If Aloth could hit Shadows without Eldritch Aim (also potion), he should be able to hit Shades with it. They have relatively high deflection as you noted and there are only 2 ways around it: buff and debuff.

 

edit:

 

also following this chart: http://orcz.com/Pillars_of_Eternity:_Monster_Strengths_and_Weaknesses they are weak to Fortitude attacks so re-check your options.

Edited April 21, 201510 yr by knownastherat

If Aloth could hit Shadows without Eldritch Aim (also potion), he should be able to hit Shades with it. They have relatively high deflection as you noted and there are only 2 ways around it: buff and debuff.

 

edit:

 

also following this chart: http://orcz.com/Pillars_of_Eternity:_Monster_Strengths_and_Weaknesses they are weak to Fortitude attacks so re-check your options.

Can you give me an example of a fortitude attack?

I'm pretty sure that some or all knockdown attacks are fortitude attacks, and I think prone reduces defense and reflex both, so then you could hit with other attacks.  I'm not sure about Eder's prone attack because it doesn't say if it attacks fortitude or not, but I know the monk attack force of anguish is a fortitude attack.

 

To bad it's only 2 uses per encounter even if it does attack fortitude, i'm sure there are other things you could use that attack fortitude as well though.

Edited April 21, 201510 yr by Climhazzard

Need to make them count, 2 uses. Well, good job, you might want Aloth to be on Aim all the time though.  He will still miss but it makes difference.