diff --git a/src/components/Explore/ExploreRelayReviews.tsx b/src/components/Explore/ExploreRelayReviews.tsx
index cd0ce8a0..91b76894 100644
--- a/src/components/Explore/ExploreRelayReviews.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Explore/ExploreRelayReviews.tsx
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ export default function ExploreRelayReviews() {
       getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox(
         favoriteRelays,
         blockedRelays,
-        relayList?.read ?? []
+        relayList?.read ?? [],
+        { userWriteRelays: relayList?.write ?? [] }
       ),
     [favoriteRelays, blockedRelays, relayList]
   )
diff --git a/src/constants.ts b/src/constants.ts
index 00db130c..89f4c6bb 100644
--- a/src/constants.ts
+++ b/src/constants.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,18 @@ export const DEFAULT_FAVORITE_RELAYS = [
   'wss://nostr.land'
 ]
 
+/**
+ * Max concurrent relay connection + REQ setups (ensureRelay + subscribe) app-wide.
+ * Limits parallel WebSocket handshakes when many relays or timeline shards open at once.
+ */
+export const MAX_CONCURRENT_RELAY_CONNECTIONS = 10
+
+/** Max relays to publish each event to (outboxes first, then targets' inboxes, then extras). */
+export const MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS = MAX_CONCURRENT_RELAY_CONNECTIONS
+
+/** Max merged URLs per REQ / timeline relay list (see `relay-url-priority`). */
+export const MAX_REQ_RELAY_URLS = MAX_CONCURRENT_RELAY_CONNECTIONS
+
 /** Multi-relay queries and timeline initial REQ: after the first event, wait this long then close (query) or finalize EOSE (live feed) while keeping the subscription open for new events. */
 export const FIRST_RELAY_RESULT_GRACE_MS = 2000
 
diff --git a/src/hooks/useFetchProfile.tsx b/src/hooks/useFetchProfile.tsx
index 74eec974..ea35904e 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useFetchProfile.tsx
+++ b/src/hooks/useFetchProfile.tsx
@@ -175,9 +175,8 @@ export function useFetchProfile(id?: string, skipCache = false) {
         ])
         const fetchTime = Date.now() - startTime
         
-        // Only log at info level if profile was found or if fetch took a long time
         if (profileEvent || fetchTime > 1000) {
-          logger.info('[useFetchProfile] fetchProfileEvent completed', {
+          logger.debug('[useFetchProfile] fetchProfileEvent completed', {
             pubkey: pubkey.substring(0, 8),
             hasEvent: !!profileEvent,
             eventId: profileEvent?.id?.substring(0, 8),
@@ -441,7 +440,7 @@ export function useFetchProfile(id?: string, skipCache = false) {
     }
     
     if (profile && profile.pubkey === extractedPubkey) {
-      logger.info('[useFetchProfile] Already have profile for this pubkey (safety check)', {
+      logger.debug('[useFetchProfile] Already have profile for this pubkey (safety check)', {
         extractedPubkey
       })
       setIsFetching(false)
@@ -481,7 +480,7 @@ export function useFetchProfile(id?: string, skipCache = false) {
         }
         
         if (cancelled.current) {
-          logger.info('[useFetchProfile] Cancelled after checkProfile, cleaning up')
+          logger.debug('[useFetchProfile] Cancelled after checkProfile, cleaning up')
           setIsFetching(false)
           return
         }
diff --git a/src/hooks/useProfileTimeline.tsx b/src/hooks/useProfileTimeline.tsx
index 4b57a5e2..c449ecc5 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useProfileTimeline.tsx
+++ b/src/hooks/useProfileTimeline.tsx
@@ -105,8 +105,21 @@ export function useProfileTimeline({
   const [events, setEvents] = useState<Event[]>(cachedEntry?.events ?? [])
   const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(!cachedEntry)
   const [refreshToken, setRefreshToken] = useState(0)
+  const [authorOutboxWrite, setAuthorOutboxWrite] = useState<string[]>([])
   const subscriptionRef = useRef<() => void>(() => {})
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let cancelled = false
+    setAuthorOutboxWrite([])
+    void client.fetchRelayList(pubkey).then((rl) => {
+      if (cancelled || !rl?.write?.length) return
+      setAuthorOutboxWrite(rl.write)
+    })
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true
+    }
+  }, [pubkey])
+
   useEffect(() => {
     setEvents((prev) => {
       const next = prev.filter((e) => !isEventDeletedRef.current(e))
@@ -168,7 +181,12 @@ export function useProfileTimeline({
       const feedRelayUrls = getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox(
         favoriteRelays,
         blockedRelays,
-        relayList?.read ?? []
+        relayList?.read ?? [],
+        {
+          userWriteRelays: relayList?.write ?? [],
+          authorWriteRelays: authorOutboxWrite,
+          applyKind1BlockedFilter: kinds.includes(1)
+        }
       )
 
       const startWave = async (subRequests: ReturnType<typeof buildSubRequests>) => {
@@ -222,7 +240,8 @@ export function useProfileTimeline({
     refreshToken,
     favoriteRelays,
     blockedRelays,
-    relayList
+    relayList,
+    authorOutboxWrite
   ])
 
   const refresh = useCallback(() => {
diff --git a/src/lib/favorites-feed-relays.ts b/src/lib/favorites-feed-relays.ts
index ed46ee3b..c84b63a9 100644
--- a/src/lib/favorites-feed-relays.ts
+++ b/src/lib/favorites-feed-relays.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,32 @@
-import { DEFAULT_FAVORITE_RELAYS, FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS } from '@/constants'
+import { DEFAULT_FAVORITE_RELAYS } from '@/constants'
 import type { TFeedSubRequest } from '@/types'
 import { normalizeUrl } from '@/lib/url'
+import type { Filter } from 'nostr-tools'
+import {
+  buildPrioritizedReadRelayUrls,
+  buildReadRelayPriorityLayers,
+  dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered,
+  MAX_REQ_RELAY_URLS,
+  mergeRelayPriorityLayers,
+  relayUrlsLocalsFirst
+} from '@/lib/relay-url-priority'
+
+/** True when the filter is unrestricted by kind or explicitly includes kind 1 (short notes). */
+export function relayFilterLikelyIncludesKind1(filter: Filter): boolean {
+  const k = filter.kinds
+  if (k === undefined) return true
+  const arr = Array.isArray(k) ? k : [k]
+  return arr.includes(1)
+}
 
 const blockedSet = (blockedRelays: string[]) =>
   new Set(blockedRelays.map((b) => normalizeUrl(b) || b))
 
 /**
- * Relay URLs for the “all favorites” home feed only (`FeedProvider` `all-favorites` / that `RelaysFeed` mode).
- * Non-blocked user favorites, or {@link DEFAULT_FAVORITE_RELAYS} when none remain.
+ * Logged-in user’s favorite relays (kind 10012 `relay` tags via {@link useFavoriteRelays}, plus bootstrap defaults
+ * when the event is missing): drop blocked, dedupe, normalize. If no non-blocked entries remain, use
+ * {@link DEFAULT_FAVORITE_RELAYS}. Same list drives the favorites tier in REQ/publish prioritization and the
+ * all-favorites home feed.
  */
 export function getFavoritesFeedRelayUrls(
   favoriteRelays: string[],
@@ -48,34 +67,108 @@ export function mergeRelayUrlLayers(layers: string[][], blockedRelays: string[])
   return out
 }
 
+export type ReadRelayPriorityOptions = {
+  /** User NIP-65 write list — local URLs are promoted with inboxes for REQ. */
+  userWriteRelays?: string[]
+  /** Profile/timeline author outboxes (write relays) when known. */
+  authorWriteRelays?: string[]
+  maxRelays?: number
+  /**
+   * When set, applies to all subrequests. When unset, each subrequest uses {@link relayFilterLikelyIncludesKind1}
+   * on its filter to decide whether to strip kind-1-blocklisted relays before capping.
+   */
+  applyKind1BlockedFilter?: boolean
+  /**
+   * When false, ignore each subrequest’s `urls` and use only the shared prioritized stack (rare).
+   * Default true.
+   */
+  mergeSubrequestRelayUrls?: boolean
+  /**
+   * When true, fold `r.urls` into the author-outbox tier only (no extra first layer). Use for GIF / explicit spell relays
+   * that should rank with author outboxes, not ahead of user inboxes. Default false: prepend `r.urls` before user tiers.
+   */
+  mergeSubrequestRelaysIntoAuthorTier?: boolean
+}
+
 /**
- * Favorites (same set as the favorites feed) plus {@link FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS} and the user’s NIP-65 **read** / inbox relays.
- * Fast-read URLs are merged first so REQ setup hits responsive indexers early (same deduped set).
+ * REQ order: user inboxes + locals → author outboxes → favorites → {@link FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS}.
  */
 export function getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox(
   favoriteRelays: string[],
   blockedRelays: string[],
-  userInboxReadRelays: string[]
+  userInboxReadRelays: string[],
+  options?: ReadRelayPriorityOptions
 ): string[] {
   const favorites = getFavoritesFeedRelayUrls(favoriteRelays, blockedRelays)
-  const fast = FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u).filter(Boolean) as string[]
-  return mergeRelayUrlLayers([fast, favorites, userInboxReadRelays], blockedRelays)
+  return buildPrioritizedReadRelayUrls({
+    userReadRelays: userInboxReadRelays,
+    userWriteRelays: options?.userWriteRelays ?? [],
+    authorWriteRelays: options?.authorWriteRelays ?? [],
+    favoriteRelays: favorites,
+    blockedRelays,
+    maxRelays: options?.maxRelays,
+    applyKind1BlockedFilter: options?.applyKind1BlockedFilter
+  })
 }
 
