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The winter game drop for Minecraft has touched down — and it features the first new weapon added to the title since the mace made its debut. The lance is now available and it could very well change how you play Minecraft, particularly when you love chaos.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts drop also incorporates a host of fresh elements and enhancements focused on riding animals in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this release, as the creators had already known it was the moment to introduce a fresh combat tool.

"We knew initially that we wanted a fresh armament that would add some more range, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," stated a lead developer. "We experimented with a number of concepts, but the lance was the one that both played wonderfully when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the intended purpose."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can charge at your friends on steeds, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an attack ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is a major functions for the spear, and it's so much fun," the developer says. "The spear has two attacks: You have the jab attack, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and get increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] perfect for jousting on horses."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment can extend beyond there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've explored The End, the developers have an even more ridiculous idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] ideal for equipping the elytra and taking to the skies and making some real mayhem," she teases.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now real, and it should be made an competitive event right away.

Another key feature in this new update is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is based on the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it carry you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also conserve your breath meter, so there's no necessity to surface for oxygen.

The other inclusions are largely things that are out to get you, as is the nature of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a zombie Nautilus appearing in the water, sometimes with a zombie villager on its back. If you manage to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the standard version, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've long considered this challenge periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the perfect moment to also introduce something for aquatic environments," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a several proposals for aquatic rides that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus concept art looked striking, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also points out that there are actually a pair of variants of zombie Nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you encounter underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Other additions include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive skeletons that can withstand the sun, which means there's no refuge from them if you end up in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another fresh creature. 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 final pair of items on the drop's list are refinements, including some much-anticipated adjustments to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross bodies of water while riding a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now available at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

In summary, the final game drop of the year is a pretty good one. The spear by itself — and the potential for chaos — would have constituted a considerable upgrade. Throw in the Nautilus, and additional creatures 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.