Javdet, your comparisons are inaccurate. There's no point in comparing combat spells because the damage mostly comes from spell power, and the element plays a secondary role (an explosion without earth or Armageddon without fire wouldn't be a problem either). You need to compare magic that is effective at the Expert level. In Earth, you have shield/skin, slow, and resurrection. In Fire, you have thirst/curse, frenzy, berserk, and sacrifice. I think these are quite comparable in effectiveness. Earth is good against neutrals, while Fire is good against an opponent.

And there's no point in even talking about Water – it's the most useless school of magic in SoD.

Lol! Water is the best magic for difficult endgame scenarios, and it's the best because it can counter any magic that the opponent has. Plus, you have clone, prayer, and teleport. Add to that damage shield, and you get a must-have overpowered spell. It doesn't help much against neutrals, of course, but again, who in WoG is really bothered by neutrals? P.S. If you can somehow agree that moving Teleport to Fire is acceptable, then moving Damage Shield to Water is just nonsense. **Water with Damage Shield is many times better than Air with Damage Shield.** Just my opinion.