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The winter content update for the block-building phenomenon has landed — and it features the first new weapon added to the game since the heavy club made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it could very well alter your gameplay in Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem update also incorporates a host of fresh elements and enhancements centered around riding animals in the game. That focus made the spear the natural choice for this update, as the creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a new weapon that would add some more range, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," explained a senior product manager. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both handled superbly when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the intended purpose."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can tilt at your companions on horseback, the response is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an combat move excellently designed for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a major use cases for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead says. "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 couch your lance and inflict greater injury [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The chaotic fun isn't limited to there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] perfect for equipping the wings and flying forth and making some real mayhem," she teases.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now possible, and it should be made an Olympic sport immediately.

Another significant inclusion in this new update is the underwater mount. This underwater creature, which is modeled after the nautilus shells found in-game for years, can be tamed and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it transport you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also preserve your breath meter, so there's no necessity to return to the surface for fresh air.

The rest of the additions are mostly things that want to kill you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a undead nautilus appearing in the water, frequently with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to take care of the Drowned, though, you can claim the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've pondered this issue for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to also unveil something for underwater," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for sea mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus concept art looked compelling, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also notes that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: regular and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] add variety to what you encounter underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Other additions include the Parched, desert-exclusive skeletons that can withstand the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you find yourself in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an excellent design that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a analogous 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 long-overdue changes to riding horses. Now, you can traverse bodies of water while mounted on a horse. Also, netherite horse armor is now craftable at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the best defense it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

In summary, 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 major improvement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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