Originally Posted by Lanuran
I agree that earthshield is a very effective tool but in general the amount of "sting" it takes off a tank for throwing it up for 1k mana doesn't really justify how it practically always just translates into Overheal due to healers precasting large enough heals.
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The ES heal triggers immediately after taking damage, so unless the damage done is less than the healing triggered, it will nearly never overheal. Also, remember that you can downrank ES with no +heal penalty.
I have mediocre gear (only 1 SSC piece thus far) and I can break 160 MP/5 unbuffed and break 250 MP/5 easily in raids, without Shadow Priests. If mana really is a concern, I can chain Mana Potions.
Finally, Improved Chain Heal and Nature's Gaurdian are amazing talents. CH is a staple spell in nearly all raids and R1 CH + ICH = mind-blowing efficiency. NG is great in the fact that nearly no mobs (aside from raid bosses) will outright 1-shot me, but definitely will bring me below 30%. The heal from NG is more or less negligible at that level, but it's threat reducing component has saved my life more times than I can imagine (it saved me countless times on Hydross when the adds got loose-- doubly so for any Heroic instances).
I never nuke in raids and the points in Elemental leading up to Unrelenting Storm are wasted for me. However, I love 19/0/42 for Arenas.