We present results from an extensive spatially-resolved spectroscopic analysis of a sample of 28 nearby cooling cores. We find that entropy increase in their centers due to AGN-induced weak shocks is common. In several systems, our results provide a detailed view on gas uplift and on the nature and spatial distribution of the multiphase plasma. Spatially resolved spectral maps and images from Chandra and high resolution spectra from XMM-Newton show evidence for conduction and against strong AGN induced turbulence in cooling cores and they place strong constraints on the balance between heating and cooling.