🔗 Share this article

The winter game drop for Minecraft has arrived — and it includes the initial fresh armament added to the game 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 thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also introduces 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 creators had long felt it was time for a fresh combat tool.

"From the outset, we understood that we desired a new weapon that would add some more range, and we designed it specifically for fighting from atop a creature," explained a senior product manager. "We prototyped a few different ideas, 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 curious whether mounted combat means you can joust against your friends on steeds, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an offensive action excellently designed for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest use cases for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer adds. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the quick stab, where you simply impale your enemy. But you also have a powerful lance where you couch your lance and deal increased harm [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] ideal for jousting on horses."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The chaotic fun isn't limited to 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 in the end-game, [spears are] excellent for strapping on the wings and going out and creating genuine chaos," she suggests.

In other words: Aerial lance combat is now possible, and it should be made an competitive event immediately.

Another major addition in this latest drop is the underwater mount. This underwater creature, which is modeled after the seashells found in-game 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 air supply, so there's no need to return to the surface for a breath.

The remaining new features are largely things that seek your demise, as is the nature of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a zombie Nautilus appearing in the water, often with a Drowned on its back. If you succeed in dispatch the Drowned, though, you can tame the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've long considered this problem for some time, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the perfect moment to also unveil something for aquatic environments," the lead elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a few different ideas for aquatic rides that we wanted to experiment with, but the Nautilus design sketches looked compelling, and we have the connection to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

She also notes that there are actually a pair of variants of undead nautilus: regular and coral-infested undead mount. "[The variants] add variety to what you find underwater."

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

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 find yourself in that biome. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels 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 spawned in the darkness with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The remaining updates on the drop's list are refinements, including some much-anticipated tweaks to riding horses. Now, you can ford bodies of water while atop a horse. Additionally, netherite horse armor is now obtainable at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the best defense it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

In summary, the final game drop of the year is a pretty good one. The spear on its own — and the mayhem it enables — would have felt like a significant enhancement. Add in the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a bit spicier.

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