Daily Equity Cap: The Underrated Rule That Saves Prop-Firm Challenges
Most traders fail FTMO before hitting the 10 % overall drawdown. The real killer? A single red day that breaks the 5 % daily limit. Let’s fix that.
1 — Why “One Bad Day” Wipes Out 90 % of Applicants
The funded-account game isn’t about chasing a 10 % target; it’s about surviving today.
Break the 5 % daily rule and your $ 625 fee evaporates—no appeal, no refund.
| Month | Equity curve if you cap daily loss at 4 % | Equity curve if you don’t |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | ▲ smooth rise | ▲ ▲ ▼ ✖ account closed |
| Week 4 | steady grind to +9 % | ✖ challenge failed (week 1) |
(Imagine a subtle graphic here showing the smooth vs. fatal drop.)
2 — The Psychology Behind Self-Destruction
Loss aversion + sunk-cost fallacy = toxic cocktail:
- Trader hits –3 % day-loss.
- “Just one more lot to claw back.”
- Equity slips to –5.01 % → Challenge failed.
- Rage-reentry on a new account with bigger lot size.
3 — What Exactly Is a Daily Equity Cap?
- Definition: An automatic shut-off that stops the EA (or trader) the moment floating equity drops a set percentage.
- Difference from an SL: Works at the account level, not per trade.
- Sweet spot for prop firms: 3 – 4 % — leaves headroom under the 5 % rule.
Progress-bar bias: Each day you stay inside the 5 % band moves you one box closer to funding.
4 — Implementing the Cap Manually vs. Automatically
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Manual check | No extra code | Human error, time zone mismatch |
| MT5 “Stop-If-Day-Equity ≤ X %” script | Simple, free | Requires VPS, resets daily |
| EA with built-in cap | Zero monitoring, instant compliance | Needs reliable code |
5 — Case Example: DoIt GBP Master with Built-In Cap
Live proof: MyFxBook account shows < 12 % max drawdown and never breaches 5 % daily on GBPUSD—even through CPI spikes.
Why?
- Fixed-lot, multi-leg logic (no martingale)
- ATR trailing cuts losers early
- DailyLossLimitPercent parameter = 4 % by default
- EA auto-pauses and resumes next session—no revenge trades
“I passed a 10 k FTMO on attempt #1 by letting the EA shut itself off. Zero temptation to ‘win it back’.” — S. Jensen
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6 — 60-Second Setup Guide
- Download FREE Demo in MT5 Strategy Tester
https://www.mql5.com/en/market/product/130050 - Set DailyLossLimitPercent = 4.0
- Forward-test one week on micro-lot
- Launch your 10 k or 100 k challenge only after equity curve survives five trading days
7 — Common Pitfalls & Quick Fixes
| Pitfall | Fix |
|---|---|
| Moving the cap mid-day | Lock parameters until end of session |
| Ignoring floating P/L | Cap should read equity, not balance |
| Resetting EA after pause | Accept the red day; start tomorrow |
8 — Decision Time
| Path | Outcome |
|---|---|
| No cap | One news spike → challenge dead |
| 4 % equity cap | Live to trade day #2, day #15… payout day |
Ready to protect your funding fee?
Download the FREE Demo in MT5 →
Buy the full licence today for $ 599 and get DoIt Gold Guardian (worth $ 449) FREE — last units before price moves to $ 999.
Secure the downside first—profits take care of themselves.
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