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The winter content update for Minecraft has landed — and it features the first new weapon introduced into the title since the heavy club made its debut. The javelin is now available and it could very well alter your gameplay in Minecraft, especially if you enjoy mayhem.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts update also introduces several new features and enhancements centered around 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 fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we envisioned it for mounted combat," noted a lead developer. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both felt great when we ran our trials and also made sense for the use case."

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

"[Jousting on horses is a major use cases for the spear, and it's a blast," 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 increased harm [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] ideal for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The chaotic fun 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 quite advanced, [spears are] excellent for equipping the elytra and flying forth and making some real mayhem," she teases.

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

Another major addition in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is based on the seashells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and ridden for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it transport you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also maintain your oxygen levels, so there's no requirement to come up for air for a breath.

The rest of the additions are largely things that are out to get you, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a zombie Nautilus popping up in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in dispatch 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 issue periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to also unveil something for underwater," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a number of concepts for sea mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked compelling, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also adds that there are actually two different types of zombie Nautilus: regular and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] add variety to what you find underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive skeletons that can endure the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you find yourself in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another new mob. Camel husks have an notable look that sees their bones protruding. The applies equally to zombie horses, who have a similar rib-popping design and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some long-overdue changes to riding horses. Now, you can traverse 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 top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the final game drop of the year is a notable addition. The spear on its own — and the potential for chaos — would have constituted a considerable upgrade. Combine that with the Nautilus, and additional creatures trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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