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The winter content update for the block-building phenomenon has touched down — and it includes the first new weapon introduced into the title since the mace made its debut. The lance is finally here and it could very well alter your gameplay in Minecraft, particularly when you thrive on pandemonium.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mayhem Mounts update also incorporates several new features and updates focused on animal mounts in the game. That central theme made the spear the perfect fit for this update, as the creators had long felt it was time for a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we wanted a new weapon that would provide extended reach, and we wanted it to be mounted combat," noted a lead developer. "We prototyped a few different ideas, but the lance was the one that both handled superbly when we tested our prototypes and also looked good for the intended purpose."

If you're wondering whether fighting from a saddle means you can tilt at your companions on horseback, the answer 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 incredibly enjoyable," the lead adds. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the thrust, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a charge attack where you couch your lance and get greater injury [with] the more speed and velocity you have. So [it’s] perfect for knightly combat."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The chaotic fun doesn't have to stop 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 very late, [spears are] ideal for strapping on the elytra and flying forth and making some real mayhem," she suggests.

In other words: Jousting in the clouds is now a reality, and it deserves to be an Olympic sport without delay.

Another major addition in this new update is the Nautilus. This underwater creature, which is modeled after the nautilus shells we've all been collecting for years, can be tamed and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it transport you through the water quicker than swimming, it'll also conserve your breath meter, so there's no need to come up for air for a breath.

The remaining new features are primarily things that are out to get you, as is the way of Minecraft. As expected, there's also a zombie Nautilus spawning in the water, sometimes with a Drowned on its back. If you manage to dispatch the Drowned, though, you can claim the undead mount — or the standard version, for that matter — with a puffer fish.

"We've long considered this issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it seemed like the right time to also bring in something for the ocean depths," the developer elaborates. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a number of concepts for aquatic rides that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus design sketches looked compelling, and we have the link to the Nautilus shell that was found within the game."

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

Parched Perils & Overdue Enhancements

Additional features include the sun-proof skeletons, desert-exclusive skeletons that can survive in the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you end up in that region. Sometimes you'll see them on zombified camels, 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 spawned in the darkness with a lance-wielding undead rider on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are refinements, including some highly requested changes to riding horses. Now, you can ford waterways while atop a horse. Also, high-tier barding is now craftable at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the top-tier safeguarding it deserves.

A Fittingly Chaotic Finale

All told, the year-end release of the year is a solid offering. The spear by itself — and the potential for chaos — would have constituted a considerable upgrade. Combine that with the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

The Mounts of Mayhem content drop is live for all major editions of Minecraft.