FTMO accepts Expert Advisors. But using an EA in the challenge without the correct configuration is the fastest way to lose your deposit. The system trades too aggressively, ignores the news filter, or breaches the drawdown limit on the first volatile day. This guide covers the exact protocol to prevent that.
The FTMO rules that eliminate the most accounts
- Maximum daily drawdown: 5%. Calculated from the day's highest equity, not the initial balance. If your equity reaches $110,000 and drops to $104,500 the same day, you've violated the rule even if the initial balance was $100,000.
- Maximum total drawdown: 10%. In the challenge phase it's trailing — it rises with your equity high. If you reach $108,000, the elimination level rises to $97,200.
- News restriction: no open positions 2 minutes before and after high-impact releases (NFP, rate decisions, CPI).
- Consistency: no single day can represent more than 50% of the total period profit.
- Minimum trading days: at least 4 active trading days in the challenge phase.
EA configuration for FTMO
| Parameter | Recommended value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Execution mode | MODE_PROP | Activates all funded account protections |
| Max daily DD (%) | 3.5% | 1.5% safety margin over FTMO's limit |
| Max total DD (%) | 7% | 3% margin over FTMO's limit |
| News filter | true | Complies with FTMO's news restriction |
| Minutes before/after | 5 | More conservative than FTMO's minimum (2 min) |
| Weekend close | true · 21:00 GMT | Avoids Monday gap risk |
| Risk per trade | 0.5–1% | Max 5 consecutive losses without exceeding daily DD |
| Max spread | 2–3 pips | Avoids entries in illiquid conditions |
The trailing drawdown problem
- Start with $100,000. Elimination level: $90,000 (10% DD).
- Reach $106,000 equity. Elimination level rises to: $95,400.
- If your equity drops to $95,399 at any point, eliminated — even if balance is still $101,000.
Solution: keep daily risk below 3%, especially on high-volatility days.
Trading strategy during the challenge
- Days 1–3: Trade at 50% of normal risk. Verify the EA works correctly on the account.
- Days 4–15: Normal risk. Monitor daily DD whenever positions are open.
- Pre-target week: If already near the +10% profit target, reduce risk to 30–40%.
- News days: Confirm the news filter is active. Close manually if the EA doesn't handle it.
Essential tool: automatic drawdown monitor
The biggest risk of using an EA in funded accounts isn't a bad strategy — it's the EA continuing to open positions when you're already near the DD limit. EV Prop Protector solves this: monitors the entire account's drawdown in real time and automatically closes all positions before the limit is breached.
Attach EV Prop Protector to any chart with these FTMO parameters:
- MaxDailyDDPct: 4.5% (0.5% margin over FTMO's limit)
- MaxTotalDDPct: 9% (1% margin over limit)
- TrailingDD: true (enables trailing mode)
Tools to pass the challenge
FTMO rules change frequently. Always verify updated terms at ftmo.com before starting a challenge. This article is for guidance only and does not constitute financial advice.