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The winter game drop for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it includes the initial fresh armament added to the game since the mace made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it has the potential to change how you play Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts drop also introduces a host of fresh elements and enhancements related to riding animals in the game. That central theme made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the development team had already known it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a fresh armament that would add some more range, and we wanted it to be fighting from atop a creature," stated a senior product manager. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both felt great when we ran our trials and also was visually fitting for the use case."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can joust against your friends on horseback, the response is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an offensive action ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest functions for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer says. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the quick stab, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you lower your spear and deal more damage [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] ideal for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment 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 truly outlandish idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] ideal for strapping on the elytra and taking to the skies and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

In other words: Sky jousting is now a reality, and it should be made an competitive event right away.

Another major addition in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is inspired by the seashells found in-game for years, can be tamed and mounted for submarine exploration. Not only will it transport you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also preserve your air supply, so there's no need to return to the surface for fresh air.

The rest of the additions are largely things that are out to get you, as is the nature of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a undead nautilus popping up in the water, frequently with a Drowned on its back. If you are able to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can tame the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've been thinking about this challenge on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the right time to also bring in something for underwater," the lead explains. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a number of concepts for sea mounts that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus concept art looked compelling, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also adds that there are actually a pair of variants of undead nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety to what you discover underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Additional features include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive undead archers that can withstand the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you find yourself in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an notable look that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are refinements, including some much-anticipated tweaks to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse rivers and lakes while atop a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now craftable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the ultimate protection it is worthy of.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

In summary, the last content update of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the potential for chaos — would have seemed like a considerable upgrade. Add in the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

The Mounts of Mayhem content drop is out now for all major editions of Minecraft.