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The winter content update for Minecraft has arrived — and it brings with it the first new weapon introduced into the title since the heavy club made its debut. The spear is now available and it could very well alter your gameplay in Minecraft, especially if you enjoy mayhem.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also incorporates a host of fresh elements and updates related to riding animals in the game. That central theme made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the creators had long felt it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we aimed for a new weapon that would add some more range, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," noted a lead developer. "We tried out a number of concepts, but the lance was the one that both felt great when we ran our trials and also made sense for the intended purpose."

If you're wondering whether mounted combat means you can joust against your friends on steeds, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary use cases for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer continues. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the thrust, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and inflict increased harm [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment 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 even more ridiculous idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] perfect for equipping the elytra and going out and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she hints.

In other words: Sky jousting is now a reality, and it should be made an competitive event right away.

Another significant inclusion in this new update is the underwater mount. This underwater creature, which is inspired by the nautilus shells found in-game for years, can be domesticated and mounted for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it carry you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also maintain your oxygen levels, so there's no requirement to return to the surface for fresh air.

The other inclusions are mostly things that seek your demise, as is the nature of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a zombie Nautilus spawning in the water, frequently with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to take care of 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 issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the right time to also introduce something for aquatic environments," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for aquatic rides that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus concept art looked striking, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also adds that there are actually two different types of undead nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety to what you discover underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Additional features include the Parched, biome-specific skeletons that can withstand the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you venture in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an excellent design that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a comparable rib-popping design and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some long-overdue adjustments to riding horses. Now, you can traverse bodies of water while riding a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the top-tier safeguarding it is worthy of.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

In summary, the final game drop of the year is a solid offering. The spear by itself — and the pandemonium it invites — would have seemed 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 Mounts of Mayhem content drop is live for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.