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The seasonal content update for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it features the initial fresh armament added to the game since the mace made its debut. The lance is now available and it might just alter your gameplay in Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem update also adds several new features and enhancements centered around riding animals in the game. That focus made the spear the natural choice for this release, as the development team had already known it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for fighting from atop a creature," explained a lead developer. "We prototyped a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both handled superbly when we ran our trials and also made sense for the use case."

If you're curious whether fighting from a saddle means you can joust against your friends on horseback, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an offensive action excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a primary applications for the spear, and it's so much fun," the lead continues. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the quick stab, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you lower your spear and get more damage [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] perfect for knightly combat."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The unruly pleasure isn't limited to there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] perfect for strapping on the elytra and flying forth and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she teases.

In other words: Sky jousting is now a reality, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport right away.

Another major addition in this fresh content is the underwater mount. This underwater creature, which is modeled after the nautilus shells players have gathered for years, can be domesticated and mounted for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it transport you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also preserve your oxygen levels, so there's no need to return to the surface for oxygen.

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, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to take care of the Drowned, though, you can befriend the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a blowfish.

"We've long considered this challenge for some time, 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 developer explains. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a number of concepts for underwater mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus design sketches looked compelling, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

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

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

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 venture in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an striking appearance that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a similar rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a spear-carrying undead rider on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some highly requested adjustments to riding horses. Now, you can cross bodies of water while riding a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now craftable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the best defense it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

All told, the year-end release of the year is a notable addition. The spear by itself — and the pandemonium it invites — would have constituted a considerable upgrade. Combine that with the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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