-/** Prefix each subrequest’s `urls` with the extended read set (favorites + fast read + inboxes). */
+/**
+ * Per subrequest: shared inbox → author/favorites → fast read stack, normalized, user-blocked and (when applicable)
+ * kind-1-blocked stripped, deduped, capped. Subrequest `urls` are prepended first by default (following shards);
+ * set {@link ReadRelayPriorityOptions.mergeSubrequestRelaysIntoAuthorTier} to fold them into the author tier only
+ * (e.g. curated GIF / spell relay lists).
+ */
 export function augmentSubRequestsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox(
   requests: TFeedSubRequest[],
   favoriteRelays: string[],
   blockedRelays: string[],
-  userInboxReadRelays: string[]
+  userInboxReadRelays: string[],
+  options?: ReadRelayPriorityOptions
 ): TFeedSubRequest[] {
-  const base = getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox(
-    favoriteRelays,
-    blockedRelays,
-    userInboxReadRelays
-  )
-  return requests.map((r) => ({
-    ...r,
-    urls: mergeRelayUrlLayers([base, r.urls], blockedRelays)
-  }))
+  const max = options?.maxRelays ?? MAX_REQ_RELAY_URLS
+  return requests.map((r) => {
+    const useSubUrls = options?.mergeSubrequestRelayUrls !== false
+    const foldIntoAuthor = options?.mergeSubrequestRelaysIntoAuthorTier === true
+    const applyK1 =
+      options?.applyKind1BlockedFilter !== undefined
+        ? options.applyKind1BlockedFilter
+        : relayFilterLikelyIncludesKind1(r.filter)
+
+    const favorites = getFavoritesFeedRelayUrls(favoriteRelays, blockedRelays)
+
+    if (!useSubUrls) {
+      return {
+        ...r,
+        urls: buildPrioritizedReadRelayUrls({
+          userReadRelays: userInboxReadRelays,
+          userWriteRelays: options?.userWriteRelays ?? [],
+          authorWriteRelays: options?.authorWriteRelays ?? [],
+          favoriteRelays: favorites,
+          blockedRelays,
+          maxRelays: max,
+          applyKind1BlockedFilter: applyK1
+        })
+      }
+    }
+
+    const authorOnly = dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(options?.authorWriteRelays ?? [])
+    const authorTier = foldIntoAuthor
+      ? dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered([...authorOnly, ...r.urls])
+      : authorOnly
+
+    const coreLayers = buildReadRelayPriorityLayers({
+      userReadRelays: userInboxReadRelays,
+      userWriteRelays: options?.userWriteRelays ?? [],
+      authorWriteRelays: authorTier,
+      favoriteRelays: favorites
+    })
+
+    const layers = foldIntoAuthor ? coreLayers : [relayUrlsLocalsFirst(r.urls), ...coreLayers]
+
+    return {
+      ...r,
+      urls: mergeRelayPriorityLayers(layers, blockedRelays, max, {
+        applyKind1BlockedFilter: applyK1
+      })
+    }
+  })
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/relay-url-priority.ts b/src/lib/relay-url-priority.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..04989bc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/relay-url-priority.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+import {
+  FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS,
+  FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS,
+  KIND_1_BLOCKED_RELAY_URLS,
+  MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS,
+  MAX_REQ_RELAY_URLS
+} from '@/constants'
+import { isLocalNetworkUrl, normalizeUrl } from '@/lib/url'
+
+export { MAX_REQ_RELAY_URLS }
+
+export function dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(urls: string[]): string[] {
+  const seen = new Set<string>()
+  const out: string[] = []
+  for (const u of urls) {
+    const n = normalizeUrl(u) || u
+    if (!n || seen.has(n)) continue
+    seen.add(n)
+    out.push(n)
+  }
+  return out
+}
+
+/** LAN / local host relays first, then the rest; deduped. */
+export function relayUrlsLocalsFirst(urls: string[]): string[] {
+  const local: string[] = []
+  const remote: string[] = []
+  for (const u of urls) {
+    const n = normalizeUrl(u) || u
+    if (!n) continue
+    if (isLocalNetworkUrl(n)) local.push(n)
+    else remote.push(n)
+  }
+  return dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered([...local, ...remote])
+}
+
+function blockedNormSet(blockedRelays: string[] | undefined): Set<string> {
+  return new Set((blockedRelays ?? []).map((b) => normalizeUrl(b) || b).filter(Boolean))
+}
+
+let kind1BlockedNormCache: Set<string> | undefined
+function kind1BlockedNormSet(): Set<string> {
+  if (!kind1BlockedNormCache) {
+    kind1BlockedNormCache = new Set(
+      KIND_1_BLOCKED_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u).filter(Boolean)
+    )
+  }
+  return kind1BlockedNormCache
+}
+
+export type MergeRelayPriorityLayersOptions = {
+  /** When true, drop {@link KIND_1_BLOCKED_RELAY_URLS} before applying the max cap. */
+  applyKind1BlockedFilter?: boolean
+}
+
+/**
+ * Merge priority layers in order; first occurrence wins; skip blocked (and optional kind-1 block list); stop at `max`.
+ */
+export function mergeRelayPriorityLayers(
+  layers: string[][],
+  blockedRelays: string[] | undefined,
+  max: number,
+  mergeOpts?: MergeRelayPriorityLayersOptions
+): string[] {
+  const blocked = blockedNormSet(blockedRelays)
+  const k1 = mergeOpts?.applyKind1BlockedFilter ? kind1BlockedNormSet() : new Set<string>()
+  const seen = new Set<string>()
+  const out: string[] = []
+  for (const layer of layers) {
+    for (const u of layer) {
+      const n = normalizeUrl(u) || u
+      if (!n || blocked.has(n) || k1.has(n) || seen.has(n)) continue
+      seen.add(n)
+      out.push(n)
+      if (out.length >= max) return out
+    }
+  }
+  return out
+}
+
+const normFastRead = (): string[] =>
+  dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(
+    FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u).filter(Boolean) as string[]
+  )
+
+const normFastWrite = (): string[] =>
+  dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(
+    FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u).filter(Boolean) as string[]
+  )
+
+/**
+ * Ordered layers for REQ / read (before merge, dedupe, blocked strip, kind-1 strip, cap).
+ */
+export function buildReadRelayPriorityLayers(opts: {
+  userReadRelays: string[]
+  userWriteRelays?: string[]
+  authorWriteRelays?: string[]
+  favoriteRelays: string[]
+}): string[][] {
+  const userWrite = opts.userWriteRelays ?? []
+  const writeLocals = userWrite.filter((u) => isLocalNetworkUrl(normalizeUrl(u) || u))
+  const userReadOrdered = relayUrlsLocalsFirst(opts.userReadRelays)
+  const tier1 = dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered([...writeLocals, ...userReadOrdered])
+  const tier2 = dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(opts.authorWriteRelays ?? [])
+  const tier3 = dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(opts.favoriteRelays ?? [])
+  const tier4 = normFastRead()
+  return [tier1, tier2, tier3, tier4]
+}
+
+/**
+ * REQ / read: user inboxes (locals first) + user local outboxes → author outboxes → favorites → FAST_READ.
+ * Blocked and (optionally) kind-1-blocked relays are removed before slicing to `maxRelays`.
+ */
+export function buildPrioritizedReadRelayUrls(opts: {
+  userReadRelays: string[]
+  userWriteRelays?: string[]
+  authorWriteRelays?: string[]
+  favoriteRelays: string[]
+  blockedRelays?: string[]
+  maxRelays?: number
+  /** Default true: strip {@link KIND_1_BLOCKED_RELAY_URLS} (kind-1-heavy timelines). Set false for non–kind-1 queries. */
+  applyKind1BlockedFilter?: boolean
+}): string[] {
+  const max = opts.maxRelays ?? MAX_REQ_RELAY_URLS
+  const applyK1 = opts.applyKind1BlockedFilter !== false
+  const layers = buildReadRelayPriorityLayers({
+    userReadRelays: opts.userReadRelays,
+    userWriteRelays: opts.userWriteRelays,
+    authorWriteRelays: opts.authorWriteRelays,
+    favoriteRelays: opts.favoriteRelays
+  })
+  return mergeRelayPriorityLayers(layers, opts.blockedRelays, max, {
+    applyKind1BlockedFilter: applyK1
+  })
+}
+
+/**
+ * Ordered layers for publish / write (before merge, blocked strip, kind-1 strip, cap).
+ */
+export function buildWriteRelayPriorityLayers(opts: {
+  userWriteRelays: string[]
+  authorReadRelays?: string[]
+  favoriteRelays?: string[]
+  extraRelays?: string[]
+}): string[][] {
+  const tier1 = relayUrlsLocalsFirst(opts.userWriteRelays)
+  const tier2 = dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(opts.authorReadRelays ?? [])
+  const tier3 = dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(opts.favoriteRelays ?? [])
+  const tier4 = dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(opts.extraRelays ?? [])
+  const tier5 = normFastWrite()
+  const tier6 = normFastRead()
+  return [tier1, tier2, tier3, tier4, tier5, tier6]
+}
+
+/**
+ * Publish / write: user outboxes (locals first) → target author inboxes → favorites → extras → FAST_WRITE → FAST_READ.
+ */
+export function buildPrioritizedWriteRelayUrls(opts: {
+  userWriteRelays: string[]
+  authorReadRelays?: string[]
+  favoriteRelays?: string[]
+  extraRelays?: string[]
+  blockedRelays?: string[]
+  maxRelays?: number
+  /** When true, strip {@link KIND_1_BLOCKED_RELAY_URLS} before capping (kind 1 notes). */
+  applyKind1BlockedFilter?: boolean
+}): string[] {
+  const max = opts.maxRelays ?? MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS
+  const layers = buildWriteRelayPriorityLayers({
+    userWriteRelays: opts.userWriteRelays,
+    authorReadRelays: opts.authorReadRelays,
+    favoriteRelays: opts.favoriteRelays,
+    extraRelays: opts.extraRelays
+  })
+  return mergeRelayPriorityLayers(layers, opts.blockedRelays, max, {
+    applyKind1BlockedFilter: opts.applyKind1BlockedFilter === true
+  })
+}
diff --git a/src/pages/primary/NoteListPage/FollowingFeed.tsx b/src/pages/primary/NoteListPage/FollowingFeed.tsx
index 94e2feac..6261546e 100644
--- a/src/pages/primary/NoteListPage/FollowingFeed.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/primary/NoteListPage/FollowingFeed.tsx
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ const FollowingFeed = forwardRef<
           raw,
           favoriteRelays,
           blockedRelays,
-          relayList?.read ?? []
+          relayList?.read ?? [],
+          { userWriteRelays: relayList?.write ?? [] }
         )
       )
     }
diff --git a/src/pages/primary/SpellsPage/CreateSpellDialog.tsx b/src/pages/primary/SpellsPage/CreateSpellDialog.tsx
index 8ce458be..07cb354b 100644
--- a/src/pages/primary/SpellsPage/CreateSpellDialog.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/primary/SpellsPage/CreateSpellDialog.tsx
@@ -321,11 +321,9 @@ export default function CreateSpellDialog({
       const { draft, notices, pendingATags } = applyListEventToSpellDraft(base, ev)
       setForm(draft)
       setListImportNotices(notices)
-      const urls = getRelaysForSpellCatalogSync(
-        favoriteRelays,
-        blockedRelays,
-        relayList?.read ?? []
-      )
+      const urls = getRelaysForSpellCatalogSync(favoriteRelays, blockedRelays, relayList?.read ?? [], {
+        userWriteRelays: relayList?.write ?? []
+      })
       if (pendingATags.length === 0) return
       void resolveSpellListATags(pendingATags, urls).then(({ ids, notices: extra }) => {
         if (ids.length) {
diff --git a/src/pages/primary/SpellsPage/index.tsx b/src/pages/primary/SpellsPage/index.tsx
index 50f77909..ca1a37f1 100644
--- a/src/pages/primary/SpellsPage/index.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/primary/SpellsPage/index.tsx
@@ -411,11 +411,9 @@ const SpellsPage = forwardRef<TPageRef>(function SpellsPage(
         if (!cancelled) void loadSpells()
       }, 120)
     }
-    const urls = getRelaysForSpellCatalogSync(
-      favoriteRelays,
-      blockedRelays,
-      relayList?.read ?? []
-    )
+    const urls = getRelaysForSpellCatalogSync(favoriteRelays, blockedRelays, relayList?.read ?? [], {
+      userWriteRelays: relayList?.write ?? []
+    })
     const catalogAuthors = buildSpellCatalogAuthors(pubkey, contacts)
     const authorAllowlist = new Set(catalogAuthors)
     const filter = {
@@ -560,7 +558,8 @@ const SpellsPage = forwardRef<TPageRef>(function SpellsPage(
           req,
           favoriteRelays,
           blockedRelays,
-          relayList?.read ?? []
+          relayList?.read ?? [],
+          { userWriteRelays: relayList?.write ?? [] }
         )
         const withReadOnly = merged.map((r) => ({
           ...r,
@@ -609,10 +608,18 @@ const SpellsPage = forwardRef<TPageRef>(function SpellsPage(
 
