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The winter content update for Minecraft has touched down — and it features the initial fresh armament introduced into the game since the heavy club made its debut. The spear is finally here and it might just revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, especially if you thrive on pandemonium.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts drop also incorporates a host of fresh elements and updates focused on riding animals in the game. That central theme made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the creators had long felt it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we aimed for a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we envisioned it for mounted combat," stated a senior product manager. "We tried out a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we ran our trials and also was visually fitting for the intended purpose."

If you're asking yourself whether mounted combat means you can tilt at your friends on horseback, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an offensive action excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest applications for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," 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 powerful lance where you couch your lance and deal greater injury [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] perfect for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're deep enough 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] ideal for equipping the wings and going out and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she teases.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now possible, and it needs to become an Olympic sport right away.

Another significant inclusion in this new update is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is modeled after the seashells we've all been collecting for years, can be tamed and mounted for submarine exploration. Not only will it transport you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also conserve your air supply, so there's no necessity to surface for a breath.

The rest of the additions are largely things that seek your demise, as is the nature of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a undead nautilus popping up in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to defeat the Drowned, though, you can tame the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've been thinking about this challenge on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the perfect moment to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the lead explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a few different ideas for sea mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus concept art looked compelling, and we have the link 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."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Other additions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific skeletons that can endure the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you find yourself in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an notable look that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a similar rib-popping design and can sometimes be found at night with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are refinements, including some highly requested tweaks to riding horses. Now, you can ford waterways while riding a horse. Additionally, netherite horse armor is now craftable at the workbench, so you can give your horse 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 alone — and the pandemonium it invites — would have felt like a major improvement. Throw in the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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