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The winter content update for Minecraft has arrived — and it brings with it the first new weapon added to the title since the heavy club made its debut. The lance is now available and it has the potential to change how you play Minecraft, especially if you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts update also incorporates several new features and updates related to animal mounts in the game. That central theme made the spear the natural choice 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 increase combat distance, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," explained a senior product manager. "We experimented with a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both felt great when we tested our prototypes and also was visually fitting for the intended purpose."

If you're asking yourself whether mounted combat means you can joust against your companions on horseback, the answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an attack ideally crafted for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a major functions for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer says. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the quick stab, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you lower your spear and get greater injury [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] perfect for knightly combat."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment doesn't have to stop 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 in the end-game, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the elytra and going out and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she teases.

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

Another significant inclusion in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the seashells found in-game for years, can be domesticated and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it carry you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also maintain your oxygen levels, so there's no requirement to come up for air for a breath.

The remaining new features are primarily things that are out to get you, as is the way of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a undead nautilus spawning in the water, sometimes with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've pondered this challenge periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the right time to also bring in something for the ocean depths," the lead explains. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for sea mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus concept art looked impressive, 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-infested undead mount. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you discover underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Other additions include the Parched, biome-specific skeletons that can endure the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you venture in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an striking appearance that sees their ribs poking out. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a analogous exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some highly requested changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse waterways while mounted on a horse. Also, netherite horse armor is now available at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

All told, the final game drop of the year is a solid offering. The spear alone — and the mayhem it enables — would have felt like a considerable upgrade. Add in the Nautilus, and new threats seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

The Mayhem Mounts update is out now for all major editions of Minecraft.