   const syncFauxSubRequests = useMemo<TFeedSubRequest[]>(() => {
     if (!selectedFauxSpell || selectedFauxSpell === 'following') return []
+    const fauxSpellSkipKind1Blocked =
+      selectedFauxSpell === 'calendar' ||
+      selectedFauxSpell === 'discussions' ||
+      selectedFauxSpell === 'followPacks'
     const feedUrls = getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox(
       favoriteRelays,
       blockedRelays,
-      relayList?.read ?? []
+      relayList?.read ?? [],
+      {
+        userWriteRelays: relayList?.write ?? [],
+        applyKind1BlockedFilter: fauxSpellSkipKind1Blocked ? false : undefined
+      }
     )
 
     if (selectedFauxSpell === 'notifications') {
diff --git a/src/pages/secondary/NoteListPage/index.tsx b/src/pages/secondary/NoteListPage/index.tsx
index 357107fa..2a42d991 100644
--- a/src/pages/secondary/NoteListPage/index.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/secondary/NoteListPage/index.tsx
@@ -6,10 +6,8 @@ import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { SEARCHABLE_RELAY_URLS } from '@/constants'
 import {
   augmentSubRequestsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox,
-  getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox,
-  mergeRelayUrlLayers
+  getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox
 } from '@/lib/favorites-feed-relays'
-import { normalizeUrl } from '@/lib/url'
 import SecondaryPageLayout from '@/layouts/SecondaryPageLayout'
 import { toProfileList } from '@/lib/link'
 import { fetchPubkeysFromDomain, getWellKnownNip05Url } from '@/lib/nip05'
@@ -84,6 +82,10 @@ const NoteListPage = forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, NoteListPageProps>(({ index, hid
       .getAll('k')
       .map((k) => parseInt(k))
       .filter((k) => !isNaN(k))
+    const readUrlOpts = {
+      userWriteRelays: relayList?.write ?? [],
+      applyKind1BlockedFilter: kinds.length === 0 || kinds.includes(1)
+    }
     const hashtag = searchParams.get('t')
     if (hashtag) {
       setData({ type: 'hashtag' })
@@ -94,7 +96,8 @@ const NoteListPage = forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, NoteListPageProps>(({ index, hid
           urls: getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox(
             favoriteRelays,
             blockedRelays,
-            relayList?.read ?? []
+            relayList?.read ?? [],
+            readUrlOpts
           )
         }
       ])
@@ -133,16 +136,11 @@ const NoteListPage = forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, NoteListPageProps>(({ index, hid
         setSubRequests([
           {
             filter: { '#I': [externalContentId], ...(kinds.length > 0 ? { kinds } : {}) },
-            urls: mergeRelayUrlLayers(
-              [
-                getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox(
-                  favoriteRelays,
-                  blockedRelays,
-                  relayList?.read ?? []
-                ),
-                (relayList?.write || []).map((url) => normalizeUrl(url) || url).filter(Boolean) as string[]
-              ],
-              blockedRelays
+            urls: getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox(
+              favoriteRelays,
+              blockedRelays,
+              relayList?.read ?? [],
+              { userWriteRelays: relayList?.write ?? [] }
             )
           }
         ])
@@ -173,7 +171,8 @@ const NoteListPage = forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, NoteListPageProps>(({ index, hid
                 raw,
                 favoriteRelays,
                 blockedRelays,
-                relayList?.read ?? []
+                relayList?.read ?? [],
+                { userWriteRelays: relayList?.write ?? [] }
               )
             )
             setControls(
@@ -210,7 +209,8 @@ const NoteListPage = forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, NoteListPageProps>(({ index, hid
               urls: getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox(
                 favoriteRelays,
                 blockedRelays,
-                relayList?.read ?? []
+                relayList?.read ?? [],
+                readUrlOpts
               )
             }
           ])
diff --git a/src/providers/BookmarksProvider.tsx b/src/providers/BookmarksProvider.tsx
index 2bc0242e..b8005ebd 100644
--- a/src/providers/BookmarksProvider.tsx
+++ b/src/providers/BookmarksProvider.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { buildATag, buildETag, createBookmarkDraftEvent } from '@/lib/draft-event'
 import { getReplaceableCoordinateFromEvent, isReplaceableEvent } from '@/lib/event'
-import { normalizeUrl } from '@/lib/url'
-import { FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS, FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS } from '@/constants'
+import { getFavoritesFeedRelayUrls } from '@/lib/favorites-feed-relays'
+import { buildPrioritizedReadRelayUrls, buildPrioritizedWriteRelayUrls } from '@/lib/relay-url-priority'
 import logger from '@/lib/logger'
 import client from '@/services/client.service'
 import { replaceableEventService } from '@/services/client.service'
@@ -28,25 +28,29 @@ export const useBookmarks = () => {
 
 export function BookmarksProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
   const { pubkey: accountPubkey, publish, updateBookmarkListEvent } = useNostr()
-  const { favoriteRelays } = useFavoriteRelays()
+  const { favoriteRelays, blockedRelays } = useFavoriteRelays()
 
   // Build comprehensive relay list for publishing (same as ProfileFeed)
   const buildComprehensiveRelayList = useCallback(async () => {
     const myRelayList = accountPubkey ? await client.fetchRelayList(accountPubkey) : { write: [], read: [] }
-    const allRelays = [
-      ...(myRelayList.read || []), // User's inboxes (kind 10002)
-      ...(myRelayList.write || []), // User's outboxes (kind 10002)
-      ...(favoriteRelays || []), // User's favorite relays (kind 10012)
-      ...FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS,   // Fast read relays
-      ...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS   // Fast write relays
-    ]
-    
-    const normalizedRelays = allRelays
-      .map(url => normalizeUrl(url))
-      .filter((url): url is string => !!url)
-    
-    return Array.from(new Set(normalizedRelays))
-  }, [accountPubkey, favoriteRelays])
+    const favoritesTier = getFavoritesFeedRelayUrls(favoriteRelays ?? [], blockedRelays)
+    const read = buildPrioritizedReadRelayUrls({
+      userReadRelays: myRelayList.read ?? [],
+      userWriteRelays: myRelayList.write ?? [],
+      favoriteRelays: favoritesTier,
+      blockedRelays,
+      maxRelays: 100,
+      applyKind1BlockedFilter: false
+    })
+    const write = buildPrioritizedWriteRelayUrls({
+      userWriteRelays: myRelayList.write ?? [],
+      favoriteRelays: favoritesTier,
+      blockedRelays,
+      maxRelays: 100,
+      applyKind1BlockedFilter: false
+    })
+    return [...new Set([...read, ...write])]
+  }, [accountPubkey, favoriteRelays, blockedRelays])
 
   const addBookmark = async (event: Event) => {
     if (!accountPubkey) return
diff --git a/src/providers/GroupListProvider.tsx b/src/providers/GroupListProvider.tsx
index 20403b91..897bc247 100644
--- a/src/providers/GroupListProvider.tsx
+++ b/src/providers/GroupListProvider.tsx
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ import { createContext, useContext, useEffect, useState, useCallback, useMemo }
 import { useNostr } from '@/providers/NostrProvider'
 import { useFavoriteRelays } from '@/providers/FavoriteRelaysProvider'
 import { ExtendedKind } from '@/constants'
-import { normalizeUrl } from '@/lib/url'
-import { FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS } from '@/constants'
+import { getFavoritesFeedRelayUrls } from '@/lib/favorites-feed-relays'
+import { buildPrioritizedReadRelayUrls } from '@/lib/relay-url-priority'
 import client from '@/services/client.service'
 import { queryService } from '@/services/client.service'
 import logger from '@/lib/logger'
@@ -27,26 +27,22 @@ export const useGroupList = () => {
 
 export function GroupListProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
   const { pubkey: accountPubkey } = useNostr()
-  const { favoriteRelays } = useFavoriteRelays()
+  const { favoriteRelays, blockedRelays } = useFavoriteRelays()
   const [userGroups, setUserGroups] = useState<string[]>([])
   const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(false)
 
