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The winter content update for Minecraft has landed — and it features the initial fresh armament added to the game since the mace made its debut. The javelin is now available and it has the potential to change how you play Minecraft, especially if you enjoy mayhem.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem update also adds a host of fresh elements and enhancements focused on animal mounts in the game. That central theme made the spear the natural choice for this release, as the development team had long felt it was the moment to introduce a new weapon.

"We knew initially that we aimed for a new weapon that would provide extended reach, and we envisioned it for fighting from atop a creature," noted a senior product manager. "We tried out a few different ideas, but the spear was the one that both felt great when we tested our prototypes and also made sense for the intended purpose."

If you're curious whether mounted combat means you can tilt at your friends on horseback, the response is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an offensive action perfectly suited for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest functions for the spear, and it's incredibly enjoyable," the developer adds. "The spear has a dual attack system: You have the jab attack, where you pierce your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you lower your spear and deal more damage [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] tailor-made for knightly combat."

Sky-High Chaos and Underwater Adventures

The wild enjoyment 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 even more ridiculous idea. "If you are quite advanced, [spears are] ideal for strapping on the wings and going out and creating genuine chaos," she teases.

In other words: Sky jousting is now real, and it deserves to be an competitive event without delay.

Another key feature in this fresh content is the underwater mount. This sea-dwelling mob, which is inspired by the nautilus shells players have gathered for years, can be domesticated and ridden for underwater travel. Not only will it move you through the water more swiftly than swimming, it'll also preserve your breath meter, so there's no necessity to come up for air for a breath.

The other inclusions are mostly things that seek your demise, as is the tradition of Minecraft. Unsurprisingly, there's also a rotting sea creature popping up in the water, frequently with a zombie villager on its back. If you are able to defeat the Drowned, though, you can befriend the undead mount — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've been thinking about this issue on and off, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the right time to also introduce something for the ocean depths," the lead elaborates. "For the Nautilus specifically, we had a few different ideas for underwater mounts that we wanted to try out, but the Nautilus concept art looked impressive, and we have the tie-in to the Nautilus shell that was already in the game."

She also adds that there are actually two distinct kinds of undead nautilus: regular and coral zombie Nautilus. "[The variants] provide diversity to what you discover underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Additional features include the Parched, desert-exclusive undead archers that can endure the sun, which means there's no escape from them if you venture in that environment. Sometimes you'll see them on desiccated dromedaries, another new mob. These passive, zombified camels have an notable look that sees their bones protruding. The same goes for undead steeds, who have a similar exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be found at night with a lance-wielding undead rider on their back.

The final pair of items on the drop's list are refinements, including some highly requested changes to equestrian travel. Now, you can cross waterways while mounted on a horse. Additionally, high-tier barding is now craftable at the workbench, so you can provide your steed with the ultimate protection it deserves.

A Spicy Send-Off for the Year

All told, the year-end release of the year is a solid offering. The spear on its own — and the mayhem it enables — would have seemed like a major improvement. Add in the Nautilus, and more things trying to kill you, and Minecraft's definitely getting a touch more chaotic.

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