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The seasonal content update for Minecraft has touched down — and it features the initial fresh armament introduced into the title since the heavy club made its debut. The javelin is now available and it could very well revolutionize your approach to Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem update also adds a host of fresh elements and enhancements related to 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 new weapon.

"We knew initially that we desired a new weapon that would add some more range, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," explained a senior product manager. "We experimented with a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both felt great when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the intended purpose."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can joust against your companions on steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack perfectly suited for it.

"[Jousting on horses is one of the biggest functions for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer says. "The spear has two attacks: You have the quick stab, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and deal more damage [with] the more pace you have. So [it’s] ideal for jousting on horses."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The unruly pleasure isn't limited to there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are very late, [spears are] ideal for equipping the elytra and flying forth and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she teases.

In other words: Sky jousting is now a reality, and it should be made an competitive event right away.

Another major addition in this new update is the Nautilus. This underwater creature, which is modeled after the seashells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it transport you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also preserve your breath meter, so there's no need to return to the surface for oxygen.

The other inclusions are mostly things that are out to get you, as is the nature of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a rotting sea creature popping up in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you are able to defeat the Drowned, though, you can claim the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've been thinking about this issue for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the ideal opportunity to also bring in something for underwater," the developer clarifies. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a number of concepts for sea mounts that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked striking, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also points out that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] give some flavor to what you discover underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the Parched, desert-exclusive undead archers that can survive in the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you venture in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, 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 rib-popping design and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a spear-carrying undead rider on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some highly requested adjustments to riding horses. Now, you can traverse rivers and lakes while riding a horse. Additionally, netherite horse armor is now craftable at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

In summary, the year-end release of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the pandemonium it invites — would have felt like a considerable upgrade. Add in the Nautilus, and additional creatures trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

The Mayhem Mounts content drop is available for Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft.