diff --git a/cockatrice/src/client/settings/cache_settings.h b/cockatrice/src/client/settings/cache_settings.h
index 23cdb4dbf..7a90d82f1 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/client/settings/cache_settings.h
+++ b/cockatrice/src/client/settings/cache_settings.h
@@ -58,33 +58,33 @@ signals:
     void themeChanged();
 
 private:
-    QSettings *settings;
-    ShortcutsSettings *shortcutsSettings;
-    CardDatabaseSettings *cardDatabaseSettings;
-    ServersSettings *serversSettings;
-    MessageSettings *messageSettings;
-    GameFiltersSettings *gameFiltersSettings;
-    LayoutsSettings *layoutsSettings;
-    DownloadSettings *downloadSettings;
-    RecentsSettings *recentsSettings;
-    CardOverrideSettings *cardOverrideSettings;
-    DebugSettings *debugSettings;
-    CardCounterSettings *cardCounterSettings;
-    TabsSettings *tabsSettings;
-    SoundSettings *soundSettings;
-    GameSettings *gameSettings;
-    ChatSettings *chatSettings;
-    CacheStorageSettings *cacheStorageSettings;
-    UpdatesSettings *updatesSettings;
-    PersonalSettings *personalSettings;
-    CardsDisplaySettings *cardsDisplaySettings;
-    InterfaceSettings *interfaceSettings;
-    DeckEditorSettings *deckEditorSettings;
-    PathsSettings *pathsSettings;
-    VisualDeckStorageSettings *visualDeckStorageSettings;
-    AppearanceSettings *appearanceSettings;
-    NetworkSettings *networkSettings;
-    CommanderBracketSettings *commanderBracketSettings;
+    QSettings *settings = nullptr;
+    ShortcutsSettings *shortcutsSettings = nullptr;
+    CardDatabaseSettings *cardDatabaseSettings = nullptr;
+    ServersSettings *serversSettings = nullptr;
+    MessageSettings *messageSettings = nullptr;
+    GameFiltersSettings *gameFiltersSettings = nullptr;
+    LayoutsSettings *layoutsSettings = nullptr;
+    DownloadSettings *downloadSettings = nullptr;
+    RecentsSettings *recentsSettings = nullptr;
+    CardOverrideSettings *cardOverrideSettings = nullptr;
+    DebugSettings *debugSettings = nullptr;
+    CardCounterSettings *cardCounterSettings = nullptr;
+    TabsSettings *tabsSettings = nullptr;
+    SoundSettings *soundSettings = nullptr;
+    GameSettings *gameSettings = nullptr;
+    ChatSettings *chatSettings = nullptr;
+    CacheStorageSettings *cacheStorageSettings = nullptr;
+    UpdatesSettings *updatesSettings = nullptr;
+    PersonalSettings *personalSettings = nullptr;
+    CardsDisplaySettings *cardsDisplaySettings = nullptr;
+    InterfaceSettings *interfaceSettings = nullptr;
+    DeckEditorSettings *deckEditorSettings = nullptr;
+    PathsSettings *pathsSettings = nullptr;
+    VisualDeckStorageSettings *visualDeckStorageSettings = nullptr;
+    AppearanceSettings *appearanceSettings = nullptr;
+    NetworkSettings *networkSettings = nullptr;
+    CommanderBracketSettings *commanderBracketSettings = nullptr;
 
     QString themeName;
 
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader.cpp b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader.cpp
index 8c81d641d..0d464a3f7 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include <QDirIterator>
 #include <QFileInfo>
 #include <QMainWindow>
+#include <QMetaObject>
 #include <QMovie>
 #include <QNetworkRequest>
 #include <QPainter>
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ CardPictureLoader::CardPictureLoader() : QObject(nullptr)
 
     qRegisterMetaType<ExactCard>();
     connect(worker, &CardPictureLoaderWorker::imageLoaded, this, &CardPictureLoader::imageLoaded);
+    connect(worker, &CardPictureLoaderWorker::networkCacheCleared, this, &CardPictureLoader::networkCacheCleared);
 
     statusBar = new CardPictureLoaderStatusBar(nullptr);
     QMainWindow *mainWindow = qobject_cast<QMainWindow *>(QApplication::activeWindow());
@@ -55,7 +57,18 @@ CardPictureLoader::CardPictureLoader() : QObject(nullptr)
 
 CardPictureLoader::~CardPictureLoader()
 {
-    worker->deleteLater();
+    if (worker) {
+        // Capture the thread first: shutdownThread() blocks until the worker has been freed by the
+        // finished() -> deleteLater chain, after which the worker pointer must not be dereferenced.
+        QThread *pictureLoaderThread = worker->workerThread();
+        const bool stopped = worker->shutdownThread();
+        worker = nullptr;
+        // Deleting a QThread that is still running is undefined behaviour, so only free it once the
+        // bounded wait in shutdownThread() confirmed that it stopped.
+        if (stopped) {
+            delete pictureLoaderThread;
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 void CardPictureLoader::getCardBackPixmap(QPixmap &pixmap, QSize size)
@@ -295,7 +308,17 @@ void CardPictureLoader::clearPixmapCache()
 
 void CardPictureLoader::clearNetworkCache()
 {
-    getInstance().worker->clearNetworkCache();
+    // During teardown the worker is released before this singleton, so a queued clear may still
+    // arrive with no worker left to run it.
+    CardPictureLoaderWorker *worker = getInstance().worker;
+    if (!worker) {
+        return;
+    }
+    // The disk cache and redirect cache are owned by the worker thread, so the clear has to run
+    // there. Invoke it asynchronously to keep the GUI responsive while the worker may be walking
+    // the user's picture directories or recursively deleting the cache directory; callers that
+    // need to know when it is done can listen for networkCacheCleared().
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(worker, &CardPictureLoaderWorker::clearNetworkCache, Qt::QueuedConnection);
 }
 
 void CardPictureLoader::cacheCardPixmaps(const QList<ExactCard> &cards)
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader.h b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader.h
index 5c3ac84a3..c53fdfcc4 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader.h
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader.h
@@ -110,6 +110,9 @@ public:
 public slots:
     /**
      * @brief Clears the network disk cache of the worker.
+     *
+     * The clear runs on the worker thread, so this returns before it has completed; connect to
+     * networkCacheCleared() to act once it is done.
      */
     static void clearNetworkCache();
 
@@ -122,6 +125,10 @@ public slots:
     void imageLoaded(const ExactCard &card, const QImage &image);
     void saveCardImageToLocalStorage(const ExactCard &card, const QPixmap &pixmap);
 
+signals:
+    /** @brief Emitted after the worker has finished clearing the network and redirect caches. */
+    void networkCacheCleared();
+
 private slots:
     /**
      * @brief Triggered when the user changes the picture download settings.
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.cpp b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.cpp
index 4a2caaab4..13407aab9 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.cpp
@@ -16,15 +16,16 @@
 #include <utility>
 #include <version_string.h>
 
-static constexpr int MAX_REQUESTS_PER_SEC = 10;
-static constexpr int MIN_HOST_QUOTA = 1;                ///< Floor for the per-host request allowance
+static constexpr int MAX_REQUESTS_PER_SEC = DownloadSettings::DEFAULT_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT;
+static constexpr int MIN_HOST_QUOTA = DownloadSettings::MIN_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT;
 static constexpr qint64 QUOTA_RECOVER_MS = 60000;       ///< Idle time before a reduced quota starts recovering
 static constexpr int DISPATCH_INTERVAL_MS = 100;        ///< Pacing between individual network requests
 static constexpr qint64 QUOTA_RESET_INTERVAL_MS = 1000; ///< Interval at which the request quota resets
+static constexpr int THREAD_SHUTDOWN_WAIT_MS = 5000;    ///< Bounded wait for the worker thread to stop at exit
 
 CardPictureLoaderWorker::CardPictureLoaderWorker()
     : QObject(nullptr), picDownload(SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getPicDownload()),
-      requestQuota(MAX_REQUESTS_PER_SEC)
+      hostRequestLimits(SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getHostRequestLimits())
 {
     networkManager = new QNetworkAccessManager(this);
     // We need a timeout to ensure requests don't hang indefinitely in case of
@@ -59,6 +60,9 @@ CardPictureLoaderWorker::CardPictureLoaderWorker()
     localLoader = new CardPictureLoaderLocal(this);
 
     pictureLoaderThread = new QThread;
+    // The worker object frees itself once its thread finishes, so no event loop is left
+    // running and the QThread is never destroyed while still executing.
+    connect(pictureLoaderThread, &QThread::finished, this, &QObject::deleteLater);
     pictureLoaderThread->start(QThread::LowPriority);
     moveToThread(pictureLoaderThread);
 
@@ -74,12 +78,41 @@ CardPictureLoaderWorker::CardPictureLoaderWorker()
 
     connect(&dispatchTimer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &CardPictureLoaderWorker::dispatchQueuedRequest);
     dispatchTimer.setInterval(DISPATCH_INTERVAL_MS);
+
+    connect(&SettingsCache::instance().downloads(), &DownloadSettings::hostRequestLimitsChanged, this,
+            [this] { hostRequestLimits = SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getHostRequestLimits(); });
 }
 
