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The winter content update for the block-building phenomenon has arrived — and it includes the initial fresh armament introduced into the game since the mace made its debut. The lance is now available and it could very well revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you love chaos.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts update also introduces 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 release, as the creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"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," stated a lead developer. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both felt great when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the use case."

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

"Mounted lance combat] 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 thrust, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you couch your lance and get increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] ideal for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The unruly pleasure can extend beyond there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently 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 wings and taking to the skies and creating genuine chaos," she teases.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now real, and it needs to become an Olympic sport right away.

Another key feature in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is modeled after the seashells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and mounted for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it transport you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also maintain your air supply, so there's no requirement to surface for a breath.

The rest of the additions are primarily things that want to kill you, as is the way of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a undead nautilus spawning in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to defeat the Drowned, though, you can tame the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've long considered this problem periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the right time to also introduce something for underwater," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a few different ideas for aquatic rides that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked impressive, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also adds that there are actually two distinct kinds of zombie Nautilus: regular and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] add variety to what you find underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Additional features include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive skeletons that can survive in the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you venture in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. Camel husks have an notable look that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a similar exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some much-anticipated tweaks to equestrian travel. Now, you can ford waterways while riding a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now craftable at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

Overall, the last content update of the year is a solid offering. The spear on its own — and the mayhem it enables — would have felt like a significant enhancement. Add in the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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