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The winter game drop for Minecraft has landed — and it brings with it the first new weapon added to the title since the mace made its debut. The javelin is now available and it has the potential to revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you thrive on pandemonium.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also introduces a host of fresh elements and updates related to animal mounts in the game. That driving concept made the spear the natural choice for this update, as the creators had long felt it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a new weapon that would provide extended reach, and we wanted it to be fighting from atop a creature," stated a lead developer. "We prototyped a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both handled superbly when we tested our prototypes and also was visually fitting for the use case."

If you're asking yourself whether fighting from a saddle means you can tilt at your companions on horseback, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest functions for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead continues. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the jab attack, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you lower your spear and get more damage [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] perfect for mounted duels."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment isn't limited to there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've explored The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] excellent for strapping on the wings and taking to the skies and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she hints.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, and it should be made an competitive event right away.

Another key feature in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is modeled after the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be tamed and mounted for underwater travel. Not only will it move you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also conserve your breath meter, so there's no need to come up for air for a breath.

The remaining new features are largely things that seek your demise, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a zombie Nautilus appearing in the water, sometimes with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in defeat the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've been thinking about this problem for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to also bring in something for aquatic environments," the developer elaborates. "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 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 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

Other additions include the Parched, biome-specific undead archers that can endure the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you find yourself in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another new mob. Camel husks have an notable look that sees their ribs poking out. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a similar rib-popping design 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 minor quality-of-life improvements, including some long-overdue changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross rivers and lakes while mounted on a horse. Furthermore, 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 Spicy Send-Off for the Year

All told, the final game drop of the year is a notable addition. The spear on its own — and the mayhem it enables — would have seemed like a significant enhancement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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