   // Build comprehensive relay list for fetching group list
   const buildComprehensiveRelayList = useCallback(async () => {
     const myRelayList = accountPubkey ? await client.fetchRelayList(accountPubkey) : { write: [], read: [] }
-    const allRelays = [
-      ...(myRelayList.read || []), // User's inboxes (kind 10002)
-      ...(myRelayList.write || []), // User's outboxes (kind 10002)
-      ...(favoriteRelays || []), // User's favorite relays (kind 10012)
-      ...FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS    // Fast read relays
-    ]
-    
-    const normalizedRelays = allRelays
-      .map(url => normalizeUrl(url))
-      .filter((url): url is string => !!url)
-    
-    return Array.from(new Set(normalizedRelays))
-  }, [accountPubkey, favoriteRelays])
+    const favoritesTier = getFavoritesFeedRelayUrls(favoriteRelays ?? [], blockedRelays)
+    return buildPrioritizedReadRelayUrls({
+      userReadRelays: myRelayList.read ?? [],
+      userWriteRelays: myRelayList.write ?? [],
+      favoriteRelays: favoritesTier,
+      blockedRelays,
+      applyKind1BlockedFilter: false
+    })
+  }, [accountPubkey, favoriteRelays, blockedRelays])
 
   // Fetch user's group list (kind 10009)
   const fetchGroupList = useCallback(async () => {
diff --git a/src/providers/InterestListProvider.tsx b/src/providers/InterestListProvider.tsx
index 081f3505..c6b007f6 100644
--- a/src/providers/InterestListProvider.tsx
+++ b/src/providers/InterestListProvider.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { createInterestListDraftEvent } from '@/lib/draft-event'
 import { normalizeTopic } from '@/lib/discussion-topics'
-import { normalizeUrl } from '@/lib/url'
-import { FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS, FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS } from '@/constants'
+import { getFavoritesFeedRelayUrls } from '@/lib/favorites-feed-relays'
+import { buildPrioritizedReadRelayUrls, buildPrioritizedWriteRelayUrls } from '@/lib/relay-url-priority'
 import logger from '@/lib/logger'
 import client from '@/services/client.service'
 import { createContext, useCallback, useContext, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export const useInterestList = () => {
 export function InterestListProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation()
   const { pubkey: accountPubkey, interestListEvent, publish, updateInterestListEvent } = useNostr()
-  const { favoriteRelays } = useFavoriteRelays()
+  const { favoriteRelays, blockedRelays } = useFavoriteRelays()
   const [topics, setTopics] = useState<string[]>([])
   const subscribedTopics = useMemo(() => new Set(topics), [topics])
   const [changing, setChanging] = useState(false)
@@ -40,20 +40,24 @@ export function InterestListProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }
   // Build comprehensive relay list for publishing (same as ProfileFeed)
   const buildComprehensiveRelayList = useCallback(async () => {
     const myRelayList = accountPubkey ? await client.fetchRelayList(accountPubkey) : { write: [], read: [] }
-    const allRelays = [
-      ...(myRelayList.read || []), // User's inboxes (kind 10002)
-      ...(myRelayList.write || []), // User's outboxes (kind 10002)
-      ...(favoriteRelays || []), // User's favorite relays (kind 10012)
-      ...FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS,   // Fast read relays
-      ...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS   // Fast write relays
-    ]
-    
-    const normalizedRelays = allRelays
-      .map(url => normalizeUrl(url))
-      .filter((url): url is string => !!url)
-    
-    return Array.from(new Set(normalizedRelays))
-  }, [accountPubkey, favoriteRelays])
+    const favoritesTier = getFavoritesFeedRelayUrls(favoriteRelays ?? [], blockedRelays)
+    const read = buildPrioritizedReadRelayUrls({
+      userReadRelays: myRelayList.read ?? [],
+      userWriteRelays: myRelayList.write ?? [],
+      favoriteRelays: favoritesTier,
+      blockedRelays,
+      maxRelays: 100,
+      applyKind1BlockedFilter: false
+    })
+    const write = buildPrioritizedWriteRelayUrls({
+      userWriteRelays: myRelayList.write ?? [],
+      favoriteRelays: favoritesTier,
+      blockedRelays,
+      maxRelays: 100,
+      applyKind1BlockedFilter: false
+    })
+    return [...new Set([...read, ...write])]
+  }, [accountPubkey, favoriteRelays, blockedRelays])
 
   useEffect(() => {
     const updateTopics = () => {
diff --git a/src/providers/NostrProvider/index.tsx b/src/providers/NostrProvider/index.tsx
index 6a010089..a7bfee24 100644
--- a/src/providers/NostrProvider/index.tsx
+++ b/src/providers/NostrProvider/index.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 import LoginDialog from '@/components/LoginDialog'
-import { FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS, ExtendedKind, FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS, PROFILE_FETCH_RELAY_URLS, PROFILE_RELAY_URLS } from '@/constants'
+import {
+  DEFAULT_FAVORITE_RELAYS,
+  FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS,
+  ExtendedKind,
+  FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS,
+  PROFILE_FETCH_RELAY_URLS,
+  PROFILE_RELAY_URLS
+} from '@/constants'
 import {
   buildAltTag,
   buildClientTag,
@@ -48,6 +55,33 @@ import { NsecSigner } from './nsec.signer'
 export { useNostr } from '@/providers/nostr-context'
 export type { TNostrContext } from '@/providers/nostr-context'
 
+/** Kind 10012 `relay` tags for publish / target-relay prioritization. */
+function favoriteRelayUrlsForPublish(favoriteRelaysEvent: Event | null, pubkey: string | null): string[] {
+  if (!favoriteRelaysEvent) {
+    return pubkey ? [...DEFAULT_FAVORITE_RELAYS] : []
+  }
+  const urls: string[] = []
+  favoriteRelaysEvent.tags.forEach(([name, v]) => {
+    if (name === 'relay' && v) {
+      const n = normalizeUrl(v) || v
+      if (n && !urls.includes(n)) urls.push(n)
+    }
+  })
+  return urls.length > 0 ? urls : pubkey ? [...DEFAULT_FAVORITE_RELAYS] : []
+}
+
+function blockedRelayUrlsFromEvent(blockedRelaysEvent: Event | null): string[] {
+  const out: string[] = []
+  if (!blockedRelaysEvent) return out
+  blockedRelaysEvent.tags.forEach(([tagName, tagValue]) => {
+    if (tagName === 'relay' && tagValue) {
+      const n = normalizeUrl(tagValue)
+      if (n && !out.includes(n)) out.push(n)
+    }
+  })
+  return out
+}
+
 export function NostrProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation()
   const [accounts, setAccounts] = useState<TAccountPointer[]>(
@@ -829,12 +863,17 @@ export function NostrProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
     }
 
     logger.debug('[Publish] Determining target relays...', { kind: event.kind, pubkey: event.pubkey?.substring(0, 8) })
-    const relays = await client.determineTargetRelays(event, options)
+    const favoriteRelayUrls = favoriteRelayUrlsForPublish(favoriteRelaysEvent, account.pubkey)
+    const relays = await client.determineTargetRelays(event, {
+      ...options,
+      favoriteRelayUrls,
+      blockedRelayUrls: options.blockedRelayUrls ?? blockedRelayUrlsFromEvent(blockedRelaysEvent)
+    })
     logger.debug('[Publish] Target relays determined', { relayCount: relays.length, relays: relays.slice(0, 5) })
 
     try {
       logger.debug('[Publish] Calling client.publishEvent()...', { relayCount: relays.length, eventId: event.id?.substring(0, 8) })
-      const publishResult = await client.publishEvent(relays, event)
+      const publishResult = await client.publishEvent(relays, event, { favoriteRelayUrls })
       logger.debug('[Publish] publishEvent completed', {
         success: publishResult.success,
         successCount: publishResult.successCount,
@@ -922,9 +961,13 @@ export function NostrProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
     const deletionRequest = await signEvent(createDeletionRequestDraftEvent(targetEvent))
 
     // Privacy: Only use user's own relays, never connect to "seen on" relays
-    const relays = await client.determineTargetRelays(targetEvent)
+    const favUrls = favoriteRelayUrlsForPublish(favoriteRelaysEvent, account?.pubkey ?? null)
+    const relays = await client.determineTargetRelays(targetEvent, {
+      favoriteRelayUrls: favUrls,
+      blockedRelayUrls: blockedRelayUrlsFromEvent(blockedRelaysEvent)
+    })
 
-    const result = await client.publishEvent(relays, deletionRequest)
+    const result = await client.publishEvent(relays, deletionRequest, { favoriteRelayUrls: favUrls })
 
     await client.applyDeletionRequestToLocalCache(deletionRequest)
 
diff --git a/src/services/client-query.service.ts b/src/services/client-query.service.ts
index d730c0c6..aaed30ae 100644
--- a/src/services/client-query.service.ts
+++ b/src/services/client-query.service.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import {
   FEED_FIRST_RELAY_RESULT_GRACE_MIN_LIMIT,
   FIRST_RELAY_RESULT_GRACE_MS,
   KIND_1_BLOCKED_RELAY_URLS,
+  MAX_CONCURRENT_RELAY_CONNECTIONS,
   SEARCHABLE_RELAY_URLS
 } from '@/constants'
 import logger from '@/lib/logger'
@@ -50,12 +51,35 @@ export class QueryService {
   private signer?: ISigner
   private signerType?: TSignerType
   
-  /** Max concurrent REQ subscriptions per relay */
-  private static readonly MAX_CONCURRENT_SUBS_PER_RELAY = 8
+  /** Max concurrent REQ subscriptions per relay URL */
+  private static readonly MAX_CONCURRENT_SUBS_PER_RELAY = MAX_CONCURRENT_RELAY_CONNECTIONS
   private activeSubCountByRelay = new Map<string, number>()
   private subSlotWaitQueueByRelay = new Map<string, Array<() => void>>()
   private eventSeenOnRelays = new Map<string, Set<string>>()
 
