Combat Form
Recast: 1 m
Subcategory: Fire Form, Ice Form, Wind Form, Earth Form, Thunder Form, Water Form, Light Form, Dark Form.
Description of category: Use an elemental form to affect how your automaton fights.
Description of individual forms: Your automaton will favor [element]-based weapon skills and spells.
Duration of effects: 5 minutes, or until a new form is used.

Does that sound like a tangible form of the ability you're after?