Lucid Trading Strategy to Pass Evals and Stay Funded

I've passed 17 out of 23 Lucid Trading evaluations over the past months. That's a 73.9% pass rate across LucidFlex, LucidDirect, and LucidTest accounts—some I passed in 3 days, others took 11. I've been funded with multiple 6-figure Lucid accounts simultaneously and withdrawn $18,400 across 14 payouts.

Here's the thing: passing Lucid evaluations isn't about finding some magic indicator setup or secret trading method. It's about understanding exactly how Lucid's rules work—especially the EOD trailing drawdown—and building a strategy that stays inside those boundaries while hitting profit targets efficiently.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with Lucid Trading and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check Lucid Trading´s website or their help center.

Most traders fail Lucid evals for the same three reasons: they treat EOD drawdown like intraday drawdown (it's not), they overtrade trying to hit targets fast, or they size positions like they're trading a personal account. I made all three mistakes. Multiple times. Cost me thousands in eval fees before I figured out what actually works.

What you're reading here is the distilled version—the strategy framework I use on every Lucid evaluation and funded account. Not theory. Not backtested fantasies. Just the approach that's produced a 73.9% pass rate and consistent funded account performance.

This isn't a "copy my exact trades" guide. Your execution will be different. But the framework—how to manage EOD drawdown, when to trade, how to size positions, where to take profits—works regardless of whether you trade NQ, ES, GC, or YM.

Why Lucid Trading Requires a Different Approach

Lucid's rule structure is fundamentally different from most prop firms, and that difference requires adjustments to how you trade evaluations.

The EOD Drawdown Difference

Most prop firms use intraday trailing drawdown—your max loss limit follows your intraday high like a shadow. Go up $800, your breach point moves up $800. Every tick matters.

Lucid uses EOD (end-of-day) trailing drawdown—your drawdown only updates at session close. You can be down $1,200 intraday, recover to -$400 by close, and only the -$400 counts toward your drawdown. The intraday swings don't matter.

Why this matters for strategy:

On intraday trailing firms, you need tight stop losses and can't tolerate much heat. Every position that goes against you increases breach risk immediately.

On Lucid's EOD system, you have breathing room. A position can go $600 offside intraday—painful to watch, but not a breach risk if you recover by close. This changes how aggressive you can be with position sizing and how you manage trades that initially move against you.

Real example from my trading:

I was long 2 NQ at 16,245 on a VWAP pullback during RTH. Trade went $850 offside within 20 minutes (down to 16,228). On an intraday trailing firm, I'm sweating bullets because that $850 heat just moved me closer to breach.

On Lucid? I stayed in the trade. NQ recovered to 16,260 by session close (+$300 on the day). Closed the position next morning at 16,280 for +$700 total. The intraday drawdown never counted because I ended the session green.

Could I have done that on FTMO or TopStep? No. Their intraday trailing would've had me either stopped out or managing breach risk. Lucid's EOD structure gave me room to let the trade work.

No Consistency Rule on LucidFlex (Game Changer)

LucidFlex and LucidDirect have zero consistency requirements once you're funded. You can make 80% of your profits in one day and withdraw it. Most firms force you to spread profits across multiple days—Lucid doesn't.

Strategic advantage:

When you get a high-probability setup that aligns with strong directional bias, you can size up and take full advantage. No need to "save profits" for other days to meet consistency rules.

I've had LucidFlex payout cycles where I made $2,400 on an NFP Friday and $150-$300 the rest of the cycle. Both payouts approved, no issues. Try that on a firm with consistency rules and your withdrawal gets denied.

One-Phase Evaluation (LucidTest)

LucidTest is a single-phase evaluation—hit your profit target, don't breach drawdown, and you're funded. No second phase where they increase the target and make you prove yourself again.

Why this matters:

You can approach the eval more aggressively because there's no "Phase 2 where they try to wash you out." Hit your target once, manage risk properly, and you're done. Faster path to funded than two-phase firms.

Platform Flexibility Matters

Lucid supports TradingView, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Sierra Chart, and others. Most traders underestimate how much platform choice affects execution quality.

I trade Lucid accounts on TradingView for chart analysis and Tradovate for execution. The combination gives me clean order flow visualization + fast fills. Your platform setup directly impacts whether you can execute this strategy effectively.

The Core Strategy Framework

This is the foundation I use on every Lucid evaluation and funded account. Adapt it to your preferred contracts (NQ, ES, GC, YM) and trading style, but the risk management and session timing principles stay the same.

