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The winter game drop for Minecraft has arrived — and it includes the first new weapon introduced into the game since the heavy club made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it might just revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also incorporates several new features and enhancements centered around animal mounts in the game. That central theme made the spear the ideal addition for this update, as the creators had long felt it was time for a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we wanted a new weapon that would increase combat distance, and we envisioned it for mounted combat," explained a senior product manager. "We experimented with a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we ran our trials and also was visually fitting for the use case."

If you're asking yourself whether mounted combat means you can tilt at your allies on steeds, the response 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 lead adds. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the thrust, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and inflict more damage [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The unruly pleasure can extend beyond there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the elytra and taking to the skies 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 key feature in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be tamed and ridden for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it move you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also preserve your oxygen levels, so there's no need to come up for air for oxygen.

The rest of the additions are mostly things that want to kill you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a undead nautilus spawning in the water, often with a zombie villager on its back. If you manage to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've been thinking about this issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the perfect moment to also introduce something for the ocean depths," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a few different ideas for sea mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus concept art looked striking, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also adds that there are actually two different types of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] give some flavor to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific undead archers that can withstand the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you find yourself in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. Camel husks have an excellent design that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a analogous exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding undead rider on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some much-anticipated changes to riding horses. Now, you can traverse rivers and lakes while atop a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now available at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

All told, the year-end release of the year is a solid offering. The spear alone — and the pandemonium it invites — would have felt like a considerable upgrade. Add in the Nautilus, and new threats seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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