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The seasonal game drop for the block-building phenomenon has landed — and it brings with it the first new weapon added to the title since the mace made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it has the potential to change how you play Minecraft, especially if you love chaos.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts drop also incorporates a host of fresh elements and updates centered around animal mounts in the game. That central theme made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the development team had already known it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a fresh armament that would add some more range, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," stated a lead developer. "We experimented with 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 use case."

If you're wondering whether mounted combat means you can joust against your companions on horseback, the answer is a definite affirmative. In fact, there's even an combat move ideally crafted for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a major applications for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer adds. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the jab attack, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you lower your spear and deal more damage [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] perfect for knightly combat."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment doesn't have to stop there, though. If you're advanced sufficiently into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an truly outlandish idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] perfect for equipping the elytra and taking to the skies and creating genuine chaos," she hints.

In other words: Sky jousting is now possible, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport immediately.

Another key feature in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This aquatic being, which is modeled after the nautilus shells found in-game for years, can be domesticated and ridden for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it carry you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also preserve your breath meter, so there's no need to come up for air for fresh air.

The rest of the additions are primarily things that want to kill you, as is the way of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a zombie Nautilus appearing in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you are able to defeat the Drowned, though, you can claim the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've pondered this issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the right time to also unveil something for the ocean depths," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for underwater mounts that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus concept art looked striking, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also adds that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: standard and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you encounter underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Other additions include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive skeletons that can survive in the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you venture in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on camel husks, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an striking appearance that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The same goes for zombie horses, 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 much-anticipated tweaks to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse waterways while atop a horse. Also, netherite horse armor is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can provide your steed with the best defense it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the final game drop of the year is a solid offering. The spear alone — and the potential for chaos — would have felt like a major improvement. Add in the Nautilus, and new threats seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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