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The winter game drop for Minecraft has landed — and it brings with it the first new weapon added to the title since the heavy club made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it has the potential to revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, especially if you enjoy mayhem.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem update also introduces a host of fresh elements and enhancements focused on animal mounts in the game. That focus made the spear the perfect fit for this release, 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 fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we wanted it to be fighting from atop a creature," stated a lead developer. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also was visually fitting for the intended purpose."

If you're asking yourself whether fighting from a saddle means you can joust against your allies on steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an combat move perfectly suited for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary use cases for the spear, and it's so much fun," the developer continues. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the quick stab, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and deal more damage [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for mounted duels."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The chaotic fun 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] ideal for equipping the elytra and taking to the skies and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she suggests.

In other words: Sky jousting is now a reality, and it deserves to be an competitive event immediately.

Another key feature in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the nautilus shells found in-game for years, can be tamed and mounted for underwater travel. Not only will it move you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also preserve your air supply, so there's no need to surface for a breath.

The other inclusions are primarily things that are out to get you, as is the way of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a rotting sea creature spawning in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can claim the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've long considered this issue periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the right time to also bring in something for underwater," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a several proposals for underwater mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus design sketches looked compelling, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also notes that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] give some flavor to what you discover 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 end up in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an excellent design that sees their ribs poking out. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a comparable rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding undead rider on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are refinements, including some long-overdue adjustments to riding horses. Now, you can traverse waterways while riding a horse. Also, netherite horse armor is now available at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the best defense 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 on its own — and the mayhem it enables — would have seemed like a significant enhancement. 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.