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The seasonal game drop for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it includes the initial fresh armament introduced into the game since the heavy club made its debut. The spear is now available and it has the potential to revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also introduces several new features and enhancements related to animal mounts in the game. That central theme made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we aimed for a fresh armament that would add some more range, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," stated a lead developer. "We experimented with a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the use case."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can charge at your friends on steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an offensive action ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest use cases for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer adds. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the thrust, 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 speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The chaotic fun doesn't have to stop 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] perfect for equipping the elytra and flying forth and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she suggests.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now a reality, and it should be made an competitive event right away.

Another significant inclusion in this latest drop is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is based on the nautilus shells players have gathered for years, can be domesticated and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it carry you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also conserve your breath meter, so there's no need to surface for fresh air.

The remaining new features are mostly things that seek your demise, as is the way of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a rotting sea creature appearing in the water, sometimes with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to take care of the Drowned, though, you can claim the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"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 unveil something for the ocean depths," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a several proposals for sea mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus concept art looked compelling, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

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

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific skeletons that can withstand the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you end up in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an notable look that sees their bones protruding. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a analogous exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be found at night with a spear-carrying undead rider on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some highly requested changes to riding horses. Now, you can cross bodies of water while riding a horse. Additionally, high-tier barding is now craftable at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

Overall, the year-end release of the year is a solid offering. The spear alone — and the pandemonium it invites — would have seemed like a considerable upgrade. Combine that with the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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