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The seasonal game drop for the block-building phenomenon has landed — and it includes the initial fresh armament introduced into the title since the mace made its debut. The javelin is now available and it could very well change how you play Minecraft, especially if you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem update also adds a host of fresh elements and updates centered around riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the ideal addition for this release, as the creators had long felt it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we aimed for a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," stated a lead developer. "We prototyped a number of concepts, but the lance was the one that both felt great when we ran our trials and also looked good for the use case."

If you're asking yourself whether mounted combat means you can tilt at your companions on steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an combat move excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest functions for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer says. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the jab attack, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you couch your lance and get increased harm [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for mounted duels."

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 been to The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] perfect for equipping the wings and going out and making some real mayhem," she teases.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now a reality, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport without delay.

Another major addition in this latest drop is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is based on the nautilus shells found in-game for years, can be domesticated and ridden for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it carry you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also conserve your breath meter, so there's no requirement to return to the surface for fresh air.

The other inclusions are primarily things that seek your demise, as is the nature of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a zombie Nautilus appearing in the water, frequently with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've pondered this issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the right time to also introduce something for aquatic environments," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a number of concepts for sea mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus concept art looked impressive, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also adds that there are actually two different types of zombie Nautilus: regular and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] add variety to what you encounter underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Additional features include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific undead archers that can endure the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you venture in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. Camel husks have an excellent design that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a analogous exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be found at night with a lance-wielding undead rider on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some long-overdue changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse bodies of water while mounted on a horse. Additionally, 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 last content update of the year is a solid offering. The spear on its own — and the mayhem it enables — would have felt like a major improvement. Add in the Nautilus, and new threats trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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