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The seasonal content update for Minecraft has landed — and it features the first new weapon added to the title since the mace made its debut. The lance is finally here and it might just revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you love chaos.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also introduces a host of fresh elements and updates centered around animal mounts in the game. That focus made the spear the natural choice 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 new weapon that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," explained a senior product manager. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the intended purpose."

If you're wondering whether fighting from a saddle means you can charge at your companions on horseback, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an combat move excellently designed for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a primary applications for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the lead continues. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the jab attack, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you couch your lance and get increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment isn't limited to there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] excellent for equipping the elytra and flying forth and creating genuine chaos," she suggests.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now real, and it should be made an Olympic sport right away.

Another major addition in this fresh content is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, 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 carry you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also conserve your oxygen levels, so there's no requirement to surface for fresh air.

The remaining new features are mostly things that are out to get you, as is the nature of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a undead nautilus popping up in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you manage to defeat the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've pondered this challenge for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the perfect moment to also introduce something for underwater," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a number of concepts for underwater mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked impressive, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also notes that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Other additions include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive skeletons that can endure the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you end up in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an notable look that sees their bones protruding. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a analogous rib-popping design and can sometimes be found at night with a spear-carrying zombie 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 mounted on a horse. Additionally, high-tier barding is now craftable at the workbench, so you can give your horse the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

Overall, the final game drop of the year is a pretty good one. The spear alone — and the pandemonium it invites — would have seemed like a major improvement. Combine that with the Nautilus, and new threats seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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