 CardPictureLoaderWorker::~CardPictureLoaderWorker()
 {
     saveRedirectCache();
-    pictureLoaderThread->deleteLater();
+}
+
+bool CardPictureLoaderWorker::shutdownThread()
+{
+    // The finished() -> deleteLater chain (wired in the constructor) frees this worker as soon as
+    // its event loop exits, so nothing - not even a member read - may run once wait() returns.
+    // QThread::quit() and QThread::wait() are thread-safe and may be called from the owning thread.
+    QThread *thread = pictureLoaderThread;
+    if (!thread) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    thread->quit();
+    // Only an unbounded wait() would guarantee the thread stops, but this runs from a function-local
+    // static destructor after main() has returned, with no UI left to interrupt a worker stuck in a
+    // slow slot or on a stalled filesystem. Bound the wait and leave such a thread to the OS rather
+    // than hanging the process forever.
+    if (!thread->wait(THREAD_SHUTDOWN_WAIT_MS)) {
+        qCWarning(CardPictureLoaderWorkerLog) << "Picture loader worker thread did not stop within"
+                                              << THREAD_SHUTDOWN_WAIT_MS << "ms; leaving it to be torn down by the OS";
+        return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+QThread *CardPictureLoaderWorker::workerThread() const
+{
+    return pictureLoaderThread;
 }
 
 void CardPictureLoaderWorker::queueRequest(const QUrl &url, CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork *worker)
@@ -109,6 +142,14 @@ QNetworkReply *CardPictureLoaderWorker::makeRequest(const QUrl &url, CardPicture
     QUrl cachedRedirect = getCachedRedirect(url);
     if (!cachedRedirect.isEmpty()) {
         emit imageRequestSucceeded(url);
+        // The redirect target is a different host, which may itself be in 429 backoff; hand the
+        // entry back to its worker so it waits the backoff out instead of dispatching straight
+        // onto the backed-off host.
+        if (CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork::rateLimiter().isRateLimited(cachedRedirect.host(),
+                                                                     QDateTime::currentDateTime())) {
+            worker->scheduleDeferredRetry();
+            return nullptr;
+        }
         return makeRequest(cachedRedirect, worker);
     }
 
@@ -129,26 +170,45 @@ QNetworkReply *CardPictureLoaderWorker::makeRequest(const QUrl &url, CardPicture
 
     QNetworkReply *reply = networkManager->get(req);
 
+    // Track in-flight replies per host so the unlocked fast path can bound how many requests it
+    // issues at once, instead of creating replies that time out before Qt opens a connection.
+    const QString host = url.host();
+    hostInFlight.insert(host, hostInFlight.value(host) + 1);
+
     // Connect reply handling
-    connect(reply, &QNetworkReply::finished, worker, [reply, worker] { worker->handleNetworkReply(reply); });
+    connect(reply, &QNetworkReply::finished, worker, [this, reply, worker, host] {
+        hostInFlight.insert(host, qMax(0, hostInFlight.value(host) - 1));
+        worker->handleNetworkReply(reply);
+    });
 
     return reply;
 }
 
 void CardPictureLoaderWorker::resetRequestQuota()
 {
-    requestQuota = MAX_REQUESTS_PER_SEC;
+    // Allowances are seeded lazily per host in processSingleRequest() when a request is first
+    // looked at in a new second, so a host that enters the queue mid-second now gets its reduced
+    // per-host allowance instead of falling through to the full per-second default.
+    hostQuotaRemaining.clear();
 
     QDateTime now = QDateTime::currentDateTime();
-    for (auto it = hostRequestQuota.begin(); it != hostRequestQuota.end(); ++it) {
+    for (auto it = hostRequestQuota.begin(); it != hostRequestQuota.end();) {
         if (!hostLast429.contains(it.key()) || now.msecsTo(hostLast429.value(it.key())) < -QUOTA_RECOVER_MS) {
-            it.value() = qMin(MAX_REQUESTS_PER_SEC, it.value() + 1);
+            if (hostAllowanceCeiling(it.key()) == DownloadSettings::UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA) {
+                // A developer-unlocked host that fell back after a 429 recovers towards the default
+                // allowance; once it gets there it becomes unlocked (fast-path) again.
+                if (it.value() + 1 >= DownloadSettings::DEFAULT_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT) {
+                    it = hostRequestQuota.erase(it);
+                    continue;
+                }
+                it.value() += 1;
+            } else {
+                // Recover towards the host's effective allowance ceiling, which may be
+                // lowered by the user's per-host request limits.
+                it.value() = qMin(hostAllowanceCeiling(it.key()), it.value() + 1);
+            }
         }
-    }
-
-    for (const auto &request : requestLoadQueue) {
-        const QString host = request.first.host();
-        hostQuotaRemaining.insert(host, hostRequestQuota.value(host, MAX_REQUESTS_PER_SEC));
+        ++it;
     }
 
     processQueuedRequests();
@@ -156,38 +216,112 @@ void CardPictureLoaderWorker::resetRequestQuota()
 
 void CardPictureLoaderWorker::processQueuedRequests()
 {
+    Q_ASSERT(thread() == QThread::currentThread());
+
     if (requestLoadQueue.isEmpty()) {
         dispatchTimer.stop();
+        requestTimer.stop();
         return;
     }
     // Start lazily from the worker's own thread: QTimer must be started in the thread it lives in.
     if (!requestTimer.isActive()) {
         requestTimer.start();
     }
-    dispatchTimer.start();
+    // Restarting an active timer would reset the pacing countdown, so a burst of enqueues could
+    // keep starving the dispatcher; only start it when it has actually stopped.
+    if (!dispatchTimer.isActive()) {
+        dispatchTimer.start();
+    }
 }
 
 void CardPictureLoaderWorker::dispatchQueuedRequest()
 {
-    if (requestLoadQueue.isEmpty() || requestQuota <= 0) {
+    if (requestLoadQueue.isEmpty()) {
+        // All queued requests have been dispatched; stop the pacing and quota-reset timers.
         dispatchTimer.stop();
+        requestTimer.stop();
+        return;
+    }
+
+    QDateTime now = QDateTime::currentDateTime();
+    bool dispatched = false;
+    // Set while an unlocked host still has queued work blocked only by the in-flight cap; the
+    // timer must keep running so it gets another try as soon as a slot frees. A host blocked by
+    // its 429 backoff instead waits for the next quota-reset tick to restart the dispatcher.
+    bool unlockedCapped = false;
+
+    // Unlocked hosts (developer cap UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA) skip the pacing and the per-host
+    // allowance: dispatch their queued requests back-to-back, bounded by their 429 backoff and the
+    // per-host in-flight cap so a large burst can't queue replies that time out before Qt opens a
+    // connection for them.
+    for (int i = 0; i < requestLoadQueue.size();) {
+        const auto &request = requestLoadQueue.at(i);
+        const QString host = request.first.host();
+        if (isUnlockedHost(host)) {
+            if (CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork::rateLimiter().isRateLimited(host, now)) {
+                ++i;
+                continue;
+            }
+            if (hostInFlight.value(host) < MAX_IN_FLIGHT_PER_HOST) {
+                makeRequest(request.first, request.second);
+                requestLoadQueue.removeAt(i);
+                dispatched = true;
+                continue;
+            }
+            unlockedCapped = true;
+        }
+        ++i;
+    }
+
+    if (requestLoadQueue.isEmpty()) {
+        dispatchTimer.stop();
+        requestTimer.stop();
         return;
     }
 
     if (processSingleRequest()) {
-        --requestQuota;
-    } else {
-        // No queued host currently has allowance left in this second; wait for the quota reset.
+        dispatched = true;
+    }
+
+    // Keep the timer running while there is progress to make or unlocked work waiting on a free
+    // in-flight slot; otherwise no host has allowance left this second, so wait for the quota reset.
+    if (!dispatched && !unlockedCapped) {
         dispatchTimer.stop();
     }
 }
 
 bool CardPictureLoaderWorker::processSingleRequest()
 {
+    QDateTime now = QDateTime::currentDateTime();
     for (int i = 0; i < requestLoadQueue.size(); ++i) {
         const auto &request = requestLoadQueue.at(i);
-        QString host = request.first.host();
-        int allowance = hostQuotaRemaining.value(host, MAX_REQUESTS_PER_SEC);
+        const QString host = request.first.host();
+        // Don't dispatch requests to a host that is currently in its 429 backoff; hand the entry
+        // back to its worker so it can wait the backoff out or fall through to another source,
+        // instead of leaving it parked in the queue with no reply pending.
+        if (CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork::rateLimiter().isRateLimited(host, now)) {
+            requestLoadQueue.removeAt(i);
+            request.second->startNextPicDownload();
+            return true;
+        }
+        // Unlocked hosts are handled by dispatchQueuedRequest's fast path, bounded by the in-flight
+        // cap; they must not fall through to the per-host allowance arithmetic below.
+        if (isUnlockedHost(host)) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        int ceiling = hostAllowanceCeiling(host);
+        if (ceiling == DownloadSettings::UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA) {
+            // A 429 dropped this unlocked host out of the fast path and installed a concrete
+            // allowance; pace it against that allowance until the recovery loop unlocks it again.
+            ceiling = hostRequestQuota.value(host, DownloadSettings::DEFAULT_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT);
+        }
+        // Seed the allowance lazily so a host that enters the queue mid-second gets its reduced
+        // per-host allowance, clamped against the ceiling so a lowered user cap applies from this
+        // second onward.
+        if (!hostQuotaRemaining.contains(host)) {
+            hostQuotaRemaining.insert(host, qMin(ceiling, hostRequestQuota.value(host, ceiling)));
+        }
+        int allowance = hostQuotaRemaining.value(host);
         if (allowance > 0) {
             hostQuotaRemaining.insert(host, allowance - 1);
             makeRequest(request.first, request.second);
@@ -198,9 +332,30 @@ bool CardPictureLoaderWorker::processSingleRequest()
     return false;
 }
 
+int CardPictureLoaderWorker::hostAllowanceCeiling(const QString &host) const
+{
+    const int devCap = DownloadSettings::getDeveloperHostCaps().value(host, MAX_REQUESTS_PER_SEC);
+    if (devCap == DownloadSettings::UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA && !hostRequestLimits.contains(host)) {
+        return DownloadSettings::UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA;
+    }
+    const int requested = hostRequestLimits.value(host, devCap);
+    return SettingsCache::instance().downloads().clampHostRequestLimit(host, requested);
+}
+
+bool CardPictureLoaderWorker::isUnlockedHost(const QString &host) const
+{
+    return hostAllowanceCeiling(host) == DownloadSettings::UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA && !hostRequestQuota.contains(host);
+}
+
 void CardPictureLoaderWorker::onHostRateLimited(const QString &host)
 {
-    hostRequestQuota.insert(host, qMax(MIN_HOST_QUOTA, hostRequestQuota.value(host, MAX_REQUESTS_PER_SEC) / 2));
+    const int ceiling = hostAllowanceCeiling(host);
+    // An unlocked host has no per-host allowance to halve. Install one instead so it drops out of
+    // the unlocked fast path and is paced like a throttled host; the recovery loop in
+    // resetRequestQuota() then walks it back up and unlocks it again.
+    const int base =
+        ceiling == DownloadSettings::UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA ? DownloadSettings::DEFAULT_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT : ceiling;
+    hostRequestQuota.insert(host, qMax(MIN_HOST_QUOTA, hostRequestQuota.value(host, base) / 2));
     hostLast429.insert(host, QDateTime::currentDateTime());
 }
 
