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The winter game drop for the block-building phenomenon has arrived — and it brings with it the initial fresh armament introduced into the game since the mace made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it might just revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts update also introduces several new features and enhancements related to riding animals in the game. That central theme made the spear the natural choice for this release, as the development team had long felt it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," stated a senior product manager. "We prototyped a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both handled superbly when we ran our trials and also looked good for the intended purpose."

If you're wondering whether mounted combat means you can charge at your companions 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 major use cases for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer 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 couch your lance and deal greater injury [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've explored The End, the developers have an truly outlandish idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] ideal for strapping on the wings and taking to the skies and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

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

Another significant inclusion in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This underwater creature, which is based on the seashells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it transport you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also preserve your oxygen levels, so there's no need to come up for air for oxygen.

The other inclusions are mostly things that want to kill you, as is the way of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a zombie Nautilus popping up in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in dispatch the Drowned, though, you can claim the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've long considered this challenge for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the right time to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for underwater mounts that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked striking, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also notes that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] add variety to what you discover underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Additional features include the Parched, biome-specific undead archers that can endure the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you end up in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another new mob. Camel husks have an excellent design that sees their ribs poking out. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a similar rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some much-anticipated changes to riding horses. Now, you can cross bodies of water while atop a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the best defense it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

In summary, the year-end release of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the potential for chaos — would have felt like a significant enhancement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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