+  /** App-wide cap on parallel ensureRelay + initial subscribe setup (any relay). */
+  private globalRelayConnectionSlotsInUse = 0
+  private globalRelayConnectionWaitQueue: Array<() => void> = []
+
+  async acquireGlobalRelayConnectionSlot(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.globalRelayConnectionSlotsInUse < MAX_CONCURRENT_RELAY_CONNECTIONS) {
+      this.globalRelayConnectionSlotsInUse++
+      return
+    }
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      this.globalRelayConnectionWaitQueue.push(() => {
+        this.globalRelayConnectionSlotsInUse++
+        resolve()
+      })
+    })
+  }
+
+  releaseGlobalRelayConnectionSlot(): void {
+    this.globalRelayConnectionSlotsInUse = Math.max(0, this.globalRelayConnectionSlotsInUse - 1)
+    const next = this.globalRelayConnectionWaitQueue.shift()
+    if (next) next()
+  }
+
   constructor(pool: SimplePool) {
     this.pool = pool
   }
@@ -372,99 +396,109 @@ export class QueryService {
     const subs: { relayKey: string; close: () => void }[] = []
     const allOpened = Promise.all(
       groupedRequests.map(async ({ url, filters: relayFilters }, i) => {
-        const relayKey = normalizeUrl(url) || url
-        await this.acquireSubSlot(relayKey)
-        let relay: AbstractRelay
+        await this.acquireGlobalRelayConnectionSlot()
         try {
-          relay = await this.pool.ensureRelay(url, { connectionTimeout: 5000 })
-        } catch (err) {
-          this.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
-          handleClose(i, (err as Error)?.message ?? String(err))
-          return
-        }
-
-        let slotReleased = false
-        const releaseOnce = () => {
-          if (!slotReleased) {
-            slotReleased = true
+          const relayKey = normalizeUrl(url) || url
+          await this.acquireSubSlot(relayKey)
+          let relay: AbstractRelay
+          try {
+            relay = await this.pool.ensureRelay(url, { connectionTimeout: 5000 })
+          } catch (err) {
             this.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
+            handleClose(i, (err as Error)?.message ?? String(err))
+            return
           }
-        }
 
-        const sub = relay.subscribe(relayFilters, {
-          receivedEvent: (_relay, id) => this.trackEventSeenOn(id, _relay),
-          onevent: (evt: NEvent) => callbacks.onevent?.(evt),
-          oneose: () => handleEose(i),
-          onclose: (reason: string) => {
-            releaseOnce()
-            if (reason.startsWith('auth-required: ') && this.canSignerAuthenticateRelay()) {
-              relay
-                .auth(async (authEvt: EventTemplate) => {
-                  const evt = await this.signer!.signEvent(authEvt)
-                  if (!evt) throw new Error('sign event failed')
-                  return evt as VerifiedEvent
-                })
-                .then(async () => {
-                  await this.acquireSubSlot(relayKey)
-                  let liveRelay: AbstractRelay
-                  try {
-                    liveRelay = await this.pool.ensureRelay(url, { connectionTimeout: 5000 })
-                  } catch (err) {
-                    this.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
-                    handleClose(i, (err as Error)?.message ?? String(err))
-                    return
-                  }
-                  let slotReleased2 = false
-                  const releaseSlot2 = () => {
-                    if (!slotReleased2) {
-                      slotReleased2 = true
-                      this.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
-                    }
-                  }
-                  try {
-                    const sub2 = liveRelay.subscribe(relayFilters, {
-                      receivedEvent: (_relay, id) => this.trackEventSeenOn(id, _relay),
-                      onevent: (evt: NEvent) => callbacks.onevent?.(evt),
-                      oneose: () => handleEose(i),
-                      onclose: (reason2: string) => {
-                        releaseSlot2()
-                        handleClose(i, reason2)
-                      },
-                      alreadyHaveEvent: localAlreadyHaveEvent,
-                      eoseTimeout: 10_000
-                    })
-                    subs.push({
-                      relayKey,
-                      close: () => {
+          let slotReleased = false
+          const releaseOnce = () => {
+            if (!slotReleased) {
+              slotReleased = true
+              this.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
+            }
+          }
+
+          const sub = relay.subscribe(relayFilters, {
+            receivedEvent: (_relay, id) => this.trackEventSeenOn(id, _relay),
+            onevent: (evt: NEvent) => callbacks.onevent?.(evt),
+            oneose: () => handleEose(i),
+            onclose: (reason: string) => {
+              releaseOnce()
+              if (reason.startsWith('auth-required: ') && this.canSignerAuthenticateRelay()) {
+                relay
+                  .auth(async (authEvt: EventTemplate) => {
+                    const evt = await this.signer!.signEvent(authEvt)
+                    if (!evt) throw new Error('sign event failed')
+                    return evt as VerifiedEvent
+                  })
+                  .then(async () => {
+                    await this.acquireGlobalRelayConnectionSlot()
+                    try {
+                      await this.acquireSubSlot(relayKey)
+                      let liveRelay: AbstractRelay
+                      try {
+                        liveRelay = await this.pool.ensureRelay(url, { connectionTimeout: 5000 })
+                      } catch (err) {
+                        this.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
+                        handleClose(i, (err as Error)?.message ?? String(err))
+                        return
+                      }
+                      let slotReleased2 = false
+                      const releaseSlot2 = () => {
+                        if (!slotReleased2) {
+                          slotReleased2 = true
+                          this.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
+                        }
+                      }
+                      try {
+                        const sub2 = liveRelay.subscribe(relayFilters, {
+                          receivedEvent: (_relay, id) => this.trackEventSeenOn(id, _relay),
+                          onevent: (evt: NEvent) => callbacks.onevent?.(evt),
+                          oneose: () => handleEose(i),
+                          onclose: (reason2: string) => {
+                            releaseSlot2()
+                            handleClose(i, reason2)
+                          },
+                          alreadyHaveEvent: localAlreadyHaveEvent,
+                          eoseTimeout: 10_000
+                        })
+                        subs.push({
+                          relayKey,
+                          close: () => {
+                            releaseSlot2()
+                            sub2.close()
+                          }
+                        })
+                      } catch (err) {
                         releaseSlot2()
-                        sub2.close()
+                        handleClose(i, (err as Error)?.message ?? String(err))
                       }
-                    })
-                  } catch (err) {
-                    releaseSlot2()
-                    handleClose(i, (err as Error)?.message ?? String(err))
-                  }
-                })
-                .catch((err) => {
-                  handleClose(i, `auth failed: ${(err as Error)?.message ?? err}`)
-                })
-              return
-            }
-            if (reason.startsWith('auth-required: ')) {
-              callbacks.startLogin?.()
+                    } finally {
+                      this.releaseGlobalRelayConnectionSlot()
+                    }
+                  })
+                  .catch((err) => {
+                    handleClose(i, `auth failed: ${(err as Error)?.message ?? err}`)
+                  })
+                return
+              }
+              if (reason.startsWith('auth-required: ')) {
+                callbacks.startLogin?.()
+              }
+              handleClose(i, reason)
+            },
+            alreadyHaveEvent: localAlreadyHaveEvent,
+            eoseTimeout: 10_000
+          })
+          subs.push({
+            relayKey,
+            close: () => {
+              releaseOnce()
+              sub.close()
             }
-            handleClose(i, reason)
-          },
-          alreadyHaveEvent: localAlreadyHaveEvent,
-          eoseTimeout: 10_000
-        })
-        subs.push({
-          relayKey,
-          close: () => {
-            releaseOnce()
-            sub.close()
-          }
-        })
+          })
+        } finally {
+          this.releaseGlobalRelayConnectionSlot()
+        }
       })
     )
 
diff --git a/src/services/client-replaceable-events.service.ts b/src/services/client-replaceable-events.service.ts
index 5a61562b..5f5d9893 100644
--- a/src/services/client-replaceable-events.service.ts
+++ b/src/services/client-replaceable-events.service.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import {
   ExtendedKind,
   FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS,
+  MAX_CONCURRENT_RELAY_CONNECTIONS,
   METADATA_BATCH_QUERY_EOSE_TIMEOUT_MS,
   METADATA_BATCH_QUERY_GLOBAL_TIMEOUT_MS,
   PROFILE_FETCH_RELAY_URLS
@@ -21,6 +22,32 @@ import client from './client.service'
 import { buildComprehensiveRelayList, buildExploreProfileAndUserRelayList } from '@/lib/relay-list-builder'
 
 export class ReplaceableEventService {
+  /** Limits parallel Step 2/3 profile network work (relay list + wide metadata REQ). */
+  private static profileFallbackSlotsInUse = 0
+  private static profileFallbackWaitQueue: Array<() => void> = []
+
+  private static async acquireProfileFallbackNetworkSlot(): Promise<void> {
+    if (ReplaceableEventService.profileFallbackSlotsInUse < MAX_CONCURRENT_RELAY_CONNECTIONS) {
+      ReplaceableEventService.profileFallbackSlotsInUse++
+      return
+    }
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      ReplaceableEventService.profileFallbackWaitQueue.push(() => {
+        ReplaceableEventService.profileFallbackSlotsInUse++
+        resolve()
+      })
+    })
+  }
+
+  private static releaseProfileFallbackNetworkSlot(): void {
+    ReplaceableEventService.profileFallbackSlotsInUse = Math.max(
+      0,
+      ReplaceableEventService.profileFallbackSlotsInUse - 1
+    )
+    const next = ReplaceableEventService.profileFallbackWaitQueue.shift()
+    if (next) next()
+  }
+
   private queryService: QueryService
   private onProfileIndexed?: (profileEvent: NEvent) => void | Promise<void>
   private followingFavoriteRelaysCache = new LRUCache<string, Promise<[string, string[]][]>>({
@@ -745,6 +772,8 @@ export class ReplaceableEventService {
       return profileEvent
     }
 
