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The seasonal content update for Minecraft has landed — and it brings with it the initial fresh armament introduced into the game since the heavy club made its debut. The lance is finally here and it could very well alter your gameplay in Minecraft, especially if you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts update also incorporates a host of fresh elements and updates focused on animal mounts in the game. That driving concept made the spear the ideal addition for this release, as the creators had already known it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we wanted a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," noted a senior product manager. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both played wonderfully when we ran our trials and also made sense for the intended purpose."

If you're asking yourself whether fighting from a saddle means you can joust against your allies on steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a major use cases for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead says. "The spear has two attacks: You have the quick stab, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you lower your spear and inflict more damage [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for mounted duels."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The chaotic fun doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've explored The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] ideal for equipping the wings and flying forth and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

In other words: Sky jousting is now real, and it needs to become an Olympic sport right away.

Another key feature in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This underwater creature, which is modeled after the seashells players have gathered for years, can be domesticated and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it transport you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also preserve your breath meter, so there's no requirement 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. Naturally, there's also a rotting sea creature popping up in the water, frequently with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in take care of the Drowned, though, you can claim 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 seemed like the right time to also bring in something for the ocean depths," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a few different ideas for aquatic rides that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus initial artwork looked impressive, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also adds that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you discover underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive undead archers that can survive in the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you find yourself in that region. 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 applies equally to undead steeds, who have a similar rib-popping design and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding undead rider on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are refinements, including some long-overdue adjustments to riding horses. Now, you can cross bodies of water while atop a horse. Furthermore, netherite horse armor is now craftable at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

Overall, the last content update of the year is a notable addition. The spear on its own — and the mayhem it enables — would have felt like a major improvement. Add in the Nautilus, and new threats trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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