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The seasonal content update for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it includes the first new weapon added to the game since the mace made its debut. The spear is now available and it could very well change how you play Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also adds several new features and enhancements centered around animal mounts in the game. That focus made the spear the natural choice for this update, as the development team had already known it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we desired a new weapon that would increase combat distance, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," stated a senior product manager. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both felt great when we ran our trials and also looked good for the use case."

If you're asking yourself whether mounted combat means you can charge at your companions on horseback, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary applications for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead says. "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 lower your spear and inflict increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The chaotic fun isn't limited to there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've explored The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] perfect for equipping the wings and flying forth and making some real mayhem," she teases.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now real, and it should be made an competitive event immediately.

Another significant inclusion in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This aquatic being, which is modeled after the nautilus shells found in-game 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 oxygen levels, so there's no need to come up for air for a breath.

The remaining new features are primarily things that want to kill you, as is the nature of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a zombie Nautilus spawning in the water, often with a zombie villager on its back. If you manage to defeat the Drowned, though, you can claim the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've been thinking about this problem on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the right time to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for underwater mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked striking, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also notes that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Additional features include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive undead archers that can endure 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 new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an notable look that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be found at night with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The remaining updates 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 mounted on a horse. Additionally, netherite horse armor is now available at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

In summary, the year-end release of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the mayhem it enables — would have constituted a major improvement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and new threats seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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