🔗 Share this article

The seasonal game drop for Minecraft has arrived — and it features the initial fresh armament introduced into the title since the mace made its debut. The lance is now available and it could very well change how you play Minecraft, especially if you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also introduces several new features and enhancements centered around riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the ideal addition for this update, as the development team had already known it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we desired a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," noted a senior product manager. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both handled superbly when we tested our prototypes and also was visually fitting for the intended purpose."

If you're wondering whether mounted combat means you can charge at your companions on steeds, the response is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an offensive action perfectly suited for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest functions for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer adds. "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 get increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for knightly combat."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment can extend beyond there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] excellent for equipping the wings and flying forth and creating genuine chaos," she suggests.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now a reality, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport right away.

Another significant inclusion in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This underwater creature, which is inspired by the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and ridden for submarine exploration. Not only will it transport you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also maintain your oxygen levels, so there's no need to return to the surface for a breath.

The remaining new features are largely things that seek your demise, as is the way of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a zombie Nautilus popping up in the water, sometimes with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in defeat the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've long considered this problem for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the perfect moment to also bring in something for the ocean depths," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a several proposals for aquatic rides that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus design sketches looked compelling, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also adds that there are actually two different types of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you discover underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive skeletons that can survive in the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you find yourself in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an excellent design that sees their bones protruding. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a analogous exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a spear-carrying undead rider on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some long-overdue changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross rivers and lakes while atop a horse. Furthermore, netherite horse armor is now available at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the last content update of the year is a solid offering. The spear alone — and the pandemonium it invites — would have felt like a major improvement. Add in the Nautilus, and additional creatures seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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