@@ -310,4 +465,5 @@ void CardPictureLoaderWorker::clearNetworkCache()
 {
     networkManager->cache()->clear();
     redirectCache.clear();
+    emit networkCacheCleared();
 }
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.h b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.h
index 9f7fd9437..8ae4ffc3b 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.h
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.h
@@ -74,10 +74,37 @@ public:
      */
     void onHostRateLimited(const QString &host);
 
-    /** @brief Clears the network cache and redirect cache. */
-    void clearNetworkCache();
+    /**
+     * @brief Stops the worker thread and reports whether it stopped.
+     *
+     * Called from the owning thread (CardPictureLoader) on its way out. QThread::quit() posts an
+     * exit request to the worker's event loop and QThread::wait() blocks (bounded) until the loop
+     * has returned and the thread finished. Only QThread members are touched here, so this method
+     * is safe to call from the owning thread. The worker object itself is freed by the finished()
+     * -> deleteLater chain (see the constructor); the QThread object is deleted afterwards by the
+     * owner (CardPictureLoader::~CardPictureLoader), not by this method.
+     *
+     * @return true if the thread stopped within the timeout, false if it is still running (in
+     *         which case the owner must not delete the QThread).
+     */
+    [[nodiscard]] bool shutdownThread();
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Returns the worker's QThread.
+     * @return The worker thread
+     *
+     * Only meaningful while the worker object is alive; capture it before calling shutdownThread().
+     */
+    QThread *workerThread() const;
 
 public slots:
+    /**
+     * @brief Clears the network cache and redirect cache.
+     *
+     * Runs on the worker thread; invoke it via a queued call when coming from another thread,
+     * since both caches are owned by the worker thread.
+     */
+    void clearNetworkCache();
     /**
      * @brief Makes a network request for the given URL using the specified worker.
      * @param url URL to load
@@ -86,7 +113,7 @@ public slots:
      */
     QNetworkReply *makeRequest(const QUrl &url, CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork *workThread);
 
-    /** @brief Processes all queued requests respecting the request quota. */
+    /** @brief Starts the pacing timers if there is queued work, stops them when the queue is empty. */
     void processQueuedRequests();
 
     /** @brief Chooses a request from the queue and starts it, respecting the quota and pacing. */
@@ -121,16 +148,36 @@ private:
     bool picDownload;                                  ///< Whether downloading images from network is enabled
     QQueue<QPair<QUrl, CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork *>> requestLoadQueue; ///< Queue of pending network requests
 
-    int requestQuota;                       ///< Remaining requests allowed per second
     QTimer requestTimer;                    ///< Timer to reset the request quota
     QTimer dispatchTimer;                   ///< Timer pacing individual network requests
     QHash<QString, int> hostRequestQuota;   ///< Sustained per-host request allowance
+    QHash<QString, int> hostRequestLimits;  ///< User-set per-host request allowances
     QHash<QString, int> hostQuotaRemaining; ///< Per-host allowance left in the current second
     QHash<QString, QDateTime> hostLast429;  ///< When each host was last rate limited
+    QHash<QString, int> hostInFlight;       ///< Network replies currently in flight, per host
+
+    /** @brief Maximum concurrent in-flight network replies per host. */
+    static constexpr int MAX_IN_FLIGHT_PER_HOST = 6;
 
     CardPictureLoaderLocal *localLoader; ///< Loader for local images
     QSet<QString> currentlyLoading;      ///< Deduplication: contains pixmapCacheKey currently being loaded
 
+    /**
+     * @brief Effective per-host allowance ceiling for a host.
+     * @param host The host to look up
+     * @return The allowance ceiling in requests/second, or DownloadSettings::UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA
+     *         when the developer unlocked the host and no user limit is set for it.
+     */
+    [[nodiscard]] int hostAllowanceCeiling(const QString &host) const;
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Whether a host may skip dispatch pacing and per-host allowance entirely.
+     *
+     * A host is unlocked while it has no user limit and no reduced allowance installed by a 429.
+     * A 429 drops it out of the fast path until resetRequestQuota() walks the allowance back up.
+     */
+    [[nodiscard]] bool isUnlockedHost(const QString &host) const;
+
     /** @brief Returns cached redirect URL for the given original URL, if available. */
     [[nodiscard]] QUrl getCachedRedirect(const QUrl &originalUrl) const;
 
@@ -162,6 +209,9 @@ signals:
 
     /** @brief Emitted when a network request successfully completes. */
     void imageRequestSucceeded(const QUrl &url);
+
+    /** @brief Emitted after clearNetworkCache() has finished clearing both caches. */
+    void networkCacheCleared();
 };
 
 #endif // PICTURE_LOADER_WORKER_H
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker_work.cpp b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker_work.cpp
index 66c56337c..6cedc9e8b 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker_work.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker_work.cpp
@@ -22,8 +22,13 @@ static const QStringList MD5_BLACKLIST = {
     "fbc7d763c08771c260b39e2115414eeb"  // Current card back hash
 };
 
-CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork::CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork(const CardPictureLoaderWorker *worker, const ExactCard &toLoad)
-    : QObject(nullptr), cardToDownload(CardPictureToLoad(toLoad)),
+const ServerRateLimiter &CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork::rateLimiter()
+{
+    return s_rateLimiter;
+}
+
+CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork::CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork(CardPictureLoaderWorker *worker, const ExactCard &toLoad)
+    : QObject(worker), cardToDownload(CardPictureToLoad(toLoad)),
       picDownload(SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getPicDownload())
 {
     // Hook up signals to the orchestrator
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker_work.h b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker_work.h
index 1e56a4373..da5049ca7 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker_work.h
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker_work.h
@@ -36,13 +36,37 @@ class CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork : public QObject
 public:
     /**
      * @brief Constructs a worker for downloading a specific card image.
-     * @param worker The orchestrating CardPictureLoaderWorker
+     * @param worker The orchestrating CardPictureLoaderWorker; the work object becomes its child so
+     *               it is destroyed with the worker even if it never reaches concludeImageLoad().
      * @param toLoad The ExactCard to download
      */
-    explicit CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork(const CardPictureLoaderWorker *worker, const ExactCard &toLoad);
+    explicit CardPictureLoaderWorkerWork(CardPictureLoaderWorker *worker, const ExactCard &toLoad);
 
     CardPictureToLoad cardToDownload; ///< The card and associated URLs to try downloading
 
+    /** @brief Shared per-server 429 backoff state. */
+    static const ServerRateLimiter &rateLimiter();
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Starts downloading the next URL for this card.
+     *
+     * Skips URLs whose server is currently in 429 backoff, either waiting the
+     * backoff out or falling through to the other configured sources. Also used by
+     * the dispatch machinery to hand an entry back after it was removed from the
+     * request queue when its host turned out to be backed off.
+     */
+    void startNextPicDownload();
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Schedules a deferred retry after the relevant server backoff expires.
+     *
+     * Waits on the current URL's server when it is the reason we are blocked,
+     * otherwise on the earliest active backoff. If no servers are in backoff,
+     * concludes with failure. Otherwise resets the CardPictureToLoad indices and
+     * retries after the backoff period.
+     */
+    void scheduleDeferredRetry();
+
 public slots:
     /**
      * @brief Handles a finished network reply for the card image.
@@ -55,9 +79,6 @@ private:
 
     static ServerRateLimiter s_rateLimiter; ///< Shared per-server 429 backoff state
 
-    /** @brief Starts downloading the next URL for this card. */
-    void startNextPicDownload();
-
     /** @brief Called when all URLs have been exhausted or download failed. */
     void picDownloadFailed();
 
@@ -82,16 +103,6 @@ private:
      */
     void concludeImageLoad(const QImage &image);
 
-    /**
-     * @brief Schedules a deferred retry after the relevant server backoff expires.
-     *
-     * Waits on the current URL's server when it is the reason we are blocked,
-     * otherwise on the earliest active backoff. If no servers are in backoff,
-     * concludes with failure. Otherwise resets the CardPictureToLoad indices and
-     * retries after the backoff period.
-     */
-    void scheduleDeferredRetry();
-
 private slots:
     /** @brief Updates the picDownload setting when it changes. */
     void picDownloadChanged();
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/settings_page/deck_editor_settings_page.cpp b/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/settings_page/deck_editor_settings_page.cpp
index f3eac05b8..8628aa5a8 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/settings_page/deck_editor_settings_page.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/settings_page/deck_editor_settings_page.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@
 #include <QInputDialog>
 #include <QLineEdit>
 #include <QMessageBox>
+#include <QSet>
 #include <QToolBar>
+#include <QUrl>
 #include <libcockatrice/settings/download_settings.h>
 #include <libcockatrice/settings/paths_settings.h>
 #include <libcockatrice/settings/personal_settings.h>
@@ -51,7 +53,9 @@ DeckEditorSettingsPage::DeckEditorSettingsPage()
     urlList->setDragDropMode(QAbstractItemView::InternalMove);
     connect(urlList->model(), &QAbstractItemModel::rowsMoved, this, &DeckEditorSettingsPage::urlListChanged);
 
-    urlList->addItems(SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getAllURLs());
+    for (const QString &url : SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getAllURLs()) {
+        addUrlItem(url);
+    }
 
     aAdd = new QAction(this);
     aAdd->setIcon(themePixmap(QStringLiteral("icons/increment")));
@@ -65,11 +69,16 @@ DeckEditorSettingsPage::DeckEditorSettingsPage()
     aRemove->setIcon(themePixmap(QStringLiteral("icons/decrement")));
     connect(aRemove, &QAction::triggered, this, &DeckEditorSettingsPage::actRemoveURL);
 
