Armor - Armor reduces the damage you take Eve isk when hit with a physical attack. Armor has diminished returns on the amount you wear and by what percent the damage you receive is reduced. I recommend looking at the following chart:.
Armor is important to shamans. At level 40, shamans are able to wear the second highest type of armor, mail armor. Before then you are only able to wear cloth and leather. Enhancement shamans need as much armor as they can get, due to the fact that you are going to be getting hit a lot while playing.
DPS shamans and Healing shamans need the armor if they pull too much threat from the mob. Shields are commonly overlooked when you consider armor. Some shields can nearly double your armor total. Also, armor is important but don't go adding an armor enchantment when you have the option of intellect or stamina.
Attack Power (AP) - Attack power increases your melee DPS (Damage per second) at a rate of 14 AP = +1 to DPS.
Enhancement shamans will find this to be a very important stat to increase due to the fact that this directly increases your damage output. It is not nearly as important for restoration and elemental shamans.