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The seasonal game drop for Minecraft has landed — and it features the first new weapon introduced into the game since the heavy club made its debut. The spear is finally here and it could very well change how you play Minecraft, particularly when you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem update also adds several new features and enhancements focused on riding animals in the game. That central theme made the spear the ideal addition for this update, as the development team had already known it was time for a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a fresh armament that would increase combat distance, 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 felt great when we ran our trials and also made sense for the intended purpose."

If you're wondering whether mounted combat means you can joust against your friends on horseback, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an combat move perfectly suited for it.

"[Jousting on horses is a primary applications for the spear, and it's a blast," the developer continues. "The spear has two attacks: You have the thrust, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and inflict greater injury [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] perfect for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The chaotic fun isn't limited to there, though. If you're deep enough into the game that you've been to The End, the developers have an delightfully absurd idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] excellent for equipping the wings and going out and making some real mayhem," she teases.

In other words: Sky jousting is now possible, and it should be made an competitive event right away.

Another key feature in this latest drop is the Nautilus. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be domesticated and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it transport you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also preserve your breath meter, so there's no necessity to return to the surface for a breath.

The other inclusions are mostly things that want to kill you, as is the nature of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a rotting sea creature spawning in the water, sometimes with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in dispatch the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've been thinking about this challenge periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the right time to also unveil something for underwater," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a few different ideas for aquatic rides that we wanted to test, but the Nautilus design sketches looked compelling, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also notes that there are actually two distinct kinds of zombie Nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] add variety to what you encounter underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Further inclusions include the sun-proof skeletons, biome-specific skeletons that can endure the sun, which means there's no getting away from them if you venture in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another fresh creature. Camel husks have an striking appearance that sees their ribs poking out. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a analogous exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be found at night with a spear-carrying zombie on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are minor quality-of-life improvements, including some highly requested changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can traverse bodies of water while atop a horse. Additionally, high-tier barding is now craftable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse the best defense it is worthy of.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

Overall, the final game drop of the year is a pretty good one. The spear on its own — and the potential for chaos — would have constituted a considerable upgrade. Throw in the Nautilus, and new threats trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

The Mayhem Mounts update is out now for all major editions of Minecraft.