+    aRateLimit = new QAction(this);
+    aRateLimit->setIcon(themePixmap(QStringLiteral("icons/cogwheel")));
+    connect(aRateLimit, &QAction::triggered, this, &DeckEditorSettingsPage::actAdjustRateLimit);
+
     auto *urlToolBar = new QToolBar;
     urlToolBar->setOrientation(Qt::Vertical);
     urlToolBar->addAction(aAdd);
     urlToolBar->addAction(aRemove);
     urlToolBar->addAction(aEdit);
+    urlToolBar->addAction(aRateLimit);
     urlToolBar->setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy::Preferred, QSizePolicy::MinimumExpanding);
 
     auto *urlListLayout = new QHBoxLayout;
@@ -117,7 +126,9 @@ void DeckEditorSettingsPage::resetDownloadedURLsButtonClicked()
 {
     SettingsCache::instance().downloads().resetToDefaultURLs();
     urlList->clear();
-    urlList->addItems(SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getAllURLs());
+    for (const QString &url : SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getAllURLs()) {
+        addUrlItem(url);
+    }
     QMessageBox::information(this, tr("Success"), tr("Download URLs have been reset."));
 }
 
@@ -126,7 +137,7 @@ void DeckEditorSettingsPage::actAddURL()
     bool ok;
     QString msg = QInputDialog::getText(this, tr("Add URL"), tr("URL:"), QLineEdit::Normal, QString(), &ok);
     if (ok) {
-        urlList->addItem(msg);
+        addUrlItem(msg);
         storeSettings();
     }
 }
@@ -141,12 +152,14 @@ void DeckEditorSettingsPage::actRemoveURL()
 
 void DeckEditorSettingsPage::actEditURL()
 {
-    if (urlList->currentItem()) {
-        QString oldText = urlList->currentItem()->text();
+    QListWidgetItem *item = urlList->currentItem();
+    if (item) {
+        const QString oldText = urlForItem(item);
         bool ok;
         QString msg = QInputDialog::getText(this, tr("Edit URL"), tr("URL:"), QLineEdit::Normal, oldText, &ok);
         if (ok) {
-            urlList->currentItem()->setText(msg);
+            item->setData(Qt::UserRole, msg);
+            item->setText(urlLabel(msg));
             storeSettings();
         }
     }
@@ -158,10 +171,128 @@ void DeckEditorSettingsPage::storeSettings()
 
     QStringList downloadUrls;
     for (int i = 0; i < urlList->count(); i++) {
-        qInfo() << "Priority" << i << ":" << urlList->item(i)->text();
-        downloadUrls << urlList->item(i)->text();
+        const QString url = urlForItem(urlList->item(i));
+        qInfo() << "Priority" << i << ":" << url;
+        downloadUrls << url;
     }
     SettingsCache::instance().downloads().setDownloadUrls(downloadUrls);
+
+    // Drop per-host limits whose host is no longer referenced by any configured URL, so removing
+    // a URL doesn't leave a stale throttle behind that reactivates if the host is re-added.
+    QSet<QString> usedHosts;
+    for (const QString &url : downloadUrls) {
+        const QString host = QUrl(url).host();
+        if (!host.isEmpty()) {
+            usedHosts.insert(host);
+        }
+    }
+    QHash<QString, int> limits = SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getHostRequestLimits();
+    bool limitsChanged = false;
+    for (auto it = limits.begin(); it != limits.end();) {
+        if (!usedHosts.contains(it.key())) {
+            it = limits.erase(it);
+            limitsChanged = true;
+        } else {
+            ++it;
+        }
+    }
+    if (limitsChanged) {
+        SettingsCache::instance().downloads().setHostRequestLimits(limits);
+    }
+
+    refreshUrlItems();
+}
+
+QListWidgetItem *DeckEditorSettingsPage::addUrlItem(const QString &url)
+{
+    auto *item = new QListWidgetItem(urlLabel(url));
+    item->setData(Qt::UserRole, url);
+    urlList->addItem(item);
+    return item;
+}
+
+QString DeckEditorSettingsPage::urlForItem(const QListWidgetItem *item) const
+{
+    return item->data(Qt::UserRole).toString();
+}
+
+QString DeckEditorSettingsPage::urlLabel(const QString &url) const
+{
+    const QString host = QUrl(url).host();
+    if (host.isEmpty()) {
+        return url;
+    }
+
+    const QHash<QString, int> limits = SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getHostRequestLimits();
+    const int devCap =
+        DownloadSettings::getDeveloperHostCaps().value(host, DownloadSettings::DEFAULT_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT);
+    if (devCap == DownloadSettings::UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA && !limits.contains(host)) {
+        return tr("%1  (unlimited)").arg(url);
+    }
+
+    const int requested = limits.value(
+        host, devCap == DownloadSettings::UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA ? DownloadSettings::DEFAULT_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT : devCap);
+    const int effective = SettingsCache::instance().downloads().clampHostRequestLimit(host, requested);
+    return tr("%1  (%2/s)").arg(url).arg(effective);
+}
+
+void DeckEditorSettingsPage::refreshUrlItems()
+{
+    for (int i = 0; i < urlList->count(); ++i) {
+        QListWidgetItem *item = urlList->item(i);
+        item->setText(urlLabel(urlForItem(item)));
+    }
+}
+
+void DeckEditorSettingsPage::actAdjustRateLimit()
+{
+    if (urlList->currentItem() == nullptr) {
+        QMessageBox::information(this, tr("Adjust Rate Limit"), tr("Select a URL in the list first."));
+        return;
+    }
+
+    const QString host = QUrl(urlForItem(urlList->currentItem())).host();
+    if (host.isEmpty()) {
+        QMessageBox::information(this, tr("Adjust Rate Limit"), tr("The selected URL does not have a valid host."));
+        return;
+    }
+
+    const QHash<QString, int> &devCaps = DownloadSettings::getDeveloperHostCaps();
+    const QHash<QString, int> currentLimits = SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getHostRequestLimits();
+    const int devCap = devCaps.value(host, DownloadSettings::DEFAULT_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT);
+    const bool unlocked = devCap == DownloadSettings::UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA;
+
+    bool ok = false;
+    int minimum;
+    int maximum;
+    int defaultValue;
+    QString prompt;
+    if (unlocked) {
+        minimum = 0; // 0 means "unlimited"
+        maximum = DownloadSettings::DEFAULT_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT;
+        defaultValue = currentLimits.value(host, 0);
+        prompt = tr("Requests per second (0 = unlimited, fastest; up to %1):").arg(maximum);
+    } else {
+        minimum = DownloadSettings::MIN_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT;
+        maximum = devCap;
+        defaultValue = currentLimits.value(host, devCap);
+        prompt = tr("Requests per second (developer maximum is %1):").arg(maximum);
+    }
+
+    const int value = QInputDialog::getInt(this, tr("Adjust Rate Limit for %1").arg(host), prompt, defaultValue,
+                                           minimum, maximum, 1, &ok);
+    if (!ok) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    QHash<QString, int> limits = currentLimits;
+    if (unlocked ? value == 0 : value == devCap) {
+        limits.remove(host);
+    } else {
+        limits.insert(host, value);
+    }
+    SettingsCache::instance().downloads().setHostRequestLimits(limits);
+    refreshUrlItems();
 }
 
 void DeckEditorSettingsPage::urlListChanged(const QModelIndex &, int, int, const QModelIndex &, int)
@@ -244,4 +375,8 @@ void DeckEditorSettingsPage::retranslateUi()
     aAdd->setText(tr("Add New URL"));
     aEdit->setText(tr("Edit URL"));
     aRemove->setText(tr("Remove URL"));
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+    aRateLimit->setText(tr("Adjust Rate Limit"));
+
+    // The per-URL rate limit suffixes are translated, so refresh them when the language changes.
+    refreshUrlItems();
+}
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/settings_page/deck_editor_settings_page.h b/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/settings_page/deck_editor_settings_page.h
index 5db009c8a..23e33fa20 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/settings_page/deck_editor_settings_page.h
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/settings_page/deck_editor_settings_page.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ private slots:
     void actAddURL();
     void actRemoveURL();
     void actEditURL();
+    void actAdjustRateLimit();
     void resetDownloadedURLsButtonClicked();
 
 private:
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ private:
     QLabel urlLinkLabel;
     QCheckBox picDownloadCheckBox;
     QListWidget *urlList;
-    QAction *aAdd, *aEdit, *aRemove;
+    QAction *aAdd, *aEdit, *aRemove, *aRateLimit;
     QCheckBox mcDownloadSpoilersCheckBox;
     QLabel msDownloadSpoilersLabel;
     QGroupBox *mpGeneralGroupBox;
@@ -46,6 +47,18 @@ private:
     QLabel infoOnSpoilersLabel;
     QPushButton *mpSpoilerPathButton;
     QPushButton *updateNowButton;
+
+    /** @brief Adds a list item for the given URL, storing the raw URL alongside its displayed label. */
+    QListWidgetItem *addUrlItem(const QString &url);
+
+    /** @brief Returns the raw URL stored on a list item. */
+    [[nodiscard]] QString urlForItem(const QListWidgetItem *item) const;
+
+    /** @brief Returns the display label for a URL, including its current effective rate limit. */
+    [[nodiscard]] QString urlLabel(const QString &url) const;
+
+    /** @brief Refreshes the displayed label of every URL item after limits or settings change. */
+    void refreshUrlItems();
 };
 
 #endif // COCKATRICE_DECK_EDITOR_SETTINGS_PAGE_H
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/settings_page/storage_settings_page.cpp b/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/settings_page/storage_settings_page.cpp
index 17838e501..4aad91115 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/settings_page/storage_settings_page.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/settings_page/storage_settings_page.cpp
@@ -181,9 +181,14 @@ StorageSettingsPage::StorageSettingsPage()
 
 void StorageSettingsPage::clearDownloadedPicsButtonClicked()
 {
-    CardPictureLoader::clearNetworkCache();
+    // The network cache is cleared asynchronously on the worker thread, so wait for the completion
+    // signal before confirming; the in-memory pixmap cache is cleared synchronously right away.
+    connect(
+        &CardPictureLoader::getInstance(), &CardPictureLoader::networkCacheCleared, this,
+        [this] { QMessageBox::information(this, tr("Success"), tr("Cached card pictures have been reset.")); },
+        Qt::SingleShotConnection);
     CardPictureLoader::clearPixmapCache();
-    QMessageBox::information(this, tr("Success"), tr("Cached card pictures have been reset."));
+    CardPictureLoader::clearNetworkCache();
 }
 
 void StorageSettingsPage::clearImageBackupsButtonClicked()
diff --git a/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/download_settings.cpp b/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/download_settings.cpp
index cfa1c054e..a321f0bd0 100644
--- a/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/download_settings.cpp
+++ b/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/download_settings.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,22 @@ const QStringList DownloadSettings::DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_URLS = {
     "https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=!set:muid!&type=card",
     "https://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?name=!name!&type=card"};
 