Session Timing: When to Trade

Primary trading windows:

• RTH Open (9:30-11:00 AM ET): Highest volume, cleanest price action
• Lunch Pullback (12:00-1:00 PM ET): Mean reversion setups
• RTH Close (3:00-4:00 PM ET): Momentum continuation or reversal

Avoid:

• First 5 minutes of RTH open (too chaotic, wide spreads)
• 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (choppy, low conviction)
• Overnight holds during evaluation (unnecessary risk)

Why RTH matters for Lucid:

Lucid's EOD drawdown updates at 5:00 PM ET (RTH close). If you're trading overnight or during Globex, your P&L can swing wildly, but it doesn't "count" until RTH close.

I focus 90% of my eval trading during RTH because:

1. Volume is highest (best fills, tighter spreads)
2. Price action is cleaner (institutional flow dominant)
3. I can manage EOD drawdown by closing positions before 4:00 PM if needed

Overnight during funded phase:

Once I'm funded on LucidFlex, I'll hold overnight on high-conviction setups—but never during evaluation. The risk isn't worth it when you're trying to pass.

Position Sizing: The Math That Keeps You Safe

This is where most traders blow Lucid evals. They size like they're trading a personal account, and one bad trade breaches them.

Formula I use:

Max Position Size = (EOD Drawdown Limit × 0.5) ÷ Stop Loss Distance


Example (50K LucidTest account):

• EOD Drawdown Limit: $2,000
• Stop Loss Distance: 10 points on NQ ($200 per contract)
• Safe Position Size: ($2,000 × 0.5) ÷ $200 = 5 contracts max

Why 0.5 (50% of drawdown)?

Because you need buffer for:

• Slippage on stops
• Multiple trades in one day
• Intraday drawdown (even though it doesn't count, it's still real heat)
• Emotional cushion (trading scared kills performance)

Reality check:

I typically trade 2-3 NQ contracts on a 50K eval, even though my math says I could do 5. More size = more stress = worse decisions. I'd rather pass with smaller size than breach with "optimal" size.

Scaling during funded phase:

Once funded, I scale up gradually:

• Months 1-2: Same eval size (2-3 contracts)
• Month 3: Add 1 contract if P&L is consistent
• Month 4+: Consider LucidLive upgrade for larger size

Entry Criteria: What Setups I Actually Trade

I focus on three high-probability setups that work consistently across all market conditions:

Setup 1: VWAP Pullback (Bread and Butter)

Conditions:

• Strong directional trend on 15-min chart (HTF structure intact)
• Price pulls back to VWAP after breaking away
• Volume on pullback is lower than breakout volume
• Entry on first touch of VWAP with confirmation

Entry trigger:

• Price taps VWAP
• 5-min candle closes back in direction of trend
• Enter on break of 5-min high/low (direction dependent)

Stop placement:

• Below/above the pullback low/high
• Typically 8-12 points on NQ, 4-6 points on ES

Target:

• 1.5R minimum (if stop is 10 points, target is 15 points)
• Trail after 1R achieved

Why this works on Lucid:

VWAP pullbacks offer tight stops relative to profit potential. On Lucid's EOD structure, I can tolerate more intraday heat if the pullback goes deeper than expected—as long as I'm confident in the HTF trend, I can hold through temporary adversity.

I've taken this setup hundreds of times on Lucid accounts. Win rate is around 68%, which is solid when you're running 1.5R+ targets.

Setup 2: Opening Range Breakout (High Conviction Only)

Conditions:

• First 30 minutes of RTH forms a clear range (high and low defined)
• Breakout occurs with volume expansion (1.5x average)
• Confirmation: test and hold above/below OR level

Entry trigger:

• Wait for retest of broken OR level
• Enter on first bounce with volume confirmation
• If no retest, skip the trade (false breakouts are common)

Stop placement:

• Inside the opening range (below/above the OR level)
• Tight stop = favorable risk/reward

Target:

• OR height × 1.5 (measured move)
• Partial at 1R, trail the rest

Why this works on Lucid:

Opening range breakouts with confirmation have strong follow-through. When they work, they work fast—perfect for hitting Lucid profit targets efficiently without spending all day in the market.

I don't trade this setup every day. Only when the OR is clean and breakout volume is obvious. Quality over quantity.

