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The winter content update for the block-building phenomenon has landed — and it features the initial fresh armament added to the game since the mace made its debut. The spear 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 enhancements centered around riding animals in the game. That focus made the spear the ideal addition for this update, as the development team had long felt it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for fighting from atop a creature," noted a senior product manager. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both played wonderfully when we ran our trials and also was visually fitting for the use case."

If you're wondering whether fighting from a saddle means you can charge at your allies on horseback, the response is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an offensive action perfectly suited for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a primary applications for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer says. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the quick stab, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and get increased harm [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment isn't limited to there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've explored The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] ideal for equipping the elytra and going out and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she teases.

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

Another major addition in this latest drop is the Nautilus. This underwater creature, which is modeled after the seashells found in-game for years, can be domesticated and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it move you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also maintain your air supply, so there's no necessity to come up for air for oxygen.

The rest of the additions are largely things that seek your demise, as is the way of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a rotting sea creature popping up in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you are able to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've long considered this challenge on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the ideal opportunity to also unveil something for underwater," the developer clarifies. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a number of concepts for sea mounts that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus concept art looked striking, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

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

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Other additions include the Parched, biome-specific undead archers that can endure the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you end up in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an notable look 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 undead rider on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some highly requested changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross bodies of water while atop a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now craftable at the workbench, so you can give your horse the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

Overall, the year-end release of the year is a pretty good one. The spear on its own — and the pandemonium it invites — 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 Mayhem Mounts content drop is live for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.