+    await ReplaceableEventService.acquireProfileFallbackNetworkSlot()
+    try {
     // Step 2: Only after cache + default relays miss — NIP-65 relay list (timeout-capped), then hints + outbox/inbox + defaults.
     logger.debug('[ReplaceableEventService] Step 2: Fetching author relay list as fallback', {
       pubkey,
@@ -863,6 +892,9 @@ export class ReplaceableEventService {
         error: error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)
       })
     }
+    } finally {
+      ReplaceableEventService.releaseProfileFallbackNetworkSlot()
+    }
 
     logger.warn('[ReplaceableEventService] Profile not found after cache, relay-list fallback, and comprehensive search', {
       pubkey,
diff --git a/src/services/client.service.ts b/src/services/client.service.ts
index 72bfc348..2a7417e9 100644
--- a/src/services/client.service.ts
+++ b/src/services/client.service.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import {
   FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS,
   FIRST_RELAY_RESULT_GRACE_MS,
   KIND_1_BLOCKED_RELAY_URLS,
+  MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS,
   NIP66_DISCOVERY_RELAY_URLS,
   PROFILE_FETCH_RELAY_URLS,
   READ_ONLY_RELAY_URLS,
@@ -21,6 +22,12 @@ import logger from '@/lib/logger'
 import { dispatchTombstonesUpdated } from '@/lib/tombstone-events'
 import { isValidPubkey, pubkeyToNpub } from '@/lib/pubkey'
 import { getPubkeysFromPTags, tagNameEquals } from '@/lib/tag'
+import {
+  buildPrioritizedWriteRelayUrls,
+  dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered,
+  mergeRelayPriorityLayers,
+  relayUrlsLocalsFirst
+} from '@/lib/relay-url-priority'
 import { isLocalNetworkUrl, normalizeUrl, simplifyUrl } from '@/lib/url'
 import { isSafari } from '@/lib/utils'
 import {
@@ -159,16 +166,17 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
       const discoveryRelays = Array.from(new Set([...FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS, ...NIP66_DISCOVERY_RELAY_URLS]))
       const events = await this.queryService.query(
         discoveryRelays,
-        { kinds: [ExtendedKind.RELAY_DISCOVERY] },
+        { kinds: [ExtendedKind.RELAY_DISCOVERY], limit: 2000 },
         undefined,
         { eoseTimeout: 4000, globalTimeout: 8000 }
       )
       if (events.length > 0) {
-        nip66Service.loadFromEvents(events)
-        logger.info('NIP-66: loaded relay discovery events', { count: events.length })
+        const capped = events.length > 2000 ? events.slice(0, 2000) : events
+        nip66Service.loadFromEvents(capped)
+        logger.debug('NIP-66: loaded relay discovery events', { count: capped.length })
       }
     } catch (err) {
-      logger.info('NIP-66: failed to fetch relay discovery', { err })
+      logger.debug('NIP-66: failed to fetch relay discovery', { err })
     }
   }
 
@@ -203,6 +211,121 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
     return true
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Pubkeys to pull **read** (inbox) relays for: `p`/`P` mentions and `e` tag relay pubkey hint (NIP-10).
+   * Excludes the event author.
+   */
+  private collectReplyAndMentionPubkeys(event: NEvent): string[] {
+    const out: string[] = []
+    const seen = new Set<string>()
+    const add = (pk: string | undefined) => {
+      if (!pk || !isValidPubkey(pk) || pk === event.pubkey || seen.has(pk)) return
+      seen.add(pk)
+      out.push(pk)
+    }
+    for (const t of event.tags) {
+      const name = t[0]
+      const v = t[1]
+      const hint = t[3]
+      if ((name === 'p' || name === 'P') && v) add(v)
+      if (name === 'e' && hint) add(hint)
+    }
+    return out
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Write publish order: user outboxes → author inboxes → favorites → FAST_WRITE → FAST_READ → other.
+   * Normalize, dedupe, then cap at {@link MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS}.
+   */
+  private filterPublishingRelays(relays: string[], event: NEvent): string[] {
+    const readOnlySet = new Set(READ_ONLY_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u))
+    const kind1BlockedSet = new Set(KIND_1_BLOCKED_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u))
+    return dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(
+      relays.filter((url) => {
+        const n = normalizeUrl(url) || url
+        if (readOnlySet.has(n)) return false
+        if (event.kind === kinds.ShortTextNote && kind1BlockedSet.has(n)) return false
+        return true
+      })
+    )
+  }
+
+  private async prioritizePublishUrlList(
+    relayUrls: string[],
+    event: NEvent,
+    favoriteRelayUrls: string[] = []
+  ): Promise<string[]> {
+    let userWriteSet = new Set<string>()
+    try {
+      const rl = await this.fetchRelayList(event.pubkey)
+      userWriteSet = new Set(
+        (rl?.write ?? [])
+          .map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u)
+          .filter((u): u is string => !!u)
+      )
+    } catch {
+      // ignore
+    }
+
+    const ctx = this.collectReplyAndMentionPubkeys(event)
+    let authorReadSet = new Set<string>()
+    if (ctx.length > 0) {
+      const lists = await this.fetchRelayLists(ctx)
+      for (const list of lists) {
+        for (const u of list?.read ?? []) {
+          const n = normalizeUrl(u) || u
+          if (n) authorReadSet.add(n)
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    const favSet = new Set(
+      favoriteRelayUrls.map((f) => normalizeUrl(f) || f).filter((u): u is string => !!u)
+    )
+    const fastWSet = new Set(
+      FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u).filter((u): u is string => !!u)
+    )
+    const fastRSet = new Set(
+      FAST_READ_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u).filter((u): u is string => !!u)
+    )
+
+    const readOnlySet = new Set(READ_ONLY_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u))
+    const kind1BlockedSet = new Set(KIND_1_BLOCKED_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u))
+
+    const t0: string[] = []
+    const t1: string[] = []
+    const t2: string[] = []
+    const t3: string[] = []
+    const t4: string[] = []
+    const t5: string[] = []
+    for (const u of relayUrls) {
+      const n = normalizeUrl(u) || u
+      if (!n) continue
+      if (userWriteSet.has(n)) t0.push(n)
+      else if (authorReadSet.has(n)) t1.push(n)
+      else if (favSet.has(n)) t2.push(n)
+      else if (fastWSet.has(n)) t3.push(n)
+      else if (fastRSet.has(n)) t4.push(n)
+      else t5.push(n)
+    }
+    return dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered([...t0, ...t1, ...t2, ...t3, ...t4, ...t5])
+      .filter((url) => {
+        const n = normalizeUrl(url) || url
+        if (readOnlySet.has(n)) return false
+        if (event.kind === kinds.ShortTextNote && kind1BlockedSet.has(n)) return false
+        return true
+      })
+      .slice(0, MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS)
+  }
+
+  private async capPublishRelayUrlsForPublish(
+    relayUrls: string[],
+    event: NEvent,
+    favoriteRelayUrls: string[] = []
+  ): Promise<string[]> {
+    return this.prioritizePublishUrlList(relayUrls, event, favoriteRelayUrls)
+  }
+
   /**
    * Determine which relays to publish an event to.
    * Fallbacks (used when user relay list is empty or fetch fails):
@@ -213,8 +336,12 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
    */
   async determineTargetRelays(
     event: NEvent,
-    { specifiedRelayUrls, additionalRelayUrls }: TPublishOptions = {}
+    { specifiedRelayUrls, additionalRelayUrls, favoriteRelayUrls, blockedRelayUrls }: TPublishOptions = {}
   ) {
+    const writeRelayPubOpts = {
+      blockedRelays: blockedRelayUrls,
+      applyKind1BlockedFilter: event.kind === kinds.ShortTextNote
+    }
     if (event.kind === kinds.RelayList) {
       logger.info('[DetermineTargetRelays] Determining target relays for relay list event', {
         pubkey: event.pubkey,
@@ -228,7 +355,9 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
     if (event.kind === kinds.Report) {
       // Start with user's write relays (outboxes) - these are the primary targets for reports
       const relayList = await this.fetchRelayList(event.pubkey)
-      const userWriteRelays = relayList?.write.slice(0, 10) ?? []
+      const userWriteRelays = dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(
+        (relayList?.write ?? []).map((url) => normalizeUrl(url) || url).filter((u): u is string => !!u)
+      )
       
       // Get seen relays where the reported event was found
       const targetEventId = event.tags.find(tagNameEquals('e'))?.[1]
@@ -245,21 +374,32 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
         }))
       }
       
-      // Combine: user's write relays first (primary), then seen write relays (additional context)
-      const reportRelays = Array.from(new Set([
-        ...userWriteRelays,
-        ...seenRelays
-      ]))
-      
-      // If we still don't have any relays, fall back to fast write relays
-      if (reportRelays.length === 0) {
-        reportRelays.push(...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS)
+      if (userWriteRelays.length === 0 && seenRelays.length === 0) {
+        return this.filterPublishingRelays(
+          buildPrioritizedWriteRelayUrls({
+            userWriteRelays: [...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS],
+            favoriteRelays: favoriteRelayUrls ?? [],
+            maxRelays: MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS,
+            ...writeRelayPubOpts
+          }),
+          event
+        )
       }
-      
-      return reportRelays
+      return this.filterPublishingRelays(
+        buildPrioritizedWriteRelayUrls({
+          userWriteRelays: userWriteRelays,
+          authorReadRelays: [],
+          favoriteRelays: favoriteRelayUrls ?? [],
+          extraRelays: seenRelays,
+          maxRelays: MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS,
+          ...writeRelayPubOpts
+        }),
+        event
+      )
     }
 
-    // Public messages (kind 24) and calendar RSVPs (kind 31925): only author's outboxes + each recipient's inboxes
+    // Public messages (kind 24) and calendar RSVPs (kind 31925): only author's outboxes + each recipient's
+    // inboxes — no user favorites, FAST_WRITE, or FAST_READ padding (see relay-selection getPublicMessageRelays).
     if (
       event.kind === ExtendedKind.PUBLIC_MESSAGE ||
       event.kind === ExtendedKind.CALENDAR_EVENT_RSVP
@@ -282,14 +422,29 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
           .map((url) => normalizeUrl(url))
           .filter((url): url is string => !!url && !isLocalNetworkUrl(url))
       }
-      const relays = Array.from(new Set([...authorWrite, ...recipientRead]))
+      let pubRelays = mergeRelayPriorityLayers(
+        [relayUrlsLocalsFirst(authorWrite), dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(recipientRead)],
+        blockedRelayUrls,
+        MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS,
+        { applyKind1BlockedFilter: false }
+      )
+      pubRelays = this.filterPublishingRelays(pubRelays, event)
       logger.debug('[DetermineTargetRelays] Public message / calendar RSVP: author outbox + recipient inboxes only', {
         kind: event.kind,
-        relayCount: relays.length,
+        relayCount: pubRelays.length,
         authorWriteCount: authorWrite.length,
         recipientReadCount: recipientRead.length
       })
-      return relays.length > 0 ? relays : [...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS]
+      if (pubRelays.length > 0) return pubRelays
+      return this.filterPublishingRelays(
+        mergeRelayPriorityLayers(
+          [relayUrlsLocalsFirst([...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS])],
+          blockedRelayUrls,
+          MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS,
+          { applyKind1BlockedFilter: false }
+        ),
+        event
+      )
     }
 
     let relays: string[]
@@ -308,47 +463,42 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
           })
           spellRelayList = { write: [], read: [], originalRelays: [] }
         }
-        const normalizedWrite = (spellRelayList?.write ?? [])
-          .map((url) => normalizeUrl(url))
-          .filter((url): url is string => !!url)
-        const cappedWrite = normalizedWrite.slice(0, 10)
-        const merged = [...cappedWrite, ...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS]
-        const seen = new Set<string>()
-        let spellRelays: string[] = []
-        for (const u of merged) {
-          const n = normalizeUrl(u) || u
-          if (!n || seen.has(n)) continue
-          seen.add(n)
-          spellRelays.push(n)
-        }
-        if (!spellRelays.length) {
-          spellRelays = [...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS]
-        }
+        const normalizedWrite = dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(
+          (spellRelayList?.write ?? [])
+            .map((url) => normalizeUrl(url))
+            .filter((url): url is string => !!url)
+        )
         const readOnlySet = new Set(READ_ONLY_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u))
-        spellRelays = spellRelays.filter((url) => {
+        const spellWriteFiltered = normalizedWrite.filter((url) => {
           const n = normalizeUrl(url) || url
           return !readOnlySet.has(n)
         })
-        return spellRelays.length > 0 ? spellRelays : [...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS]
+        return this.filterPublishingRelays(
+          buildPrioritizedWriteRelayUrls({
+            userWriteRelays:
+              spellWriteFiltered.length > 0
+                ? spellWriteFiltered
+                : dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS),
+            favoriteRelays: favoriteRelayUrls ?? [],
+            extraRelays: [],
+            maxRelays: MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS,
+            ...writeRelayPubOpts
+          }),
+          event
+        )
       }
 
