Gnoth is right on the money with this but also I like to use what I call the Or'Gug shake n bake. If you are 1 on 1 with a mage let him try and dump on you, they might para first so let them get the explosion ebolt, you should already be bandaging at this time. They have already wasted half their mana and are chasing u trying to cast poison or some other harmful spell just run around side of a house and hide so they know you are doing it. If he doesnt have any explosion pots he should try and reveal let him and once he does go on offensive as you should be healed by now. He is low on mana which means he doesnt have enough for another combo and he now has to use the remaining mana for healing as he is on the defensive. Basically play defensive when fighting mages until it's time to strike... like a rapid cougar.