Restoration Magic or Healing Pots?

[Jetstream Sam]

Ok, so I play Skyrim a lot (no duh) and I've come up with an interesting question for all kinds of Skyrim players: Which is better, Restoration Magic or Healing Potions? I'm guessing most of you would say potions but I do have a good reason that Restoration Magic could be more viable in combat, even for melee characters that like to go rampage-mode with close-range weapons.

there are no expenses for spell usage. It's quite obvious that you don't need to pay to heal with magic (other than having to buy a spell). What I mean is that potions have a limited amount of uses before you have to go back to a city/town and buy a whole new stock of potions. By using Restoration, you can effectively heal quickly without having to run some stupid shopping errands like your some mother trying to feed a family full of whiny 6-year olds.

[Troop]

The advantage of potions is that they heal you instantly (unless you're using the Dynamic Potions mod) while spells take a few seconds to charge, which may or may not be enough for the enemies to kill you.
I use Restoration and magicka potions; healing potions are my last resort.

[ballpoint202]

Potions also have weight.

I use both, but I only put perks into restoration -- once you have the perk that heals stamina (and some magicka regen enhancement gear), it's power attacks all day long, baby.

[Bomb Bloke]

As with most things in Skyrim, the best choice depends on the situation. Drink a potion if you're in serious danger, cast a spell if you're not.

The white phial is pretty handy. It's basically a Potion of Vigorous Healing (100 hp) that can be drunk once a day. Can have other effects, but none of them are worth using.

[Jetstream Sam]

Well, I'm barely ever in serious danger because my character is basically an unstoppable force of spells and a fire sword along with so much armor rating I can't remember (Level 55-60) so I rarely even have to heal at all. And even though I like the Whie Phial quest, I just can't find a use for the White Phial itself because I can find a Potion of Ultimate Healing which fills your health to the brim in any random dungeon.

[BigB5151[DCG]]

I use the Smart Cast mod on my mage character to automatically cast a healing spell when my health drops below a certain level.

[I'm just a Lil' Guy]

Healing magic is usually my go to, it's just not as expensive as buying/looting for potions, but I do occasionally use potions if I'm against a magic-draining attacker or a hard boss that has attacks to fast to allow reliable time for healing magic to activate

[Bomb Bloke]

Originally posted by Hitler-in-Disguise:

I just can't find a use for the White Phial itself because I can find a Potion of Ultimate Healing which fills your health to the brim in any random dungeon.

They're not that common... maybe every third dungeon? I've taken to collecting them, and never actually drink them.

[sebo]

restoration is best due the fact that it increases not only your restoration skill, meaning that as it levels it will cost less and less to cast, and on top of that -- it also increases your character progression level. i typically try not to wait until am critically low in health to require use of potions. with a couple points in restoration i can also heal nearly 300 points of health in about two restoration casts in a mere 3-4 seconds.