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The seasonal game drop for Minecraft has arrived — and it brings with it the initial fresh armament introduced into the game since the mace made its debut. The spear is now available and it could very well revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, particularly when you enjoy mayhem.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts drop also introduces several new features and enhancements centered around riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the development team had already known it was time for a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we wanted a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we wanted it to be fighting from atop a creature," noted a lead developer. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both felt great when we ran our trials and also was visually fitting for the intended purpose."

If you're asking yourself whether mounted combat means you can charge at your companions on steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an combat move ideally crafted for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a primary functions for the spear, and it's so much fun," the developer continues. "The spear has two attacks: You have the jab attack, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and deal increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The chaotic fun isn't limited to there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] ideal for equipping the wings and taking to the skies and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she suggests.

In other words: Sky jousting is now possible, and it needs to become an Olympic sport without delay.

Another key feature in this latest drop is the Nautilus. This underwater creature, which is modeled after the seashells we've all been collecting for years, can be tamed and mounted for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it move you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also conserve your breath meter, so there's no need to come up for air for fresh air.

The remaining new features are primarily things that seek your demise, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a zombie Nautilus appearing in the water, often with a zombie villager on its back. If you manage to defeat the Drowned, though, you can claim the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've pondered this problem for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the perfect moment to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the lead explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a several proposals for aquatic rides that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus concept art looked striking, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also adds that there are actually two distinct kinds of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] give some flavor to what you encounter underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the Parched, desert-exclusive undead archers that can endure the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you end up in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an striking appearance that sees their bones protruding. The same goes for zombie horses, who have a comparable 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 minor quality-of-life improvements, including some much-anticipated tweaks to riding horses. Now, you can traverse waterways while mounted on a horse. Furthermore, high-tier barding is now obtainable 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 year-end release of the year is a solid offering. The spear alone — and the mayhem it enables — would have seemed like a significant enhancement. Add in the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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