Setup 3: Session Extreme Fade (Mean Reversion)

Conditions:

• Price extends 2+ standard deviations from VWAP
• RSI > 70 (overbought) or < 30 (oversold) on 15-min
• No major news or event driving the move
• Signs of exhaustion (volume declining, wicks appearing)

Entry trigger:

• Wait for first pullback candle (5-min chart)
• Enter on break of that candle's low/high (fade direction)

Stop placement:

• Beyond the extreme high/low
• Wider stop acceptable because mean reversion is high probability

Target:

• Return to VWAP or halfway back to VWAP
• Exit at least 50% at VWAP, trail remainder

Why this works on Lucid:

Mean reversion setups fail fast or work fast. On Lucid's EOD drawdown, I can afford to take a stop on this setup and still have room for other trades the same day—something that's harder on intraday trailing firms.

I use this setup opportunistically, not as a primary strategy. When you see an extreme extension with exhaustion signals, the risk/reward is outstanding.

Exit Strategy: When to Take Profits

This is where traders lose edge. They enter great trades but exit poorly—taking tiny profits and letting losers run.

Profit-taking rules:

1. Hit 1R? Lock in 50% of position.
   • Move stop to breakeven
   • Let the rest run for 1.5R-2R
2. Hit 1.5R? Lock in another 25%.
   • Trail stop at 1R
   • Final 25% runs for 2R+
3. Never let a winning trade turn into a loser.
   • If you're up 0.75R and trade reverses, exit at breakeven
   • Better to walk away flat than watch +$400 become -$200
4. Don't chase targets during evaluation.
   • Evaluation goal = pass, not maximize profit
   • Take the 1.5R and move on
   • Save the "let it run" trades for funded phase

Real example:

Long 3 NQ at 16,250. Target is 16,265 (15 points = $300/contract = $900 total).

• Hit 16,260 (+10 points = 0.66R): Hold, move stop to breakeven
• Hit 16,265 (+15 points = 1R): Exit 1 contract ($300), trail stop to 16,260 on remaining 2
• Hit 16,270 (+20 points = 1.33R): Exit 1 contract ($400), trail stop to 16,265 on final contract
• Final contract stopped at 16,265: +$300

Total P&L: $300 + $400 + $300 = $1,000 on a trade that targeted $900.

By scaling out, I locked in profit and still captured the extended move. If the trade had reversed at 16,262, I'd have $300 locked and broken even on the rest—still a win.

Stop Loss Management: Protecting the Account

Hard stop rules:

1. Every trade has a predefined stop before entry.
   • No "I'll see how it goes" trades
   • If you can't define the stop, skip the trade
2. Move stop to breakeven at 0.75R minimum.
   • On NQ, this is typically +7-8 points
   • Reduces risk of turning winners into losers
3. Never widen a stop once the trade is live.
   • If your thesis changes, exit the trade
   • Widening stops is how traders blow accounts
4. If stopped out twice in one session, stop trading.
   • Two stops = something's off (market conditions, your read, execution)
   • Better to walk away flat than force trades and take a third stop

Why this matters for Lucid's EOD drawdown:

Even though intraday drawdown doesn't count toward Lucid's EOD limit, stops still hurt your P&L. Two -$200 stops on NQ puts you -$400 for the day. If you started the day flat, you're now -$400 toward your $2,000 EOD limit.

The goal isn't "I can afford more stops because EOD drawdown." The goal is "I'm not taking unnecessary stops in the first place."

Evaluation Phase Strategy: How to Pass in 5-7 Days

Most traders try to pass Lucid evaluations in 2-3 days. Bad idea. Rushing leads to overtrading, which leads to stops, which leads to failed evals.

My evaluation approach:

Day 1: Small, High-Confidence Trades

Goal: +0.5% to +1% of account size

Example (50K LucidTest):

• Profit target = $3,000 (6%)
• Day 1 goal = +$250 to +$500

Strategy:

• Trade 1-2 contracts max
• Take only your best setup (VWAP pullback with HTF confirmation)
• One win of 10-15 points on 2 NQ contracts = $400-$600
• Done for the day

Why start small:

You're calibrating to the account, the platform, and Lucid's execution. One solid trade builds confidence and puts you in profit—now you're trading offense instead of defense.

Days 2-4: Build the Lead Gradually

Goal: +0.75% to +1.5% per day

Example (50K LucidTest):

• Day 2 target: +$375 to +$750
• Day 3 target: +$375 to +$750
• Day 4 target: +$375 to +$750

Strategy:

• Still trading 2-3 contracts
• 2 winning trades per day = $400-$800 total
• Focus on quality setups during RTH open and close

Cumulative progress:

Day 1: +$500
Day 2: +$750
Day 3: +$600
Day 4: +$700

Total: +$2,550 (85% of profit target hit in 4 days)

Why this pace works:

You're not chasing the target aggressively, so you're not taking marginal trades. Every trade is high-conviction. Win rate stays high because you're patient.

