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The winter game drop for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it features the first new weapon introduced into the title since the heavy club made its debut. The lance is finally here and it has the potential to change how you play Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts update also adds 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 creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we aimed for a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we wanted it to be fighting from atop a creature," explained a senior product manager. "We experimented with a number of concepts, but the lance was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the use case."

If you're curious whether fighting from a saddle means you can charge at your companions on horseback, the response is a definite affirmative. 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 two attacks: You have the quick stab, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and deal increased harm [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The unruly pleasure 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 quite advanced, [spears are] excellent for strapping on the wings and taking to the skies and creating genuine chaos," she teases.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now real, and it deserves to be an competitive event without delay.

Another significant inclusion in this fresh content is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is modeled after the seashells found in-game for years, can be tamed and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it carry you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also preserve your air supply, so there's no requirement to surface for a breath.

The other inclusions are primarily things that are out to get you, as is the way of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a zombie Nautilus popping up in the water, often with a zombie villager on its back. If you succeed in defeat the Drowned, though, you can tame the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've been thinking about this problem for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to also bring in something for aquatic environments," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for underwater mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus concept art looked impressive, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also notes that there are actually two different types of undead nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] add variety to what you discover underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the Parched, desert-exclusive undead archers that can survive in the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you end up in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an notable look that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a similar exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some much-anticipated tweaks to riding horses. Now, you can ford bodies of water while atop a horse. Also, netherite horse armor is now available at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

All told, the last content update of the year is a pretty good one. The spear on its own — and the potential for chaos — would have seemed like a significant enhancement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and new threats seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

The Mayhem Mounts update is live for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.