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The winter game drop for Minecraft has touched down — and it brings with it the first new weapon introduced into the game since the mace made its debut. The spear is finally here and it could very well revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also adds a host of fresh elements and updates related to riding animals in the game. That focus made the spear the natural choice for this release, as the development team had long felt it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a new weapon that would provide extended reach, and we wanted it to be fighting from atop a creature," explained a senior product manager. "We tried out a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both felt great when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the intended purpose."

If you're wondering whether fighting from a saddle means you can joust against your allies on steeds, the response is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an offensive action excellently designed for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a primary use cases for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the lead continues. "The spear has two attacks: You have the quick stab, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you lower your spear and inflict more damage [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The chaotic fun can extend beyond 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] ideal for equipping the wings and taking to the skies and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

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

Another major addition in this new update is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the seashells we've all been collecting for years, can be tamed and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it carry 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 other inclusions are mostly things that are out to get you, as is the nature of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a undead nautilus spawning in the water, often with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to defeat the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've pondered this issue for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the ideal opportunity to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for sea mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus design sketches looked striking, 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 undead nautilus: regular and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] give some flavor to what you find underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Other additions include the Parched, biome-specific undead archers that can survive in the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you venture in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an excellent design that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be found at night with a spear-carrying undead rider on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some highly requested changes to riding horses. Now, you can ford waterways while atop a horse. Additionally, high-tier barding is now obtainable at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the best defense it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

Overall, the final game drop of the year is a solid offering. The spear on its own — and the pandemonium it invites — would have seemed like a considerable upgrade. Combine that with the Nautilus, and new threats trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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