+// Developer-set ceilings for the per-host request allowance. Users may lower a host's
+// allowance via the download settings, but can never raise it above these values. Hosts
+// not listed default to DEFAULT_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT. A cap of UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA marks a
+// host that is never throttled per host and skips the dispatch pacing (429 backoff still applies).
+const QHash<QString, int> DownloadSettings::DEVELOPER_HOST_CAPS = {
+    // The Scryfall API enforces 10 requests/second; stay one under so a burst can't trip 429s.
+    {"api.scryfall.com", 9},
+    // The Scryfall image CDN has no documented per-client rate limit.
+    {"cards.scryfall.io", UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA},
+};
+
+const QHash<QString, int> &DownloadSettings::getDeveloperHostCaps()
+{
+    return DEVELOPER_HOST_CAPS;
+}
+
 DownloadSettings::DownloadSettings(const QString &settingPath, QObject *parent = nullptr)
     : SettingsManager(settingPath + "downloads.ini", "downloads", QString(), parent)
 {
@@ -50,3 +66,57 @@ void DownloadSettings::setDownloadSpoilerStatus(bool _spoilerStatus)
     setValue(_spoilerStatus, "downloadSpoilers");
     emit downloadSpoilerStatusChanged();
 }
+
+QHash<QString, int> DownloadSettings::getHostRequestLimits() const
+{
+    auto settings = getSettings();
+    if (!defaultGroup.isEmpty()) {
+        settings.beginGroup(defaultGroup);
+    }
+    settings.beginGroup("hostRequestLimits");
+
+    QHash<QString, int> hostRequestLimits;
+    const QStringList hosts = settings.childKeys();
+    for (const QString &host : hosts) {
+        hostRequestLimits.insert(host, settings.value(host).toInt());
+    }
+
+    settings.endGroup();
+    if (!defaultGroup.isEmpty()) {
+        settings.endGroup();
+    }
+    return hostRequestLimits;
+}
+
+void DownloadSettings::setHostRequestLimits(const QHash<QString, int> &hostRequestLimits)
+{
+    auto settings = getSettings();
+    if (!defaultGroup.isEmpty()) {
+        settings.beginGroup(defaultGroup);
+    }
+
+    // Drop the legacy single-key form (an opaque @Variant blob) written by earlier builds so each
+    // host is stored as a plain, hand-editable key in its own subgroup.
+    settings.remove("hostRequestLimits");
+    settings.beginGroup("hostRequestLimits");
+    settings.remove(QString());
+    for (auto it = hostRequestLimits.cbegin(); it != hostRequestLimits.cend(); ++it) {
+        settings.setValue(it.key(), it.value());
+    }
+    settings.endGroup();
+
+    if (!defaultGroup.isEmpty()) {
+        settings.endGroup();
+    }
+    settings.sync();
+    emit hostRequestLimitsChanged();
+}
+
+int DownloadSettings::clampHostRequestLimit(const QString &host, int requested) const
+{
+    const int devCap = DEVELOPER_HOST_CAPS.value(host, DEFAULT_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT);
+    if (devCap == UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA) {
+        return qMax(MIN_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT, requested);
+    }
+    return qBound(MIN_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT, requested, devCap);
+}
diff --git a/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/download_settings.h b/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/download_settings.h
index a3a6f4ca9..9fcf9e61d 100644
--- a/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/download_settings.h
+++ b/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/download_settings.h
@@ -9,14 +9,34 @@
 
 #include "settings_manager.h"
 
+#include <QHash>
+
 class DownloadSettings : public SettingsManager
 {
     Q_OBJECT
     friend class SettingsCache;
 
     static const QStringList DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_URLS;
+    static const QHash<QString, int> DEVELOPER_HOST_CAPS;
 
 public:
+    /** @brief Per-host request allowance (requests/second) when no developer cap applies. */
+    static constexpr int DEFAULT_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT = 10;
+    /** @brief Floor for any per-host request allowance. */
+    static constexpr int MIN_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT = 1;
+    /** @brief Developer cap marking a host as never throttled per host or by the dispatch pacing. */
+    static constexpr int UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA = -1;
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Developer-set per-host allowance ceilings (requests/second), keyed by host.
+     *
+     * Hosts not present default to DEFAULT_HOST_REQUEST_LIMIT. An entry of
+     * UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA marks a host that users may still lower, but that is never
+     * throttled per host by default. Users can never raise a host's allowance above its
+     * developer cap.
+     */
+    static const QHash<QString, int> &getDeveloperHostCaps();
+
     explicit DownloadSettings(const QString &, QObject *);
 
     QStringList getAllURLs() const;
@@ -27,9 +47,23 @@ public:
     [[nodiscard]] bool getDownloadSpoilersStatus() const;
     void setDownloadSpoilerStatus(bool _spoilerStatus);
 
+    /** @brief User-set per-host request allowances (requests/second). Missing hosts use the developer default. */
+    QHash<QString, int> getHostRequestLimits() const;
+    void setHostRequestLimits(const QHash<QString, int> &hostRequestLimits);
+
+    /**
+     * @brief Clamps the user's requested allowance for a host against its developer cap.
+     * @param host The host to clamp for
+     * @param requested The user-requested allowance in requests/second
+     * @return The effective allowance. Users may lower a host's allowance but never raise it
+     *         above the developer cap; hosts with UNLIMITED_HOST_QUOTA have no upper bound.
+     */
+    [[nodiscard]] int clampHostRequestLimit(const QString &host, int requested) const;
+
 signals:
     void picDownloadChanged();
     void downloadSpoilerStatusChanged();
+    void hostRequestLimitsChanged();
 };
 
