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The winter game drop for Minecraft has arrived — and it brings with it the initial fresh armament introduced into the game since the heavy club made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it could very well revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, especially if you enjoy mayhem.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also incorporates several new features and updates centered around riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the natural choice for this update, as the development team had long felt it was time for a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we wanted a new weapon that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for fighting from atop a creature," noted a lead developer. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both handled superbly when we ran our trials and also was visually fitting for the intended purpose."

If you're wondering whether mounted combat means you can joust against your allies on horseback, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack perfectly suited for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a major functions for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer adds. "The spear has two attacks: You have the jab attack, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you lower your spear and get greater injury [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment can extend beyond there, though. If you're far 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] excellent for equipping the elytra and taking to the skies and creating genuine chaos," she suggests.

In other words: Sky jousting is now real, and it should be made an Olympic sport without delay.

Another key feature in this latest drop is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is modeled after the nautilus shells players have gathered for years, can be domesticated and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it move you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also preserve your breath meter, so there's no necessity to come up for air for fresh air.

The remaining new features are mostly things that seek your demise, as is the nature of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a zombie Nautilus spawning in the water, often with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can claim the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've been thinking about this problem on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the ideal opportunity to also bring in something for underwater," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a number of concepts for aquatic rides that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked compelling, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also notes that there are actually a pair of variants of undead nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Other additions include the Parched, desert-exclusive skeletons that can withstand the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you find yourself in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an striking appearance that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a analogous rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some highly requested adjustments to riding horses. Now, you can ford bodies of water while riding a horse. Furthermore, netherite horse armor is now available at the workbench, so you can give your horse the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

In summary, the year-end release of the year is a notable addition. The spear on its own — and the pandemonium it invites — would have felt like a significant enhancement. Add in the Nautilus, and new threats seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

The Mounts of Mayhem update is out now for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.