allies on steeds, 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 thrust, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and inflict more damage [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] perfect for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The unruly pleasure doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've explored The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] ideal for strapping on the elytra and flying forth and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she teases.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now real, and it needs to become an Olympic sport without delay.

Another significant inclusion in this new update is the underwater mount. This aquatic being, which is inspired by the seashells found in-game for years, can be tamed and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it move you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also maintain your oxygen levels, so there's no necessity to surface for oxygen.

The rest of the additions are largely things that are out to get you, as is the nature of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a zombie Nautilus appearing in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you succeed in take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've pondered this challenge periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the perfect moment to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a several proposals for aquatic rides that we wanted to try out, 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 notes that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: regular and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] add variety to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Other additions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific skeletons that can withstand the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you venture in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an striking appearance that sees their ribs poking out. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some much-anticipated tweaks to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse bodies of water while riding a horse. Also, netherite horse armor is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the ultimate protection it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the year-end release of the year is a notable addition. The spear by itself — and the potential for chaos — would have felt like a significant enhancement. Add in the Nautilus, and additional creatures trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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