Come on folks do the Math! A Throium Shield Spike (even the lesser spikes) is FAR superior than either 2% blocking or +7 Stam.
Example
Take a Warrior with 10% Block (from attributes and shield).
Enemy hits our hero for 100dam, armor reduces dam to 50 (or some similar amount due to armor and buffs)
Out of 100 hits a 2% Block increase would block a max of 100dam (if the "block" rating of the shield + additional block from strength is > 50 -which it rarely is!) You have saved yourself 100damage!
Now with the Spike, out of 100 hits the shield would block 10 hits (avg). The Thoium Shield Spike (20 - 30 dam) would avg 25dam per hit for 250dam. Assuming that the Mobs armor would decrease the dam by roughly 50% you deal 125dam to enemy over time - Nice!

Additionaly if you rend armor or as other buffs stack against enemy our damage increases, not to mention all the additional threat that is generated by the spike attacks (important to MT and OT). Also if you are like my War and Block 16% of the time well the Spike is a just plain mean. Again against 99% of mobs you can't beat the spike.
BOTTOM LINE
The +7 Stam is equal to 70 hps, clearly it is the worst of the 3 (even with Tauren add) The priority is Stam (worst), Iron Spike, +2% Block, Mithril Spike, Thorium Spike (best). If you already have more than 12% block no one can argue the benefit of the Spike. One additional benefit is cost. Iron and Mithril Spikes can be bought on most servers for less than 2g (a lot of blacksmiths give iron spikes away). Thorium Spikes less than 25g. The +2% Block is usually more than 100g. Spikes are cheaper and do more damage

(BTW the main rebuttal I get is "what about guys who hit for 1000dam" - REMEMBER shield only blocks as much damage as Shield "block#"+ strength bonus. Even if it blocks you don't block 1000dam almost never more than 50dam.)
Spikes Rule! Hope this helps

Комментарий от Thottbot

How does putting a spike on your shield affect agro? I am curious because I play a pally who sometimes tanks (in which case agro is a plus) but usually heals (in which case it's a slight minus).

Комментарий от Thottbot

it effects agro because you deal damagwe with it any damage/healing any action but bandaging will pull agro so... plz put this babe on your shield so priests like me can heal in peace :P

Комментарий от Thottbot

Hm, if only you can ALSO do (more) damage when you shield bash, or shield slam an enemy too. It IS a spike, after all.

Комментарий от Allakhazam

16-20 damage per block

Комментарий от Allakhazam

16-20 dmg mögen ja am Anfang ganz aktzeptabel sein, aber in höhren lvls is des dann doch auch müll. Gibts davon noch eine größere Version?
Eine Thorim- oder Arkanitvariante vielleicht?

Комментарий от Allakhazam

Where can I learn to make spikes?

kUiPiE

Комментарий от Allakhazam

16 to 20 is quite good compared to Thorns and Fire Shield (and stackable, too).
The downfall is that you need to block to get that effect, but if you're tanking 5+ mobs in a group, this should summ up to nice bonus-damage over the entire battle.

And yes, there is a Thorium-Version of this.