Here are the results. Optimal high-score play is built entirely around Bash CharlesXII: even at +180%, it skips the reader ceiling, so everything else in the strategy exists to fund and amplify four bashes.

**Detailed outcome range (10,000 optimal runs)**

| Percentile | Peak readers (score) |

|---|---|

| Worst | 265 |

| 1st | 527 |

| 5th | 1,528 |

| 10th | 2,421 |

| 25th | 4,930 |

| **Median** | **8,244** |

| 75th | 9,710 |

| 90th | 9,752 |

| 99th | 9,788 |

| Best | 9,809 |

The average is 7,115.

| Peak at least | Share of runs |

|---|---|

| 1,000 | 97% |

| 2,000 | 93% |

| 5,000 | 75% |

| 7,500 | 57% |

| 9,000 | 43% |

| 9,500 | 35% |

| 9,826 (hard cap) | 0% |

No run hit the cap exactly; the best was 9,809, just short of it.

**How those runs ended**

- 52% survived the year, which is high, since constant growth keeps energy regen strong.

- 18% were cancelled, 16% faded and 15% burned out.

- Peaks usually come around week 27, after the fourth bash, and then readers fall. Survivors ended the year with a median of 1,320 readers, down from peaks around 8,000.

**What decided the score**

*Number of bashes:* this matters more than anything else.

| Bashes in the run | Median peak |

|---|---|

| 0–1 | 520–640 |

| 2 | 2,439 |

| 3 | 5,100 |

| 4 | 8,752 |

Nearly every optimal run (97%) managed 3–4 bashes. A fifth never fit: the price climbs 50 → 60 → 70 → 80, and that's about all the energy a year provides.

*Hidden fate:* the only thing that really limits the optimal player.

- Doom runs, where readers drift away regardless, have a median peak of only 3,533, because the collapse starts before all four bashes land.

- Every other fate's median peak is 8,600–9,700.

**The optimal strategy, step by step**

1. **Buy EconH8er first, then T14Pariah, then BoyDoomscroll, then Writing ritual**, each as soon as you can afford it while keeping about 15 energy spare. EconH8er halves post costs, which frees energy for bashes. BoyDoomscroll makes the spam you stack on each bash cost almost nothing.

2. **Bash CharlesXII whenever a news story is trending.** It works from week 2, as soon as you have the energy plus about 10 to spare.

3. **Stack all three spams in the same week**, X.com first.

4. **Spend the boosted post on the strongest bonus available**, usually Signs of the times on a trend, or the full moon or retrograde post if one is active. The bonuses add together: a trending news post plus the bash plus all spams gives roughly +460% on a post that ignores the ceiling.

5. **Always ignore critics.** Every point of energy goes toward the next bash.

6. **In events, pick the option that best combines readers and energy**, roughly 1.5 points per reader to 5 per energy. Credibility only matters enough to avoid cancellation.

7. **Between bashes, play normally:** chase trends, don't repeat post types, and use Cryptic aphorisms when low on energy.

**What didn't work, from 15 variants at 2,000 games each**

| Variant | Average peak | Lesson |

|---|---|---|

| Spam on every bonus week, not just bash weeks | 1,814 | The energy drain left too little for bashes |

| A bigger energy buffer before bashing (+30) | 2,803 | Fewer bashes per run |

| Always listen to critics | 4,660 | Energy spent on levels instead of bashes |

| Bash only on "New Current Thing!" trends | 5,168 | Too few chances |

| Bash whenever affordable | 5,527 | Wasted on weeks without a bonus |

| Bash on strong bonus weeks only | 5,985 | Good, but trend timing beats it |

| **Optimal: bash on any trend, ignore critics, EconH8er and BoyDoomscroll** | **7,115** | Best combination |

| No bashing at all | 893 | For comparison |

The single most important lesson is to time the bashes to trends and save every spare point of energy for them. Event choices barely matter here, changing the average peak by under 200.

(https://xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=5912741&forum_id=2#50189890)

Game was fun until I noticed there was no winning and decided to check

(https://xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=5912741&forum_id=2#50189929)