 #endif // COCKATRICE_DOWNLOADSETTINGS_H
diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 4f5dc88eb..c950827b2 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -132,3 +132,9 @@ add_subdirectory(loading_from_clipboard)
 add_subdirectory(movecard_tests)
 add_subdirectory(oracle)
 add_subdirectory(settings)
+
+# picture_loader_benchmark links libcockatrice_settings, which only exists when
+# a client/UI-capable target is being built.
+if(WITH_ORACLE OR WITH_CLIENT)
+  add_subdirectory(picture_loader_benchmark)
+endif()
diff --git a/tests/picture_loader_benchmark/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/picture_loader_benchmark/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a3b75fe88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/picture_loader_benchmark/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# Manual benchmark hitting the real card image hosts. Not registered with
+# add_test(): it requires a cards.xml, touches the network for minutes at a
+# time, and needs network access. Build it explicitly and run by hand.
+add_executable(
+  picture_loader_benchmark_test
+  ${VERSION_STRING_CPP}
+  ../../cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_local.cpp
+  ../../cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_to_load.cpp
+  ../../cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.cpp
+  ../../cockatrice/src/interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker_work.cpp
+  ../../cockatrice/src/client/settings/cache_settings.h
+  picture_loader_benchmark.cpp
+  settings_cache_mock.cpp
+)
+
+target_include_directories(picture_loader_benchmark_test PRIVATE ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cockatrice/src)
+
+target_link_libraries(
+  picture_loader_benchmark_test
+  libcockatrice_card
+  libcockatrice_settings
+  libcockatrice_interfaces
+  libcockatrice_utility
+  Threads::Threads
+  ${TEST_QT_MODULES}
+)
diff --git a/tests/picture_loader_benchmark/picture_loader_benchmark.cpp b/tests/picture_loader_benchmark/picture_loader_benchmark.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f991f2ec0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/picture_loader_benchmark/picture_loader_benchmark.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,547 @@
+/*
+ * Picture loader benchmark / regression suite against the real card image hosts.
+ *
+ * Deliberately not registered with ctest: it hits live Scryfall / Gatherer
+ * endpoints at ~10 requests per second and takes minutes. Run it by hand.
+ *
+ *   picture_loader_benchmark_test --carddb /path/to/cards.xml [options]
+ *
+ * Modes
+ * -----
+ * default : for every URL template in the configured download list (or for each
+ *           --url given), load #count pictures twice: once cold (network) and
+ *           once cached (served from the QNetworkDiskCache). Both passes must
+ *           load every card with zero failures. The cached pass must complete
+ *           well under the cold time, which is the regression gate for serving
+ *           cached pictures instead of re-fetching them. The cold pass must stay
+ *           above a pacing lower bound, the regression gate for burst-free
+ *           request throttling.
+ * --stress: two CardPictureLoaderWorker instances loading the same cards
+ *           concurrently against one host (~20 req/s aggregate), which forces
+ *           real 429 responses. Both workers must still complete 100% of their
+ *           cards via the shared backoff logic.
+ */
+
+#include "client/settings/cache_settings.h"
+#include "interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_worker.h"
+#include "interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_to_load.h"
+
+#include <QCoreApplication>
+#include <QDir>
+#include <QElapsedTimer>
+#include <QEventLoop>
+#include <QFile>
+#include <QImage>
+#include <QList>
+#include <QMessageLogContext>
+#include <QMetaType>
+#include <QMutex>
+#include <QTemporaryDir>
+#include <QThread>
+#include <QTimer>
+#include <QUrl>
+#include <QtLogging>
+#include <atomic>
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <libcockatrice/card/database/card_database.h>
+#include <libcockatrice/card/printing/exact_card.h>
+#include <libcockatrice/card/printing/printing_info.h>
+#include <libcockatrice/interfaces/interface_card_database_path_provider.h>
+#include <libcockatrice/interfaces/noop_card_preference_provider.h>
+#include <libcockatrice/interfaces/noop_card_set_priority_controller.h>
+#include <libcockatrice/settings/download_settings.h>
+#include <optional>
+
+class BenchmarkCardDatabasePathProvider : public ICardDatabasePathProvider
+{
+public:
+    BenchmarkCardDatabasePathProvider(QString _cardsXml, QString _customSetsDir)
+        : cardsXml(std::move(_cardsXml)), customSetsDir(std::move(_customSetsDir))
+    {
+    }
+
+    QString getCardDatabasePath() const override
+    {
+        return cardsXml;
+    }
+
+    QString getCustomCardDatabasePath() const override
+    {
+        return customSetsDir;
+    }
+
+    QString getTokenDatabasePath() const override
+    {
+        return QString();
+    }
+
+    QString getSpoilerCardDatabasePath() const override
+    {
+        return QString();
+    }
+
+private:
+    QString cardsXml;
+    QString customSetsDir;
+};
+
+struct PassResult
+{
+    int enqueued = 0;
+    int finished = 0;
+    int failed = 0;
+    qint64 elapsedMs = 0;
+    QStringList failedCards;
+};
+
+static QList<ExactCard> selectCardsForTemplate(CardDatabase &db, const QString &urlTemplate, int maxCards)
+{
+    QList<ExactCard> selected;
+    const QList<CardInfoPtr> cards = db.getCardList().values();
+    for (const CardInfoPtr &card : cards) {
+        if (selected.size() >= maxCards) {
+            break;
+        }
+        const SetToPrintingsMap &sets = card->getSets();
+        if (sets.isEmpty()) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        const QList<PrintingInfo> printings = sets.first();
+        if (printings.isEmpty()) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        const ExactCard cardToLoad(card, printings.first());
+        if (CardPictureToLoad(cardToLoad).transformUrl(urlTemplate).isEmpty()) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        selected.append(cardToLoad);
+    }
+    return selected;
+}
+
+static PassResult runPass(CardPictureLoaderWorker *worker, const QList<ExactCard> &cards, int timeoutMs)
+{
+    PassResult result;
+    result.enqueued = cards.size();
+
+    QEventLoop loop;
+    QTimer watchdog;
+    watchdog.setSingleShot(true);
+    watchdog.setInterval(timeoutMs);
+    QObject::connect(&watchdog, &QTimer::timeout, &loop, &QEventLoop::quit);
+
+    QElapsedTimer clock;
+    QObject::connect(worker, &CardPictureLoaderWorker::imageLoaded, &loop,
+                     [&](const ExactCard &card, const QImage &image) {
+                         ++result.finished;
+                         if (image.isNull()) {
+                             ++result.failed;
+                             if (result.failedCards.size() < 10) {
+                                 result.failedCards.append(card.getName());
+                             }
+                         }
+                         if (result.finished >= result.enqueued) {
+                             loop.quit();
+                         }
+                     });
+
+    clock.start();
+    for (const ExactCard &card : cards) {
+        worker->enqueueImageLoad(card);
+    }
+    watchdog.start();
+    loop.exec();
+    result.elapsedMs = clock.elapsed();
+    return result;
+}
+
+struct StressResult
+{
+    PassResult a;
+    PassResult b;
+    int http429Count = 0;
+};
+
+struct LogCounters
+{
+    int http429 = 0;
+    QMutex mutex;
+};
+
+static std::atomic<LogCounters *> s_activeCounters{nullptr};
+static QtMessageHandler s_previousMessageHandler = nullptr;
+
+static void stressLogHandler(QtMsgType type, const QMessageLogContext &context, const QString &msg)
+{
+    if (LogCounters *counters = s_activeCounters.load(std::memory_order_acquire);
+        counters && msg.contains(QStringLiteral("Too many requests from"))) {
+        QMutexLocker locker(&counters->mutex);
+        ++counters->http429;
+    }
+    if (s_previousMessageHandler) {
+        s_previousMessageHandler(type, context, msg);
+    } else {
+        // qInstallMessageHandler() reports the built-in handler as nullptr, so a plain `if` would
+        // swallow every message - including the 429 warnings this run is meant to surface. Fall
+        // back to Qt's message pattern written to stderr instead.
+        std::fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", qPrintable(qFormatLogMessage(type, context, msg)));
+    }
+}
+
+// Stops a worker's thread and frees it. shutdownThread()'s bounded wait guarantees that the worker
+// object was freed by its finished() -> deleteLater chain, so the thread itself can then be deleted
+// safely. A worker whose thread refused to stop is left alone (and leaked) rather than freed while
+// still running.
+static void destroyWorker(CardPictureLoaderWorker *worker)
+{
+    if (!worker) {
+        return;
+    }
+    QThread *thread = worker->workerThread();
+    if (worker->shutdownThread()) {
+        delete thread;
+    }
+}
+
+static StressResult runStress(CardPictureLoaderWorker *workerA,
+                              CardPictureLoaderWorker *workerB,
+                              const QList<ExactCard> &cards,
+                              int timeoutMs)
+{
+    StressResult result;
+    result.a.enqueued = cards.size();
+    result.b.enqueued = cards.size();
+
+    int completed = 0;
+    QMutex completedMutex;
+
+    QEventLoop loop;
+    QTimer watchdog;
+    watchdog.setSingleShot(true);
+    watchdog.setInterval(timeoutMs);
+    QObject::connect(&watchdog, &QTimer::timeout, &loop, &QEventLoop::quit);
+
+    const auto finishOne = [&](PassResult &pass, const ExactCard &card, const QImage &image) {
+        ++pass.finished;
+        if (image.isNull()) {
+            ++pass.failed;
+            if (pass.failedCards.size() < 10) {
+                pass.failedCards.append(card.getName());
+            }
+        }
+        QMutexLocker locker(&completedMutex);
+        ++completed;
+        if (completed >= result.a.enqueued + result.b.enqueued) {
+            loop.quit();
+        }
+    };
+
+    QElapsedTimer clock;
+    QObject::connect(workerA, &CardPictureLoaderWorker::imageLoaded, &loop,
+                     [&](const ExactCard &card, const QImage &image) { finishOne(result.a, card, image); });
+    QObject::connect(workerB, &CardPictureLoaderWorker::imageLoaded, &loop,
+                     [&](const ExactCard &card, const QImage &image) { finishOne(result.b, card, image); });
+
+    // Count 429 responses as seen by the shared rate limiter.
+    LogCounters counters;
+    s_activeCounters = &counters;
+    s_previousMessageHandler = qInstallMessageHandler(stressLogHandler);
+
+    clock.start();
+    for (const ExactCard &card : cards) {
+        workerA->enqueueImageLoad(card);
+        workerB->enqueueImageLoad(card);
+    }
+    watchdog.start();
+    loop.exec();
+    const qint64 elapsedMs = clock.elapsed();
+    result.a.elapsedMs = elapsedMs;
+    result.b.elapsedMs = elapsedMs;
+
+    // Stop both workers before touching the counters or restoring the message handler: their
+    // threads log from stressLogHandler, and must not outlive the stack-local counters (which is
+    // guaranteed on the watchdog path, where requests and deferred retries are still pending).
+    destroyWorker(workerA);
+    destroyWorker(workerB);
+
+    result.http429Count = counters.http429;
+    s_activeCounters.store(nullptr, std::memory_order_release);
+    qInstallMessageHandler(s_previousMessageHandler);
+    return result;
+}
+
+static QString formatDuration(qint64 ms)
+{
+    return QStringLiteral("%1.%2 s").arg(ms / 1000).arg((ms % 1000) / 100);
+}
+
+static bool likelyRedirects(const QString &urlTemplate)
+{
+    return urlTemplate.contains(QStringLiteral("api.scryfall.com"));
+}
+
+static QString hostOf(const QString &urlTemplate)
+{
+    return QUrl(urlTemplate).host();
+}
+
+static void printUsage()
+{
+    std::printf("usage: picture_loader_benchmark_test --carddb <path> [options]\n"
+                "\n"
+                "Loads card pictures from the real configured hosts (not a mock server) and\n"
+                "verifies the picture loader's pacing / cache 429 behavior.\n"
+                "\n"
+                "options:\n"
+                "  --carddb <path>       cards.xml to load card data from (required)\n"
+                "  --count <N>           cards to load per template (default 300)\n"
+                "  --url <template>      test only this URL template; repeatable\n"
+                "  --stress              run the two-worker concurrency stress instead\n"
+                "  --stress-url <t>      template used by --stress (default: scryfall uuid)\n"
+                "  --timeout-min <N>     per-pass watchdog in minutes (default auto)\n"
+                "  --cache-dir <dir>     reuse this directory as the sandbox root; non-empty\n"
+                "                        cache skips the cold pacing lower bound\n"
+                "  --help                show this help\n");
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+    QString cardDbArg;
+    QStringList explicitUrls;
+    int count = 300;
+    bool stress = false;
+    bool stressUrlSet = false;
+    QString stressUrl(QStringLiteral("https://api.scryfall.com/cards/!set:uuid!?format=image"));
+    QString cacheDirArg;
+    std::optional<int> timeoutMin;
+
+    QStringList args;
+    for (int i = 1; i < argc; ++i) {
+        args.append(QString::fromLocal8Bit(argv[i]));
+    }
+    for (int i = 0; i < args.size(); ++i) {
+        const QString &arg = args.at(i);
+        const auto value = [&]() -> QString { return i + 1 < args.size() ? args.at(++i) : QString(); };
+        if (arg == QLatin1String("--carddb")) {
+            cardDbArg = value();
+        } else if (arg == QLatin1String("--count")) {
+            count = value().toInt();
+        } else if (arg == QLatin1String("--url")) {
+            explicitUrls.append(value());
+        } else if (arg == QLatin1String("--stress")) {
+            stress = true;
+        } else if (arg == QLatin1String("--stress-url")) {
+            stressUrl = value();
+            stressUrlSet = true;
+        } else if (arg == QLatin1String("--timeout-min")) {
+            bool ok = false;
+            const int parsed = value().toInt(&ok);
+            if (!ok || parsed <= 0) {
+                std::fprintf(stderr, "error: --timeout-min must be a positive integer\n");
+                return 2;
+            }
+            timeoutMin = parsed;
+        } else if (arg == QLatin1String("--cache-dir")) {
+            cacheDirArg = value();
+        } else if (arg == QLatin1String("--help") || arg == QLatin1String("-h")) {
+            printUsage();
+            return 0;
+        } else {
+            std::fprintf(stderr, "unknown argument: %s\n", qPrintable(arg));
+            printUsage();
+            return 2;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (cardDbArg.isEmpty()) {
+        std::fprintf(stderr, "error: --carddb is required (a cards.xml generated by Oracle)\n");
+        printUsage();
+        return 2;
+    }
+    if (count <= 0) {
+        std::fprintf(stderr, "error: --count must be positive\n");
+        return 2;
+    }
+
+    // In --stress mode an explicit --url selects the template to hammer, matching --url's meaning
+    // in the normal mode; only fall back to the built-in Scryfall template when neither --stress-url
+    // nor --url was supplied.
+    if (stress && !stressUrlSet && !explicitUrls.isEmpty()) {
+        stressUrl = explicitUrls.first();
+    }
+
+    QCoreApplication app(argc, argv);
+    // Unique names so a benchmark run can never read or write the real client's settings, cache or