-      const _additionalRelayUrls: string[] = additionalRelayUrls ?? []
+      const bootstrapExtras: string[] = [...(additionalRelayUrls ?? [])]
+      let authorInboxFromContext: string[] = []
       if (!specifiedRelayUrls?.length && ![kinds.Contacts, kinds.Mutelist].includes(event.kind)) {
-        const mentions: string[] = []
-        event.tags.forEach(([tagName, tagValue]) => {
-          if (
-            ['p', 'P'].includes(tagName) &&
-            !!tagValue &&
-            isValidPubkey(tagValue) &&
-            !mentions.includes(tagValue)
-          ) {
-            mentions.push(tagValue)
-          }
-        })
-        if (mentions.length > 0) {
-          const relayLists = await this.fetchRelayLists(mentions)
+        const ctxPubkeys = this.collectReplyAndMentionPubkeys(event)
+        if (ctxPubkeys.length > 0) {
+          const relayLists = await this.fetchRelayLists(ctxPubkeys)
           relayLists.forEach((relayList) => {
-            _additionalRelayUrls.push(...relayList.read.slice(0, 4))
+            for (const u of relayList.read ?? []) {
+              const n = normalizeUrl(u) || u
+              if (n) authorInboxFromContext.push(n)
+            }
           })
         }
       }
@@ -361,22 +511,22 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
           ExtendedKind.RELAY_REVIEW
         ].includes(event.kind)
       ) {
-        _additionalRelayUrls.push(...PROFILE_FETCH_RELAY_URLS)
+        bootstrapExtras.push(...PROFILE_FETCH_RELAY_URLS)
         logger.debug('[DetermineTargetRelays] Relay list event detected, adding PROFILE_FETCH_RELAY_URLS', {
           kind: event.kind,
           profileFetchRelays: PROFILE_FETCH_RELAY_URLS,
-          additionalRelayCount: _additionalRelayUrls.length
+          additionalRelayCount: bootstrapExtras.length
         })
       } else if (event.kind === ExtendedKind.FAVORITE_RELAYS) {
         // Use fast write relays for favorite relays to avoid timeouts and payment requirements
-        _additionalRelayUrls.push(...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS)
+        bootstrapExtras.push(...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS)
         logger.debug('[DetermineTargetRelays] Favorite relays event detected, adding FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS', {
           kind: event.kind,
           fastWriteRelays: FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS,
-          additionalRelayCount: _additionalRelayUrls.length
+          additionalRelayCount: bootstrapExtras.length
         })
       } else if (event.kind === ExtendedKind.RSS_FEED_LIST) {
-        _additionalRelayUrls.push(...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS, ...PROFILE_FETCH_RELAY_URLS)
+        bootstrapExtras.push(...FAST_WRITE_RELAY_URLS, ...PROFILE_FETCH_RELAY_URLS)
       }
 
       if (event.kind === kinds.RelayList || event.kind === ExtendedKind.FAVORITE_RELAYS) {
@@ -403,15 +553,26 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
           writeRelays: relayList?.write?.slice(0, 10) ?? []
         })
       }
-      relays = (relayList?.write.slice(0, 10) ?? []).concat(
-        Array.from(new Set(_additionalRelayUrls)) ?? []
+      const userWritesOrdered = dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(
+        (relayList?.write ?? []).map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u).filter((u): u is string => !!u)
+      )
+      relays = this.filterPublishingRelays(
+        buildPrioritizedWriteRelayUrls({
+          userWriteRelays: userWritesOrdered,
+          authorReadRelays: authorInboxFromContext,
+          favoriteRelays: favoriteRelayUrls ?? [],
+          extraRelays: bootstrapExtras,
+          maxRelays: MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS,
+          ...writeRelayPubOpts
+        }),
+        event
       )
       if (event.kind === kinds.RelayList || event.kind === ExtendedKind.FAVORITE_RELAYS) {
         logger.info('[DetermineTargetRelays] Final relay list for event publication', {
           kind: event.kind,
           totalRelayCount: relays.length,
-          userWriteRelays: relayList?.write?.slice(0, 10) ?? [],
-          additionalRelays: Array.from(new Set(_additionalRelayUrls)),
+          userWriteRelays: userWritesOrdered.slice(0, MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS),
+          additionalRelays: dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(bootstrapExtras),
           allRelays: relays
         })
       }
@@ -426,15 +587,13 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
       })
     }
 
-    const readOnlySet = new Set(READ_ONLY_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u))
-    const kind1BlockedSet = new Set(KIND_1_BLOCKED_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u))
-    relays = relays.filter((url) => {
-      const n = normalizeUrl(url) || url
-      if (readOnlySet.has(n)) return false
-      if (event.kind === kinds.ShortTextNote && kind1BlockedSet.has(n)) return false
-      return true
-    })
+    relays = this.filterPublishingRelays(relays, event)
 
+    if (specifiedRelayUrls?.length) {
+      relays = await this.prioritizePublishUrlList(relays, event, favoriteRelayUrls ?? [])
+    } else {
+      relays = dedupeNormalizeRelayUrlsOrdered(relays).slice(0, MAX_PUBLISH_RELAYS)
+    }
     return relays
   }
 
@@ -555,7 +714,11 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
     return result.slice(0, count)
   }
 
-  async publishEvent(relayUrls: string[], event: NEvent) {
+  async publishEvent(
+    relayUrls: string[],
+    event: NEvent,
+    publishExtras?: { favoriteRelayUrls?: string[] }
+  ) {
     const readOnlySet = new Set(READ_ONLY_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u))
     const kind1BlockedSet = new Set(KIND_1_BLOCKED_RELAY_URLS.map((u) => normalizeUrl(u) || u))
     let filtered = relayUrls.filter((url) => {
@@ -567,6 +730,11 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
       return true
     })
     filtered = Array.from(new Set(filtered))
+    filtered = await this.capPublishRelayUrlsForPublish(
+      filtered,
+      event,
+      publishExtras?.favoriteRelayUrls ?? []
+    )
 
     logger.debug('[PublishEvent] Starting publishEvent', {
       eventId: event.id?.substring(0, 8),
@@ -886,7 +1054,7 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
   ) {
     const timelineBatchId = `tl-${Date.now().toString(36)}-${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2, 9)}`
     const timelineT0 = performance.now()
-    logger.info('[relay-req] timeline_batch_start', {
+    logger.debug('[relay-req] timeline_batch_start', {
       timelineBatchId,
       subRequestCount: subRequests.length,
       relayCounts: subRequests.map((r) => r.urls.length)
@@ -909,22 +1077,13 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
     const deliverTimelineToConsumer = (snapshot: NEvent[], allEosed: boolean) => {
       if (!firstPaintLogged && snapshot.length > 0) {
         firstPaintLogged = true
-        logger.info('[relay-req] first_paint', {
+        logger.debug('[relay-req] first_paint', {
           timelineBatchId,
           phase: 'data_to_feed',
           rowCount: snapshot.length,
           allEosed,
           ms: Math.round(performance.now() - timelineT0)
         })
-        if (typeof requestAnimationFrame === 'function') {
-          requestAnimationFrame(() => {
-            logger.info('[relay-req] first_paint', {
-              timelineBatchId,
-              phase: 'raf',
-              ms: Math.round(performance.now() - timelineT0)
-            })
-          })
-        }
       }
       onEvents(snapshot, allEosed)
     }
@@ -1106,7 +1265,7 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
     // Kind-1 queries drop KIND_1_BLOCKED_RELAY_URLS; if every URL was removed, no subs run and
     // oneose would never fire — timelines stay loading forever (e.g. favorites feed).
     if (groupedRequests.length === 0) {
-      logger.info('[relay-req] batch_skip', {
+      logger.debug('[relay-req] batch_skip', {
         reason: 'no_relays_after_filters',
         filterSummary: summarizeFiltersForRelayLog(filters)
       })
@@ -1127,7 +1286,7 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
       if (firstRelayResponseLogged) return
       firstRelayResponseLogged = true
       if (kind === 'eose') awaitingFirstEventAfterEoseFirstResponse = true
-      logger.info('[relay-req] first_response', {
+      logger.debug('[relay-req] first_response', {
         reqGroupId,
         kind,
         relayUrl,
@@ -1137,7 +1296,7 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
     const logFirstEventIfFirstResponseWasEmpty = (evt: NEvent, relayKey: string) => {
       if (!awaitingFirstEventAfterEoseFirstResponse) return
       awaitingFirstEventAfterEoseFirstResponse = false
-      logger.info('[relay-req] first_event', {
+      logger.debug('[relay-req] first_event', {
         reqGroupId,
         relayUrl: relayKey,
         eventId: evt.id,
@@ -1147,7 +1306,7 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
       })
     }
 
