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The winter content update for the block-building phenomenon has landed — and it brings with it the first new weapon introduced into the title since the heavy club made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it might just alter your gameplay in Minecraft, particularly when you love chaos.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts update also incorporates a host of fresh elements and updates focused on riding animals in the game. That focus made the spear the natural choice for this update, as the development team had already known it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we designed it specifically for fighting from atop a creature," stated a senior product manager. "We experimented with a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the intended purpose."

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

"[Jousting on horses is a primary functions for the spear, and it's so much fun," the developer adds. "The spear has two attacks: You have the quick stab, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and deal increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for mounted duels."

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 been to The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] ideal for strapping on the wings and taking to the skies and creating genuine chaos," she teases.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now a reality, and it deserves to be an competitive event without delay.

Another key feature in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is inspired by the seashells players have gathered for years, can be domesticated and ridden for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it carry you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also conserve your air supply, so there's no requirement to return to the surface for oxygen.

The remaining new features are primarily things that seek your demise, as is the nature of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a zombie Nautilus popping up in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in defeat the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've been thinking about this problem on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the right time to also bring in something for aquatic environments," the lead elaborates. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for underwater mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus design sketches looked striking, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also notes that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you find 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 venture in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an excellent design that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a comparable rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some much-anticipated tweaks to riding horses. Now, you can cross waterways while mounted on a horse. Furthermore, netherite horse armor is now available at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the year-end release of the year is a notable addition. The spear by itself — and the mayhem it enables — would have seemed like a major improvement. Add in the Nautilus, and new threats trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

The Mayhem Mounts update is available for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.