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The winter content update for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it includes the first new weapon introduced into the game since the mace made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it has the potential to alter your gameplay in Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mayhem Mounts update also introduces several new features and updates centered around riding animals in the game. That focus made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the creators had already known it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a new weapon that would provide extended reach, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," stated a lead developer. "We experimented with a number of concepts, but the spear was the one that both handled superbly when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the intended purpose."

If you're curious 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 attack ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a major use cases for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer continues. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the quick stab, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and inflict increased harm [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The unruly pleasure doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an truly outlandish idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] excellent for strapping on the wings and going out and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she teases.

In other words: Sky jousting is now a reality, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport without delay.

Another significant inclusion in this fresh content is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is modeled after the seashells players have gathered for years, can be tamed and mounted for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it carry you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also conserve your oxygen levels, so there's no need to come up for air for a breath.

The rest of the additions are largely things that seek your demise, as is the nature of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a rotting sea creature spawning in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager 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 blowfish.

"We've long considered this issue periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the perfect moment to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a few different ideas for aquatic rides that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus design sketches looked striking, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was pre-existing in the game."

She also points out that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: standard and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific skeletons that can survive in the sun, which means there's no escape 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 undead steeds, who have a similar rib-popping design and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a spear-carrying undead rider on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are refinements, including some much-anticipated adjustments to riding horses. Now, you can cross rivers and lakes while mounted on a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now craftable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

In summary, the year-end release of the year is a notable addition. The spear on its own — and the pandemonium it invites — would have seemed like a major improvement. Add in the Nautilus, and additional creatures seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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