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The seasonal content update for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it includes the initial fresh armament introduced into the title since the heavy club made its debut. The lance is now available and it could very well alter your gameplay in Minecraft, particularly when you love chaos.

An Armament Designed for Chaotic Rides

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also adds a host of fresh elements and enhancements related to animal mounts in the game. That driving concept made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the development team had long felt it was time for a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we wanted a fresh armament that would provide extended reach, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," noted a lead developer. "We tried out a number of concepts, but the lance was the one that both felt great when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the intended purpose."

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

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest 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 charge attack where you couch your lance and inflict more damage [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] ideal for knightly combat."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment isn't limited to there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] excellent for strapping on the elytra and flying forth and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now real, and it should be made an competitive event without delay.

Another significant inclusion in this fresh content is the underwater mount. This underwater creature, which is inspired by the nautilus shells found in-game for years, can be tamed and ridden for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it carry you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also conserve your breath meter, so there's no requirement to come up for air for fresh air.

The rest of the additions are primarily things that want to kill you, as is the nature of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a rotting sea creature spawning in the water, sometimes with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can tame the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've long considered this problem periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it appeared to be the ideal opportunity to also bring in something for underwater," the lead clarifies. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a several proposals for underwater mounts that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus design sketches looked striking, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also points out that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] add variety to what you discover underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Other additions include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive undead archers that can withstand the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you end up in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an notable look that sees their ribs poking out. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be encountered after dark with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are refinements, including some long-overdue adjustments to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse waterways while riding a horse. Additionally, high-tier barding is now available at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the ultimate protection it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

Overall, the final game drop of the year is a notable addition. The spear alone — and the pandemonium it invites — would have felt like a considerable upgrade. Combine that with the Nautilus, and new threats trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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