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The seasonal game drop for Minecraft has touched down — and it brings with it the first new weapon introduced into the game since the heavy club made its debut. The javelin is now available and it might just change how you play Minecraft, especially if you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also introduces a host of fresh elements and updates centered around animal mounts in the game. That focus made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the development team had long felt it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a new weapon that would add some more range, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," explained a lead developer. "We tried out a number of concepts, but the lance was the one that both handled superbly 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 joust against your friends on horseback, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an offensive action excellently designed for it.

"[Jousting on horses is one of the biggest functions for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer says. "The spear has two attacks: You have the thrust, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you lower your spear and get more damage [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] perfect for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The unruly pleasure isn't limited to there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] excellent for strapping on the wings and flying forth and making some real mayhem," she hints.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now a reality, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport right away.

Another major addition in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is based on the seashells players have gathered for years, can be tamed and mounted for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it carry you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also preserve your air supply, so there's no requirement to return to the surface for a breath.

The remaining new features are primarily things that seek your demise, as is the nature of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a zombie Nautilus spawning in the water, frequently with a Drowned on its back. If you are able to take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've long considered this challenge on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to also unveil something for the ocean depths," the lead elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a number of concepts for underwater mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked impressive, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also adds that there are actually two distinct kinds of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you discover underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Additional features include the Parched, biome-specific undead archers that can survive in the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you end up in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an excellent design that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a lance-wielding undead rider on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some much-anticipated changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross rivers and lakes while mounted on a horse. Additionally, netherite horse armor is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the best defense it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the final game drop of the year is a notable addition. The spear alone — and the mayhem it enables — would have seemed like a considerable upgrade. Throw in the Nautilus, and additional creatures seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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