Whats better: Ancestral Knowledge or Shield Specialization?
Good cases can be made for either. Offhand, I think Shield Specialization is a superior skill for any shield wearing shaman, as it seems to effectively double your blocking percentage (5% to 10%) versus giving you 5% more mana. I really found in beta, even at level 60, that 5% more mana is not noticeable — it ws 250 mana at my 5000. However, if you go 5% more mana, and then stack on the 5% more efficient heals or shock or 10% more efficient totem talents, you may find the talent to be quite useful. As well, if you plan on going exclusively two-handed, Ancestral Knowledge is a better talent for you. In thread http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-shaman&t=12064, more shamans recommend Ancestral Knowledge over Shield Specialization.