+    // picture URLs on platforms where the XDG redirection below does not apply (macOS, Windows).
+    app.setApplicationName(QStringLiteral("Cockatrice-benchmark"));
+    app.setOrganizationName(QStringLiteral("Cockatrice-benchmark"));
+    app.setApplicationVersion(QStringLiteral("9.0.0-benchmark"));
+
+    // The ExactCard argument of imageLoaded crosses threads via a queued connection.
+    qRegisterMetaType<ExactCard>();
+
+    QTemporaryDir sandbox;
+    if (cacheDirArg.isEmpty() && !sandbox.isValid()) {
+        std::fprintf(stderr, "error: could not create a temporary sandbox directory\n");
+        return 2;
+    }
+    const QString rootDir = cacheDirArg.isEmpty() ? sandbox.path() : cacheDirArg;
+    QDir().mkpath(rootDir);
+    QDir().mkpath(rootDir + "/config");
+    QDir().mkpath(rootDir + "/data");
+    QDir().mkpath(rootDir + "/cache");
+
+#ifdef Q_OS_LINUX
+    // Redirect every QStandardPaths lookup (and therefore SettingsCache paths) into the sandbox so
+    // the benchmark never touches user config or caches. XDG_* only affects Qt's path resolution on
+    // Linux; elsewhere the unique application/organization names above keep the run isolated.
+    qputenv("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", (rootDir + "/config").toUtf8());
+    qputenv("XDG_DATA_HOME", (rootDir + "/data").toUtf8());
+    qputenv("XDG_CACHE_HOME", (rootDir + "/cache").toUtf8());
+#endif
+
+    // Derive the probe from SettingsCache rather than reconstructing it: Qt appends both the
+    // organization and the application name, so a hand-built path is easy to get wrong.
+    const bool warmStart = QDir(SettingsCache::instance().getNetworkCachePath())
+                               .entryList(QDir::Files | QDir::AllDirs | QDir::NoDotAndDotDot, QDir::Name)
+                               .size() > 0;
+
+    // Copied into the sandbox so the loader's binary cache ("cards.xml.cache")
+    // is written next to it instead of next to the user's file, and so a
+    // --cache-dir rerun can pick it up again.
+    const QString dataPath = SettingsCache::instance().getDataPath();
+    QDir().mkpath(dataPath);
+    const QString cardsXml = dataPath + "/cards.xml";
+    if (!QFile::exists(cardsXml)) {
+        if (!QFile::copy(cardDbArg, cardsXml)) {
+            std::fprintf(stderr, "error: could not copy %s to sandbox\n", qPrintable(cardDbArg));
+            return 2;
+        }
+    }
+    const QString customSetsDir = dataPath + "/customsets";
+    QDir().mkpath(customSetsDir);
+
+    auto *prefs = new NoopCardPreferenceProvider();
+    auto *priorityController = new NoopCardSetPriorityController();
+    auto *pathProvider = new BenchmarkCardDatabasePathProvider(cardsXml, customSetsDir);
+    CardDatabase db(nullptr, prefs, pathProvider, priorityController);
+    db.loadCardDatabases();
+    if (db.getLoadStatus() != Ok || db.getCardList().isEmpty()) {
+        std::fprintf(stderr, "error: failed to load card database from %s\n", qPrintable(cardsXml));
+        return 1;
+    }
+    const int availableCards = db.getCardList().size();
+
+    const QStringList urlsToTest =
+        explicitUrls.isEmpty() ? SettingsCache::instance().downloads().getAllURLs() : explicitUrls;
+
+    if (stress) {
+        const QList<ExactCard> cards = selectCardsForTemplate(db, stressUrl, count);
+        if (cards.isEmpty()) {
+            std::fprintf(stderr, "error: no cards satisfy template %s\n", qPrintable(stressUrl));
+            return 1;
+        }
+        SettingsCache::instance().downloads().setDownloadUrls({stressUrl});
+
+        std::printf("=== STRESS: 2 workers x %d cards, host %s ===\n", static_cast<int>(cards.size()),
+                    qPrintable(hostOf(stressUrl)));
+        auto *workerA = new CardPictureLoaderWorker();
+        auto *workerB = new CardPictureLoaderWorker();
+        const int timeoutMs = (timeoutMin.has_value() ? timeoutMin.value() : 15) * 60 * 1000;
+        const StressResult result = runStress(workerA, workerB, cards, timeoutMs);
+
+        const bool completeA = result.a.finished >= result.a.enqueued;
+        const bool completeB = result.b.finished >= result.b.enqueued;
+        const bool zeroFailures = result.a.failed == 0 && result.b.failed == 0;
+        const bool pass = completeA && completeB && zeroFailures;
+
+        std::printf("worker A: %d/%d loaded, %d failed (%.2f images/s)\n", result.a.finished, result.a.enqueued,
+                    result.a.failed,
+                    result.a.elapsedMs > 0
+                        ? static_cast<double>(result.a.finished) * 1000.0 / static_cast<double>(result.a.elapsedMs)
+                        : 0.0);
+        std::printf("worker B: %d/%d loaded, %d failed (%.2f images/s)\n", result.b.finished, result.b.enqueued,
+                    result.b.failed,
+                    result.b.elapsedMs > 0
+                        ? static_cast<double>(result.b.finished) * 1000.0 / static_cast<double>(result.b.elapsedMs)
+                        : 0.0);
+        std::printf("429 responses observed: %d\n", result.http429Count);
+        std::printf("elapsed: %s\n", qPrintable(formatDuration(result.a.elapsedMs)));
+        if (result.a.failed > 0) {
+            std::printf("  worker A failures: %s\n", qPrintable(result.a.failedCards.join(QStringLiteral(", "))));
+        }
+        if (result.b.failed > 0) {
+            std::printf("  worker B failures: %s\n", qPrintable(result.b.failedCards.join(QStringLiteral(", "))));
+        }
+        std::printf("RESULT: %s\n", pass ? "PASS" : "FAIL");
+        return pass ? 0 : 1;
+    }
+
+    bool allPass = true;
+    std::printf("=== PICTURE LOADER BENCHMARK (%d cards available, %d per template)%s ===\n", availableCards, count,
+                warmStart ? ", WARM cache from previous run" : "");
+
+    for (const QString &urlTemplate : urlsToTest) {
+        const QList<ExactCard> cards = selectCardsForTemplate(db, urlTemplate, count);
+        if (cards.isEmpty()) {
+            std::printf("SKIP  %-22s %-52s (no cards satisfy the template)\n", qPrintable(hostOf(urlTemplate)),
+                        qPrintable(urlTemplate));
+            continue;
+        }
+        SettingsCache::instance().downloads().setDownloadUrls({urlTemplate});
+
+        const bool redirects = likelyRedirects(urlTemplate);
+        const qint64 perCardMs = redirects ? 200 : 100;
+        const int timeoutMs =
+            (timeoutMin.has_value() ? timeoutMin.value() : (cards.size() * perCardMs * 8 + 60000) / 60000) * 60 * 1000;
+        const qint64 coldLowerMs = static_cast<qint64>(cards.size()) * perCardMs / 2;
+        // Decoding and cache-reading scale with the card count, so a flat budget would spuriously
+        // fail larger --count runs served entirely from a healthy cache.
+        const qint64 cachedUpperMs = qMax<qint64>(2000, static_cast<qint64>(cards.size()) * 10);
+
+        // A fresh worker per pass: if the cold pass hits the watchdog, its outstanding cards stay
+        // in the worker's currentlyLoading set, which would make the cached pass silently skip them
+        // and burn its own watchdog; late cold replies would also be misattributed to the cached
+        // pass.
+        auto *coldWorker = new CardPictureLoaderWorker();
+        const PassResult cold = runPass(coldWorker, cards, timeoutMs);
+        destroyWorker(coldWorker);
+
+        auto *cachedWorker = new CardPictureLoaderWorker();
+        const PassResult cached = runPass(cachedWorker, cards, timeoutMs);
+        destroyWorker(cachedWorker);
+
+        const bool coldComplete = cold.finished >= cold.enqueued;
+        const bool coldZeroFailures = cold.failed == 0;
+        const bool coldPaced = warmStart || cold.elapsedMs >= coldLowerMs;
+        const bool cachedComplete = cached.finished >= cached.enqueued;
+        const bool cachedZeroFailures = cached.failed == 0;
+        const bool cachedFast = cached.elapsedMs < cachedUpperMs;
+
+        const bool pass =
+            coldComplete && coldZeroFailures && coldPaced && cachedComplete && cachedZeroFailures && cachedFast;
+        allPass = allPass && pass;
+
+        std::printf("%s  %-22s %-52s cold %s (paced>=%s) cached %s (must be <%.0fs) | %d/%d %d/%d loaded, "
+                    "%d/%d failed\n",
+                    pass ? "PASS " : "FAIL ", qPrintable(hostOf(urlTemplate)), qPrintable(urlTemplate),
+                    qPrintable(formatDuration(cold.elapsedMs)), qPrintable(formatDuration(coldLowerMs)),
+                    qPrintable(formatDuration(cached.elapsedMs)), static_cast<double>(cachedUpperMs) / 1000.0,
+                    cold.finished, cold.enqueued, cached.finished, cached.enqueued, cold.failed, cached.failed);
+        if (cold.failed > 0) {
+            std::printf("  cold failures: %s\n", qPrintable(cold.failedCards.join(QStringLiteral(", "))));
+        }
+        if (cached.failed > 0) {
+            std::printf("  cached failures: %s\n", qPrintable(cached.failedCards.join(QStringLiteral(", "))));
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (cacheDirArg.isEmpty()) {
+        std::printf("cache root: %s (temporary; pass --cache-dir <dir> to persist it for a warm rerun)\n",
+                    qPrintable(rootDir));
+    } else {
+        std::printf("cache root: %s\n", qPrintable(rootDir));
+    }
+    std::printf("RESULT: %s\n", allPass ? "PASS" : "FAIL");
+    return allPass ? 0 : 1;
+}
diff --git a/tests/picture_loader_benchmark/settings_cache_mock.cpp b/tests/picture_loader_benchmark/settings_cache_mock.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d93c7e002
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/picture_loader_benchmark/settings_cache_mock.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,200 @@
+/*
+ * Minimal SettingsCache implementation for the picture loader benchmark.
+ *
+ * The picture loader code insists on reading every URL, cache and path via
+ * SettingsCache::instance(). Compiling the real client SettingsCache would drag
+ * in the network update-checker graph, so instead we provide the SettingsCache
+ * member functions it actually uses, backed by the real libcockatrice_settings
+ * manager classes pointed at a sandboxed settings directory.
+ *
+ * The mock must be named SettingsCache: PathsSettings declares
+ * `friend class SettingsCache`, which is the only way to construct it.
+ *
+ * Paths resolved through QStandardPaths are redirected into the sandbox by
+ * setting the XDG_* environment variables before the first instance() call.
+ */
+
+#include "client/settings/cache_settings.h"
+#include "interface/card_picture_loader/card_picture_loader_cache_method.h"
+
+#include <QDir>
+#include <QFile>
+#include <QSettings>
+#include <QStandardPaths>
+#include <libcockatrice/settings/cache_storage_settings.h>
+#include <libcockatrice/settings/cards_display_settings.h>
+#include <libcockatrice/settings/download_settings.h>
+#include <libcockatrice/settings/paths_settings.h>
+#include <utility>
+
+QString SettingsCache::getDataPath()
+{
+    return QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::AppLocalDataLocation);
+}
+
+QString SettingsCache::getSettingsPath()
+{
+    return getDataPath() + "/settings/";
+}
+
+QString SettingsCache::getCachePath() const
+{
+    return QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::CacheLocation);
+}
+
+QString SettingsCache::getNetworkCachePath() const
+{
+    return getCachePath() + "/downloaded/";
+}
+
+QString SettingsCache::getCustomCardDatabasePath() const
+{
+    return paths().getCustomCardDatabasePath();
+}
+
+QString SettingsCache::getCardDatabasePath() const
+{
+    return paths().getCardDatabasePath();
+}
+
+QString SettingsCache::getSpoilerCardDatabasePath() const
+{
+    return paths().getSpoilerCardDatabasePath();
+}
+
+QString SettingsCache::getTokenDatabasePath() const
+{
+    return paths().getTokenDatabasePath();
+}
+
+int SettingsCache::getKeepAlive() const
+{
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int SettingsCache::getTimeOut() const
+{
+    return 0;
+}
+
+bool SettingsCache::getNotifyAboutUpdates() const
+{
+    return false;
+}
+
+void SettingsCache::setKnownMissingFeatures(const QString & /*_knownMissingFeatures*/)
+{
+}
+
+QString SettingsCache::getKnownMissingFeatures()
+{
+    return QString();
+}
+
+QString SettingsCache::getClientID()
+{
+    return QString();
+}
+
+DownloadSettings &SettingsCache::downloads() const
+{
+    return *downloadSettings;
+}
+
+CacheStorageSettings &SettingsCache::cacheStorage() const
+{
+    return *cacheStorageSettings;
+}
+
+CardsDisplaySettings &SettingsCache::cardsDisplay() const
+{
+    return *cardsDisplaySettings;
+}
+
+PathsSettings &SettingsCache::paths() const
+{
+    return *pathsSettings;
+}
+
+SettingsCache::SettingsCache()
+{
+    settings = nullptr;
+    isPortableBuild = false;
+
+    const QString settingsPath = getSettingsPath();
+    QDir().mkpath(settingsPath);
+
+    downloadSettings = new DownloadSettings(settingsPath, this);
+    cacheStorageSettings = new CacheStorageSettings(settingsPath, this);
+    cardsDisplaySettings = new CardsDisplaySettings(settingsPath, this);
+    pathsSettings = new PathsSettings(settingsPath, this);
+
+    // Picture downloads enabled, default host list, network disk cache storage.
+    downloadSettings->setPicDownload(true);
+    downloadSettings->resetToDefaultURLs();
+    cacheStorageSettings->setCardImageCacheMethod(
+        static_cast<int>(CardPictureLoaderCacheMethod::CacheMethod::NETWORK_CACHE));
+
+    loadPaths();
+}
+
+void SettingsCache::loadPaths()
+{
+    QString dataPath = getDataPath();
+    QSettings pathsIni(getSettingsPath() + "paths.ini", QSettings::IniFormat);
+
+    auto computePath = [&](const QString &key, const QString &defaultPath) -> QString {
+        QString val = pathsIni.value("paths/" + key).toString();
+        if (val.isEmpty() || !QDir(val).exists()) {
+            if (!QDir().mkpath(defaultPath)) {
+                qCInfo(SettingsCacheLog) << "[SettingsCache] Could not create folder:" << defaultPath;
+            }
+            val = defaultPath;
+            pathsIni.setValue("paths/" + key, val);
+        }
+        return val;
+    };
+
+    auto computeFilePath = [&](const QString &key, const QString &defaultPath) -> QString {
+        QString val = pathsIni.value("paths/" + key).toString();
+        if (!QFile::exists(val) || val.isEmpty()) {
+            val = defaultPath;
+            pathsIni.setValue("paths/" + key, val);
+        }
+        return val;
+    };
+
+    computePath("decks", dataPath + "/decks/");
+    computePath("filters", dataPath + "/filters/");
+    computePath("replays", dataPath + "/replays/");
+    computePath("themes", dataPath + "/themes/");
+    computePath("pics", dataPath + "/pics/");
+    computePath("redirects", getCachePath() + "/redirects/");
+
+    // customPicsPath derived from picsPath
+    QString picsPath = pathsIni.value("paths/pics").toString();
+    if (picsPath.endsWith("/")) {
+        computePath("customPics", picsPath + "CUSTOM/");
+    } else {
+        computePath("customPics", picsPath + "/CUSTOM/");
+    }
+
+    computePath("customSets", dataPath + "/customsets/");
+    computeFilePath("cardDatabase", dataPath + "/cards.xml");
+    computeFilePath("tokenDatabase", dataPath + "/tokens.xml");
+    computeFilePath("spoilerDatabase", dataPath + "/spoiler.xml");
+}
+
+void SettingsCache::setThemeName(const QString &_themeName)
+{
+    if (themeName != _themeName) {
+        themeName = _themeName;
+        emit themeChanged();
+    }
+}
+
+SettingsCache &SettingsCache::instance()
+{
+    static SettingsCache settingsCache;
+    return settingsCache;
+}
diff --git a/tests/settings/settings_defaults_test.cpp b/tests/settings/settings_defaults_test.cpp
index eda778ae9..932ddb99b 100644
--- a/tests/settings/settings_defaults_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/settings/settings_defaults_test.cpp
@@ -334,6 +334,38 @@ TEST_F(SettingsDefaultsTest, Download_DownloadSpoilersStatus_Default)
     ASSERT_EQ(s.getDownloadSpoilersStatus(), false);
 }
 