-    logger.info('[relay-req] batch_start', {
+    logger.debug('[relay-req] batch_start', {
       reqGroupId,
       relayCount: groupedRequests.length,
       relays: groupedRequests.map((r) => r.url),
@@ -1185,122 +1344,132 @@ class ClientService extends EventTarget {
     const subs: { relayKey: string; close: () => void }[] = []
     const allOpened = Promise.all(
       groupedRequests.map(async ({ url, filters: relayFilters }, i) => {
-        const relayKey = normalizeUrl(url) || url
-        await that.queryService.acquireSubSlot(relayKey)
-        let relay: AbstractRelay
+        await that.queryService.acquireGlobalRelayConnectionSlot()
         try {
-          relay = await that.pool.ensureRelay(url, { connectionTimeout: SUBSCRIBE_RELAY_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT_MS })
-        } catch (err) {
-          that.queryService.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
-          handleClose(i, (err as Error)?.message ?? String(err))
-          return
-        }
-
-        let slotReleased = false
-        const releaseOnce = () => {
-          if (!slotReleased) {
-            slotReleased = true
+          const relayKey = normalizeUrl(url) || url
+          await that.queryService.acquireSubSlot(relayKey)
+          let relay: AbstractRelay
+          try {
+            relay = await that.pool.ensureRelay(url, { connectionTimeout: SUBSCRIBE_RELAY_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT_MS })
+          } catch (err) {
             that.queryService.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
+            handleClose(i, (err as Error)?.message ?? String(err))
+            return
           }
-        }
 
-        const sub = relay.subscribe(relayFilters, {
-          receivedEvent: (_relay, id) => that.trackEventSeenOn(id, _relay),
-          onevent: (evt: NEvent) => {
-            logFirstEventIfFirstResponseWasEmpty(evt, relayKey)
-            logFirstRelayResponse('event', relayKey)
-            onevent?.(evt)
-          },
-          oneose: () => handleEose(i),
-          onclose: (reason: string) => {
-            releaseOnce()
-            if (reason.startsWith('auth-required: ') && that.canSignerAuthenticateRelay()) {
-              relay
-                .auth(async (authEvt: EventTemplate) => {
-                  const evt = await that.signer!.signEvent(authEvt)
-                  if (!evt) throw new Error('sign event failed')
-                  return evt as VerifiedEvent
-                })
-                .then(async () => {
-                  await that.queryService.acquireSubSlot(relayKey)
-                  // After AUTH the socket may be closed or the relay dropped from the pool;
-                  // resubscribe on a fresh connection from ensureRelay (fixes SendingOnClosedConnection).
-                  let liveRelay: AbstractRelay
-                  try {
-                    liveRelay = await that.pool.ensureRelay(url, {
-                      connectionTimeout: SUBSCRIBE_RELAY_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT_MS
-                    })
-                  } catch (err) {
-                    that.queryService.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
-                    handleClose(i, (err as Error)?.message ?? String(err))
-                    return
-                  }
-                  let slotReleased2 = false
-                  const releaseSlot2 = () => {
-                    if (!slotReleased2) {
-                      slotReleased2 = true
-                      that.queryService.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
-                    }
-                  }
-                  try {
-                    const sub2 = liveRelay.subscribe(relayFilters, {
-                      receivedEvent: (_relay, id) => that.trackEventSeenOn(id, _relay),
-                      onevent: (evt: NEvent) => {
-                        logFirstEventIfFirstResponseWasEmpty(evt, relayKey)
-                        logFirstRelayResponse('event', relayKey)
-                        onevent?.(evt)
-                      },
-                      oneose: () => handleEose(i),
-                      onclose: (reason2: string) => {
-                        releaseSlot2()
-                        handleClose(i, reason2)
-                      },
-                      alreadyHaveEvent: localAlreadyHaveEvent,
-                      eoseTimeout: SUBSCRIBE_RELAY_EOSE_TIMEOUT_MS
-                    })
-                    logger.info('[relay-req] req_sent', {
-                      reqGroupId,
-                      url: relayKey,
-                      ms: Math.round(performance.now() - reqT0),
-                      note: 'after_auth'
-                    })
-                    subs.push({
-                      relayKey,
-                      close: () => {
+          let slotReleased = false
+          const releaseOnce = () => {
+            if (!slotReleased) {
+              slotReleased = true
+              that.queryService.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
+            }
+          }
+
+          const sub = relay.subscribe(relayFilters, {
+            receivedEvent: (_relay, id) => that.trackEventSeenOn(id, _relay),
+            onevent: (evt: NEvent) => {
+              logFirstEventIfFirstResponseWasEmpty(evt, relayKey)
+              logFirstRelayResponse('event', relayKey)
+              onevent?.(evt)
+            },
+            oneose: () => handleEose(i),
+            onclose: (reason: string) => {
+              releaseOnce()
+              if (reason.startsWith('auth-required: ') && that.canSignerAuthenticateRelay()) {
+                relay
+                  .auth(async (authEvt: EventTemplate) => {
+                    const evt = await that.signer!.signEvent(authEvt)
+                    if (!evt) throw new Error('sign event failed')
+                    return evt as VerifiedEvent
+                  })
+                  .then(async () => {
+                    await that.queryService.acquireGlobalRelayConnectionSlot()
+                    try {
+                      await that.queryService.acquireSubSlot(relayKey)
+                      // After AUTH the socket may be closed or the relay dropped from the pool;
+                      // resubscribe on a fresh connection from ensureRelay (fixes SendingOnClosedConnection).
+                      let liveRelay: AbstractRelay
+                      try {
+                        liveRelay = await that.pool.ensureRelay(url, {
+                          connectionTimeout: SUBSCRIBE_RELAY_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT_MS
+                        })
+                      } catch (err) {
+                        that.queryService.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
+                        handleClose(i, (err as Error)?.message ?? String(err))
+                        return
+                      }
+                      let slotReleased2 = false
+                      const releaseSlot2 = () => {
+                        if (!slotReleased2) {
+                          slotReleased2 = true
+                          that.queryService.releaseSubSlot(relayKey)
+                        }
+                      }
+                      try {
+                        const sub2 = liveRelay.subscribe(relayFilters, {
+                          receivedEvent: (_relay, id) => that.trackEventSeenOn(id, _relay),
+                          onevent: (evt: NEvent) => {
+                            logFirstEventIfFirstResponseWasEmpty(evt, relayKey)
+                            logFirstRelayResponse('event', relayKey)
+                            onevent?.(evt)
+                          },
+                          oneose: () => handleEose(i),
+                          onclose: (reason2: string) => {
+                            releaseSlot2()
+                            handleClose(i, reason2)
+                          },
+                          alreadyHaveEvent: localAlreadyHaveEvent,
+                          eoseTimeout: SUBSCRIBE_RELAY_EOSE_TIMEOUT_MS
+                        })
+                        logger.debug('[relay-req] req_sent', {
+                          reqGroupId,
+                          url: relayKey,
+                          ms: Math.round(performance.now() - reqT0),
+                          note: 'after_auth'
+                        })
+                        subs.push({
+                          relayKey,
+                          close: () => {
+                            releaseSlot2()
+                            sub2.close()
+                          }
+                        })
+                      } catch (err) {
                         releaseSlot2()
-                        sub2.close()
+                        handleClose(i, (err as Error)?.message ?? String(err))
                       }
-                    })
-                  } catch (err) {
-                    releaseSlot2()
-                    handleClose(i, (err as Error)?.message ?? String(err))
-                  }
-                })
-                .catch((err) => {
-                  handleClose(i, `auth failed: ${(err as Error)?.message ?? err}`)
-                })
-              return
-            }
-            if (reason.startsWith('auth-required: ')) {
-              startLogin?.()
+                    } finally {
+                      that.queryService.releaseGlobalRelayConnectionSlot()
+                    }
+                  })
+                  .catch((err) => {
+                    handleClose(i, `auth failed: ${(err as Error)?.message ?? err}`)
+                  })
+                return
+              }
+              if (reason.startsWith('auth-required: ')) {
+                startLogin?.()
+              }
+              handleClose(i, reason)
+            },
+            alreadyHaveEvent: localAlreadyHaveEvent,
+            eoseTimeout: SUBSCRIBE_RELAY_EOSE_TIMEOUT_MS
+          })
+          logger.debug('[relay-req] req_sent', {
+            reqGroupId,
+            url: relayKey,
+            ms: Math.round(performance.now() - reqT0)
+          })
+          subs.push({
+            relayKey,
+            close: () => {
+              releaseOnce()
+              sub.close()
             }
-            handleClose(i, reason)
-          },
-          alreadyHaveEvent: localAlreadyHaveEvent,
-          eoseTimeout: SUBSCRIBE_RELAY_EOSE_TIMEOUT_MS
-        })
-        logger.info('[relay-req] req_sent', {
-          reqGroupId,
-          url: relayKey,
-          ms: Math.round(performance.now() - reqT0)
-        })
-        subs.push({
-          relayKey,
-          close: () => {
-            releaseOnce()
-            sub.close()
-          }
-        })
+          })
+        } finally {
+          that.queryService.releaseGlobalRelayConnectionSlot()
+        }
       })
     )
 
diff --git a/src/services/spell.service.ts b/src/services/spell.service.ts
index e8a99f16..dc46a7ee 100644
--- a/src/services/spell.service.ts
+++ b/src/services/spell.service.ts
@@ -87,9 +87,13 @@ export function buildSpellCatalogAuthors(pubkey: string, contacts: string[]): st
 export function getRelaysForSpellCatalogSync(
   favoriteRelays: string[],
   blockedRelays: string[],
-  userInboxReadRelays: string[]
+  userInboxReadRelays: string[],
+  options?: { userWriteRelays?: string[] }
 ): string[] {
-  return getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox(favoriteRelays, blockedRelays, userInboxReadRelays)
+  return getRelayUrlsWithFavoritesFastReadAndInbox(favoriteRelays, blockedRelays, userInboxReadRelays, {
+    userWriteRelays: options?.userWriteRelays ?? [],
+    applyKind1BlockedFilter: false
+  })
 }
 
 function dedupeRelayUrls(urls: string[]): string[] {
diff --git a/src/types/index.d.ts b/src/types/index.d.ts
index 250bc198..a9817ccb 100644
--- a/src/types/index.d.ts
+++ b/src/types/index.d.ts
@@ -171,6 +171,10 @@ export type TImetaInfo = {
 export type TPublishOptions = {
   specifiedRelayUrls?: string[]
   additionalRelayUrls?: string[]
+  /** Kind 10012 `relay` URLs for publish priority (outboxes → author inboxes → favorites → fast relays). */
+  favoriteRelayUrls?: string[]
+  /** User-blocked relay URLs (normalized); excluded from prioritized publish lists before capping. */
+  blockedRelayUrls?: string[]
   minPow?: number
   disableFallbacks?: boolean // If true, don't use fallback relays when publishing fails
   /** Override global "Add client tag" preference for this publish (default: read from localStorage) */