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The seasonal game drop for the block-building phenomenon has landed — and it includes the first new weapon added to the title since the mace made its debut. The lance is now available and it has the potential to revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts drop also incorporates a host of fresh elements and enhancements centered around riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the natural choice for this release, as the creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we wanted a new weapon that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," explained a lead developer. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we ran our trials and also looked good for the intended purpose."

If you're curious whether fighting from a saddle means you can charge at your friends on horseback, the answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an attack perfectly suited for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary functions for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the lead says. "The spear has two attacks: You have the jab attack, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and inflict greater injury [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an truly outlandish idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the wings and flying forth and creating genuine chaos," she hints.

In other words: Sky jousting is now possible, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport without delay.

Another major addition in this latest drop is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is inspired by the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and mounted for underwater travel. Not only will it move you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also maintain your air supply, so there's no need to surface for a breath.

The remaining new features are primarily things that want to kill you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a undead nautilus popping up in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you are able to take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've pondered this challenge periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to also bring in something for underwater," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for underwater mounts that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus concept art looked striking, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also points out that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety to what you encounter underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the Parched, biome-specific skeletons that can endure the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you find yourself in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. Camel husks have an striking appearance that sees their bones protruding. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a similar rib-popping design and can sometimes be found at night with a spear-carrying undead rider on their back.

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

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

Overall, the last content update of the year is a notable addition. The spear on its own — and the pandemonium it invites — would have constituted a major improvement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and additional creatures trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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