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The seasonal content update for Minecraft has arrived — and it brings with it the initial fresh armament introduced into the game since the mace made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it has the potential to change how you play Minecraft, especially if you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also adds a host of fresh elements and updates related to animal mounts in the game. That central theme made the spear the ideal addition for this update, as the development team had already known it was time for a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we aimed for a new weapon that would increase combat distance, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," noted a senior product manager. "We tried out a few different ideas, 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 definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an offensive action excellently designed for it.

"[Jousting on horses is one of the biggest use cases for the spear, and it's so much fun," the lead says. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the jab attack, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and get more damage [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for knightly combat."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The chaotic fun isn't limited to there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] excellent for strapping on the wings and taking to the skies and creating genuine chaos," she hints.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now a reality, and it deserves to be an competitive event without delay.

Another key feature in this latest drop 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 move you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also maintain your air supply, so there's no need to return to the 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 zombie Nautilus appearing in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you manage to defeat the Drowned, though, you can claim the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've long considered this issue for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the perfect moment to also unveil something for underwater," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a few different ideas for sea mounts that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus design sketches 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 two distinct kinds of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you encounter underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Additional features 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 biome. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an striking appearance that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be found at night with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some much-anticipated changes to riding horses. Now, you can ford rivers and lakes while mounted on a horse. Additionally, high-tier barding is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

Overall, the final game drop of the year is a solid offering. The spear by itself — and the pandemonium it invites — would have constituted a major improvement. Add in the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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