+TEST_F(SettingsDefaultsTest, Download_HostRequestLimits_Default)
+{
+    DownloadSettings s(settingsPath, nullptr);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(s.getHostRequestLimits().isEmpty());
+}
+
+TEST_F(SettingsDefaultsTest, Download_HostRequestLimits_SetAndGet)
+{
+    DownloadSettings s(settingsPath, nullptr);
+    s.setHostRequestLimits({{"api.scryfall.com", 5}});
+    const QHash<QString, int> limits = s.getHostRequestLimits();
+    ASSERT_EQ(limits.size(), 1);
+    ASSERT_EQ(limits.value("api.scryfall.com"), 5);
+}
+
+TEST_F(SettingsDefaultsTest, Download_HostRequestLimits_StackedHostCaps)
+{
+    DownloadSettings s(settingsPath, nullptr);
+    // The developer cap for the Scryfall API lowers the ceiling to 9; a user can
+    // reduce it further but can never raise it above the cap.
+    ASSERT_EQ(s.clampHostRequestLimit("api.scryfall.com", 9), 9);
+    ASSERT_EQ(s.clampHostRequestLimit("api.scryfall.com", 20), 9);
+    ASSERT_EQ(s.clampHostRequestLimit("api.scryfall.com", 5), 5);
+    ASSERT_EQ(s.clampHostRequestLimit("api.scryfall.com", 0), 1);
+    // Hosts without a developer cap fall back to the global default ceiling.
+    ASSERT_EQ(s.clampHostRequestLimit("gatherer.wizards.com", 10), 10);
+    ASSERT_EQ(s.clampHostRequestLimit("gatherer.wizards.com", 20), 10);
+    // The Scryfall CDN is unlocked: no upper bound (values are only floored).
+    ASSERT_EQ(s.clampHostRequestLimit("cards.scryfall.io", 20), 20);
+    ASSERT_EQ(s.clampHostRequestLimit("cards.scryfall.io", 0), 1);
+}
+
 // --- AppearanceSettings ---
 
 TEST_F(SettingsDefaultsTest, Appearance_ThemeName_Default)