How does Unidentified Maul work?

New Player Tavern
1

It says it “gains a bonus effect in your hand”.

SO I assumed one that my hand has.
I had a bonus card that gave damage and divine shield ( a spell ).
I had no taunt cards what so ever.

Yet when I played it, it got the battlecry for taunt.

How does that work?

Thanks!!

2

The way Unidentified Maul works is that it gains a bonus effect upon entering your hand (usually by drawing).
The exact effect gained is randomly selected from the 4 available effects:

  • Battlecry: Give your minions +1 Attack
  • Battlecry: Summon two 1/1 Silver Hand Recruits
  • Battlecry: Give your minions Divine Shield
  • Battlecry: Give your minions Taunt

What you have in hand or on board or in deck has no influence on the effect gained. That is purely random.

See also: https://hearthstone.fandom.com/wiki/Unidentified_Maul