I almost can't imagine a reasonable upper bound. Maybe 1000? That would certainly be enough to be able to do some serious stuff.

The ability to sync memories and have the same experiences and past would be crazy. I could align myself and all the clones to a shared goal easily. With the amount of clones, I could do basically anything.

Only problem I can see is... is there a way to know the "original"? Would I be in control of my clones? Or would I myself just be another clone? I think I'd still go for something like 1000 even if I was just another clone.

You mean feed and house more people on a single income and subject those people to this hellscape? No thanks.

Plus, is my clone really going to be fine with acting as a slave? Unlikely.

Just one. Cutting my work and responsibilities in half would be a significant improvement in my quality of life.

Only if the copies are temporary. If they're actual permanent clones, all I've done is create more issues for myself. They gotta eat, and we can't both work, how we gonna file taxes separately?

I’m assuming these copies would also need to eat, sleep, and bathe as well, so there’d be some cost increases as these copies are added into the mix. Just getting extra jobs probably would only go so far before questions started getting asked or somebody noticed, so an army of me working multiple jobs really wouldn’t go well. I’d probably keep it minimal with only one copy, maybe two if I could make it work financially and set up some sort of work rotation so that “I” was only going into work once every few weeks. I might start doing a bunch of freelance design, writing books, gaming and whatever else.

Even better though would be if these were short-term copies that I could just absorb back into myself after a day or whatever and I didn’t have to worry about maintaining their bodies, like Mr. Meeseeks and they just disappear after their task is done. Then I’d just make copies left and right. “Oh shit, I’m out of milk. Copy #3,945,612, go get some milk, thanks.”

2 clones should be good. I can do a lot with 3 of me without complicating much.

Being able to clone myself and sync with my clones is something I've thought about since I was a kid.

I don't think increasing the number of clones would ever allow me to satisfy all my wishes. The number of things I want to do increases with the number of experiences I have in a non-linear way. If I want to be satisfied I need to be willing to accept all of my wishes will never be fulfilled.

To answer your question specifically: 0 clones

Do the copies require existing matter? If not, I'm making infinite clones to explore the cosmos.

Probably one, and I would need to swap the good and the bad parts between us.

One. Then I can kill myself and let them deal with it all.

I'd say two hundred to be on the safe side. Have each clone specialize in different skills that would be beneficial in a grand adventure. Have some infiltrate white nationalist groups, government positions, etc. Giving my clones their own identity would be important, so many would need to undergo plastic surgery and build fake identities. I would also have many clones assist with organizing unions and creating revolutionary organizations, though I would tell nobody of the Hestia Legion, as to avoid the eyes of the powers that be.

Have others learn martial arts, visit shooting ranges, chemistry labs, and fab shops to learn how to build tools to further Our aims.

Others, including Hestia Prime, would form a "think tank" of sorts, where we'd take all the information from the hivemind and prepare the revolution.

As many as my finances can comfortably support

9

3 for security, 3 for family, and 3 for wandering.

we are crawancon

8.6 billion.

Each of my clones would kill one person that was not a clone of me. Then we would all commit suicide.

Climate change is solved. You're welcome. Hopefully the next animal to evolve consciousness does a better job of it.

2 copies. One for work. One for Personal life. One for spare parts.

But if they have individualism then I will assume a fight will eventually break out.

ಠ⁠‿⁠ಠ

Here’s a real fun and recent take on this:

Chris and Jack

Are my clones having fun without me?

https://youtu.be/sT9sHi7BEUw

I think 5 or 6. I'd get to experience living in different cultures without having to abandon friends and family in my current location.

Several regiments, plus casualty replacement