View source for Recharge

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== Definition ==
'''Recharge''' refers to the time, in seconds, between two uses of a given power. This length of time may be shortened in several ways:
* slot one or more Recharge Rate [[Enhancements]] in a power;
* use another power (such as [[Speed|Hasten]]) or an [[Accolade Powers|Accolade Power]] (such as Geas of the Kind Ones);
* receive a buff (such as [[Kinetics|Speed Boost]] or [[Radiation Emission|Accelerate Metabolism]]);
* utilize [[Invention Origin Enhancement Sets]] that grant [[:Category:Sets that improve Recharge|recharge bonuses]];
or any combination of these.

Reductions to recharge rate do not apply intuitively. A recharge rate buff of +100% or more does not make the power recharge instantly. Instead, use this formula:

<code>RechargeTime = BaseRechargeTime / ( 100% + Buffs - Debuffs )</code>

where Buffs includes all bonuses mentioned above. A 100% enhancement thus cuts the recharge time in half. A 200% enhancement cuts it by two thirds. Since the enhancement is in the denominator, it is subject to diminishing returns &mdash; the more you add, the less each new amount helps.

[[File:Recharge Curve.png|center|frame|x-axis = (Buffs - Debuffs); 1 = 100%, 2 = 200%, etc.<br>y-axis * BaseRechargeTime = RechargeTime]]

Recharge rates are subject to minimum and maximum [[Limits#Recharge_Rate|limits]].

== Categories ==
The long text descriptions of powers rate their ''base'' recharge time in one of six broad categories. The following table is a rough approximation of the time, in seconds, covered by these categories.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!|Very Fast
|align="right"|Less than 3 seconds
|-
!|Fast
|align="right"|3 to 4 seconds
|-
!|Moderate
|align="right"|4 to 10 seconds
|-
!|Slow
|align="right"|10 to 60 seconds
|-
!|Long
|align="right"|60 to 240 seconds
|-
!|Very Long
|align="right"|More than 240 seconds
|}

== Recharge Shuffle ==

Because a recharge buff may end before a power is finished recharging, calculating how long a power takes to recharge can be confusing. For example, [[Speed#Hasten|Hasten]] has a 450s recharge, but it grants a 120s recharge buff.

One way to visualize this, as given by [http://web.archive.org/web/20120904181124/http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showpost.php?p=3032448&postcount=2 DrMike2000 on the official forums]:

:The best way to think about it is that Hasten (and all powers) recover 1 point per second. Hasten needs 450 points to recharge.

:Recharge buffs change the number of points you accumulate every second, so with hasten active, you get 1.7 points back per second for each power that's recharging.

:So, click Hasten. For the next 120 seconds you accumulate 120*1.7 = 204 points
:You still need another 246 points for Hasten to recharge, and will have to wait 246 seconds for them to accumulate at 1 point per second.

:So the total recharge time will be 120 + 246 = [366] seconds.<!-- Original post fails at math, stating 120+246=336. -->

[[Category:Definition]]