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The seasonal game drop for Minecraft has arrived — and it includes the first new weapon introduced into the game since the mace made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it could very well alter your gameplay in Minecraft, particularly when you thrive on pandemonium.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts update also incorporates several new features and enhancements focused on animal mounts in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the creators had long felt it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we wanted a new weapon that would add some more range, and we designed it specifically for fighting from atop a creature," explained a lead developer. "We tried out 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 wondering 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 ideally crafted for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a major applications for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer adds. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the thrust, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you lower your spear and inflict increased harm [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for jousting on horses."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment can extend beyond there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an truly outlandish idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the wings and going out and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now a reality, and it needs to become an Olympic sport immediately.

Another major addition in this new update is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the nautilus shells players have gathered for years, can be tamed and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it carry you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also conserve your oxygen levels, 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. Naturally, there's also a zombie Nautilus spawning in the water, frequently with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can tame the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've been thinking about this problem periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the right time to also introduce something for the ocean depths," the lead elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for sea mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked impressive, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also notes that there are actually two distinct kinds of zombie Nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] give some flavor to what you encounter underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive undead archers that can withstand the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you end up in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another new mob. Camel husks have an striking appearance that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a similar exposed-rib aesthetic 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 minor quality-of-life improvements, including some much-anticipated tweaks to riding horses. Now, you can ford rivers and lakes while riding a horse. Additionally, high-tier barding is now obtainable at the workbench, so you can give your horse the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

Overall, 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. Throw in the Nautilus, and additional creatures trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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