User blog comment:Yarrghman/Seth, the Sand Mage/@comment-4593717-20130404152314

The shield is really high value per sandstone stack, but that's okay considering sandstone is difficult to accrue.

Whirlpool, however needs more usefulness if it's not cast in Quicksand. It isn't worth even casting without your ultimate because the cost is too high and the cooldown is too long.