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The seasonal content update for Minecraft has touched down — and it includes the initial fresh armament added to the game since the heavy club made its debut. The spear is finally here and it might just change how you play Minecraft, particularly when you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts drop also adds a host of fresh elements and enhancements related to animal mounts in the game. That focus made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the development team had long felt it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we wanted a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," stated a senior product manager. "We experimented with a number of concepts, but the spear 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 fighting from a saddle means you can tilt at your allies on horseback, the answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an offensive action excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a major functions for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead adds. "The spear has two attacks: You have the quick stab, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you couch your lance and deal increased harm [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The unruly pleasure isn't limited to there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] excellent for strapping on the elytra and going out and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport immediately.

Another major addition in this fresh content is the underwater mount. This aquatic being, which is modeled after the seashells found in-game for years, can be tamed and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it carry you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also conserve your oxygen levels, so there's no need to surface for fresh air.

The rest of the additions are mostly things that are out to get you, as is the way of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a zombie Nautilus popping up in the water, often with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can claim the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've been thinking about this problem on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the right time to also introduce something for underwater," the lead elaborates. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a number of concepts for aquatic rides that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked striking, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also adds that there are actually two distinct kinds of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific undead archers that can endure the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you venture in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an striking appearance that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be found at night with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are refinements, including some long-overdue adjustments to equestrian travel. Now, you can ford waterways while riding a horse. Additionally, netherite horse armor is now available at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

In summary, the last content update of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the potential for chaos — would have constituted a major improvement. Throw in the Nautilus, and additional creatures trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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