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The winter game drop for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it features the first new weapon added to the game since the heavy club made its debut. The lance is now available and it might just change how you play Minecraft, especially if you enjoy mayhem.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts update also introduces a host of fresh elements and enhancements focused on riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the creators had long felt it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we desired a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for fighting from atop a creature," noted a senior product manager. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both handled superbly when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the use case."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can tilt at your companions on horseback, the answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an combat move perfectly suited for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary functions for the spear, and it's so much fun," the developer adds. "The spear has two attacks: You have the thrust, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you lower your spear and deal increased harm [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The unruly pleasure doesn't have to stop 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 quite advanced, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the wings and taking to the skies and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she teases.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now a reality, and it needs to become 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 seashells players have gathered 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 preserve your air supply, so there's no need to come up for air for oxygen.

The other inclusions are mostly things that seek your demise, as is the way of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a rotting sea creature popping up in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you manage to take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've long considered this issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to also introduce something for aquatic environments," the lead elaborates. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for sea mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked impressive, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

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

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Other additions include the Parched, desert-exclusive undead archers that can endure the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you end up in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another new mob. Camel husks have an notable look that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a analogous exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are refinements, including some highly requested tweaks to riding horses. Now, you can cross rivers and lakes while atop a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now available at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the best defense 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 felt like a significant enhancement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and additional creatures trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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