Regular Shields vs. Phased Shields

[DirectorTsaarx]

Actually, I think Phased Shield IV's are equal to Shield V's; and Phased Shield V's are better than Shield V's.

To expand on the other point: the only weapon that is stopped by Phased Shields but not by regular shields is the Phased Polaron Beam. All the other shield-skipping weapons (IIRC) will also skip phased shields (i.e., null-space weapons, one of the temporal weapons, the weapon & engine damaging weapons). And don't forget that some weapons skip shields but not armor, while others skip armor but not shields (just to make it confusing)...