The Shadow "knows"

[Crystalion]

What about Phoenix Strike, though?  This is where I think the real advantage of Shadow over Master lies, because you can very quickly (three fights) "teach it" how to use fists of fire, then claws of thunder, then blades of ice, and then switch it over to phoenix strike.. pretty much permanently.

It's an interesting thought. Might work.

But again, the A.I. is so important! The shadows are apparently completely clueless about even releasing their charges appropriately, much less a finer distinction like choosing how many charges to build up for Phoenix Strike to thereby select a situationally appropriate elemental finish.

I have to wonder if the A.I. for the shadows is run serverside or clientside. A truly intelligent shadow would be really something (regardless of which skill tree they favored).