So I have been reading this forum and seen this mentioned from a few mage users. Basically, the recharge rates of magicka change depending on some unknown variable. I experienced this earlier today and it went something like this: I had just finished the Mage's guild quest, the whole eye thing story line, and had received the archmage robes with the increase to Magicka recharge rate. So I was running around, with this new robe on, some other mage gear on, and casting apprentice level destruction spells. Much to my surprise, my magicka was recharging at an alarming rate! I was casting chain lightning and fireball constantly. Like there was NO way to spend magicka faster then I could drain it. Everytime I cast the magicka bar would zoom right up. I really thought I hit the jackpot with this new robe! Bodies were flying as I threw out destruction everywhere, and it was a complete blast.

Then, as I was in a dungeon, all of a sudden, it changed. All of a sudden my magicka drained and started recharging very slowly. I could not figure it out for the life of me. I checked my active states to see if I was poisoned or something, but I could find no indication of what had changed. I thought, maybe it has something to do with being in the dungeon, maybe it will change if I run around open skyrim. But no, I still have not been able to find out how my magicka was recharging so fast earlier. It has been a few hours of trying different places and different equipment layouts, and still I have not found any indication of what caused the magicka god mode.

I have seen other people say they have entered into some state where their magicka rates recharged at ridiculous rates. Other threads say they do not even notice when they use mage equipment. Was it a bug, that my recharge rate was so fast, or was it a bug that my recharge rate was so slow? One post mentioned it was tied to being "in combat," and that recharge rates were much slower while in combat. I am going to do some more testing tonight and see if I can recreate the magicka god mode I had. Perhaps something with sleeping, I am not sure.

Any comment on this would be great.

After doing the side-quest in the Collage of Winterhold where you "Purify the magicka wells"(I think that's what it is; some guy gives you gloves and tells you to go around to all the big glowing blue pillars of light), you'll get a temporary buff that makes the magicka recharge rate incredibly high.

Do you recall doing that quest?

OMG yes this happen right after that. My lord that was sweet bliss...thank you for this so much. But just for reference, is there a different recharge rate inside and outside of combat?

Thanks

Yeah, there is. During combat it's much slower. I think they did this for balance purposes, so that mages aren't overpowered.

In combat it is much slower. They made it so that potions are actually needed during tough fights. Otherwise you can just spam fieballs and win easily.