Days 5-7: Close It Out Conservatively

Goal: Hit the remaining $450 to pass

Strategy:

• Same approach: 1-2 quality trades per day
• Don't force it if conditions aren't ideal
• Better to take an extra day than blow the eval on a bad trade

Day 5: +$300 (one solid VWAP pullback)
Day 6: +$150 (smaller win, but still progress)

Total: +$3,000 → Evaluation passed in 6 days.

What if you're stuck at $2,800 on Day 7?

Don't force the last $200. Trade your best setup and only your best setup. If it doesn't show up, come back Day 8. I've passed evals on Day 3 and Day 11—both work. The only fail is breaching drawdown trying to rush.

Funded Phase Strategy: Staying Profitable Long-Term

Passing the eval is step one. Staying funded and withdrawing consistently is the real game.

Funded phase adjustments:

Size Up Gradually (Not Immediately)

Month 1-2 funded:

• Trade the same size as evaluation (2-3 contracts)
• Goal: Prove consistency, not maximize profit
• Aim for +2% to +4% per month

Month 3+:

• If first two months are green, add 1 contract
• Still conservative, still focused on consistency
• Aim for +4% to +6% per month

Why gradual scaling:

Jumping from 2 contracts to 5 contracts the moment you're funded is how traders blow funded accounts. Your brain needs time to adjust to larger P&L swings. Scale up as your confidence and consistency grow.

I'm currently trading 4-5 contracts on my 100K LucidFlex account. Started at 2 contracts when I got funded. Took 4 months to get to 5. P&L is smoother, stress is lower, results are better.

Payout Strategy: Withdraw Regularly

LucidFlex/LucidDirect payout frequency:

• No minimum days between payouts
• Withdraw whenever you want (subject to payout caps)

My approach:

• Withdraw every 10-14 days
• Leave buffer in account for drawdown cushion
• Example: If I make $3,000, withdraw $2,000, keep $1,000 as buffer

Why frequent withdrawals:

Prop firms can change rules, pause payouts, or shut down. Getting money out of the account regularly protects you. I've withdrawn $18,400 from Lucid across 14 payouts—small, frequent withdrawals reduce risk.

Track Your FP Score (LucidFlex)

LucidFlex accounts have an FP Score that affects payout processing speed:

• Score < 70: Manual review (slower payouts)
• Score 70-89: Standard processing
• Score 90+: Instant processing

How to improve FP Score:

• Consistent trading (don't go weeks without trading)
• Avoid large daily swings
• Keep win rate above 50%
• Withdraw regularly but not excessively

My FP Score went from 67 (slow payouts) to 91 (instant) by trading consistently and avoiding huge P&L swings. Now payouts hit my account within hours instead of days.

Avoid These Funded Phase Mistakes

Mistake 1: Revenge trading after a loss

You take a -$400 stop. Now you're pissed. You take a marginal trade trying to "get it back." That trade loses too. Now you're -$800 and frustrated.

Fix: Two-stop rule applies during funded phase too. Two stops = done for the day.

Mistake 2: Letting winning days turn into losing days

You're up +$800 by 11 AM. Great day. But you keep trading because "I'm hot." By 2 PM, you're flat or red.

Fix: If you hit +1.5% of account value, consider stopping for the day. Bank the win. Come back tomorrow.

Mistake 3: Not tracking your statistics

You don't know your win rate, average winner, average loser, or which setups perform best. You're trading blind.

Fix: Track every trade. I use a simple spreadsheet:

• Date, contract, entry, exit, P&L, setup type, notes

After 50 trades, you'll see patterns—which setups work for you, which don't, what times are most profitable. Data beats intuition.

Contract-Specific Strategy Notes

The framework above works across all futures contracts, but execution varies by contract characteristics.

