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The seasonal game drop for the block-building phenomenon has arrived — and it includes the first new weapon added to the game since the mace made its debut. The javelin is finally here and it could very well change how you play Minecraft, particularly when you love chaos.

A Weapon Forged for Mounted Mayhem

The Mounts of Mayhem drop also incorporates a host of fresh elements and updates related to animal mounts in the game. That driving concept made the spear the ideal addition for this release, as the development team had long felt it was time for a new weapon.

"From the outset, we understood that we aimed for a new weapon that would add some more range, and we designed it specifically for mounted combat," stated a lead developer. "We tried out 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 asking yourself whether mounted combat means you can tilt at your companions on steeds, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, there's even an combat move ideally crafted for it.

"Mounted lance combat] is one of the biggest applications for the spear, and it's a blast," the lead adds. "The spear has a pair of offensive moves: You have the jab attack, where you just stab your enemy. But you also have a sprinting strike where you couch your lance and inflict more damage [with] the more momentum you have. So [it’s] ideal for mounted duels."

Aerial Mayhem & Deep-Sea Exploration

The wild enjoyment isn't limited to there, though. If you're far enough into the game that you've visited The End, the developers have an truly outlandish idea. "If you are in the end-game, [spears are] ideal for equipping the elytra and flying forth and unleashing absolute pandemonium," she suggests.

In other words: Sky jousting is now a reality, and it needs to become an Olympic sport without delay.

Another key feature in this new update is the Nautilus. This aquatic being, which is modeled after the seashells players have gathered for years, can be domesticated and mounted for deep-sea journeys. Not only will it move you through the water faster than swimming, it'll also maintain your oxygen levels, so there's no necessity to come up for air for a breath.

The rest of the additions are primarily things that seek your demise, as is the nature of Minecraft. Naturally, there's also a zombie Nautilus appearing in the water, frequently with a Drowned on its back. If you are able to defeat the Drowned, though, you can befriend the zombie Nautilus — or the regular one, for that matter — with a spiky fish.

"We've long considered this challenge periodically, and again, like with the spear and [adding] more mounts, it felt like the perfect moment to also introduce something for the ocean depths," the developer explains. "For the Nautilus in particular, we had a number of concepts for aquatic rides that we wanted to test, 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 find underwater."

Desert Dangers and Long-Awaited Tweaks

Further inclusions include the Parched, biome-specific 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 desiccated dromedaries, another fresh creature. These passive, zombified camels have an excellent design that sees their skeletal frame exposed. The applies equally to undead steeds, who have a comparable exposed-rib aesthetic and can sometimes be spawned in the darkness with a lance-wielding zombie on their back.

The last two things on the drop's list are smaller gameplay updates, including some long-overdue changes to riding horses. Now, you can ford waterways while atop a horse. Additionally, high-tier barding is now obtainable at the crafting table, so you can give your horse 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 potential for chaos — would have constituted a considerable upgrade. Add in the Nautilus, and more things seeking your end, and Minecraft's definitely getting a little more dangerous.

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