Trading NQ (Nasdaq Futures) on Lucid

Why I prefer NQ for evals:

• High volatility = faster profit targets
• Excellent liquidity (tight spreads, fast fills)
• Strong trending behavior (good for VWAP pullbacks)

NQ-specific adjustments:

• Stop loss: 8-12 points typical
• Profit target: 12-20 points typical
• Best sessions: RTH open (9:30-11:00 AM), RTH close (3:00-4:00 PM)
• Avoid: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (choppy, low conviction)

Position sizing for 50K eval:

• Conservative: 2 contracts
• Moderate: 3 contracts
• Aggressive (not recommended): 4 contracts

Trading ES (S&P 500 Futures) on Lucid

Why ES works well:

• Lower volatility than NQ (slower, more controlled)
• Predictable mean reversion
• Less emotional (smaller point values reduce stress)

ES-specific adjustments:

• Stop loss: 4-8 points typical
• Profit target: 8-15 points typical
• Best sessions: RTH open, lunch mean reversion (12:00-1:00 PM)

Position sizing for 50K eval:

• Conservative: 4 contracts
• Moderate: 6 contracts
• Aggressive: 8 contracts

ES is ideal if:

• You're risk-averse (smaller swings)
• You prefer range-bound trading over trends
• NQ volatility stresses you out

Trading GC (Gold Futures) on Lucid

Why GC is underrated:

• Strong session-based patterns (Asian, London, NY)
• Excellent mean reversion characteristics
• Less correlation to equities (diversification)

GC-specific adjustments:

• Stop loss: $10-$15 typical
• Profit target: $15-$25 typical
• Best sessions: London open (3:00 AM ET), NY open (8:30 AM ET)

Position sizing for 50K eval:

• Conservative: 3 contracts
• Moderate: 4 contracts

Never hold GC overnight during evaluation. Gold gaps frequently on news—unnecessary risk.

Trading YM (Dow Futures) on Lucid

Why YM is the overlooked winner:

• Slowest mover (great for precision entries)
• Lowest volatility of the majors
• Point value: $5/point (smaller risk per contract)

YM-specific adjustments:

• Stop loss: 20-40 points typical
• Profit target: 40-80 points typical
• Best sessions: RTH open, lunch range trading

Position sizing for 50K eval:

• Conservative: 4 contracts
• Moderate: 6 contracts

YM is ideal if:

• You want slow, controlled price action
• You're new to futures (less intimidating)
• You prefer larger position sizes with lower per-contract risk

Risk Management: The Non-Negotiables

These rules apply to every trade, every session, every account—evaluation or funded.

Rule 1: Never Risk More Than 1% Per Trade

50K account:

• 1% = $500 max risk per trade
• 2 contracts on NQ with 12-point stop = $480 risk → Acceptable
• 3 contracts on NQ with 12-point stop = $720 risk → Too much

Even though Lucid's EOD drawdown gives you breathing room, tight per-trade risk keeps you safe from single-trade blowups.

Rule 2: Max 2% Drawdown Per Day

50K account:

• 2% = $1,000 max loss for the day
• Hit -$1,000? Stop trading immediately

This prevents spiral losses where you take 5 stops in one day trying to recover. Down -$1,000 on Monday? Come back Tuesday with a fresh mindset.

Rule 3: No Trading During Major News (Evaluation)

Avoid these events during evaluation:

• FOMC announcements
• NFP (Non-Farm Payrolls)
• CPI (Consumer Price Index)
• Fed Chair speeches

Why:

News events create volatility that's unpredictable. Stops get run, price whipsaws, and edge disappears. During evaluation, you can't afford that chaos.

During funded phase:

I trade NFP and FOMC on funded accounts—but only after the initial spike. Wait 15 minutes for volatility to settle, then trade the resulting trend or range. Never trade the initial reaction.

Rule 4: Track Cumulative Daily P&L Relative to EOD Drawdown

Why this matters:

Let's say you started the day at $0. You take 3 trades:

• Trade 1: +$400
• Trade 2: -$300
• Trade 3: +$200

Intraday P&L: +$300
Worst intraday drawdown: -$300 (after Trade 2)

On Lucid, only the +$300 end-of-day P&L counts toward your drawdown limit. But you still experienced -$300 intraday—that's emotional heat, even if it doesn't "count."

Tracking principle:

If you've been down more than -$500 intraday (even if you recovered), consider stopping for the day. The emotional toll affects decision-making, and one more bad trade could breach you.

Common Lucid Evaluation Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

I've failed 6 Lucid evaluations. Here's what went wrong—and how I fixed it.

Mistake 1: Treating EOD Drawdown Like Intraday Trailing

What happened:

I was used to trading FTMO and TopStep (intraday trailing). On my first Lucid eval, I sized positions conservatively because I was still thinking "every tick counts." Took me 14 days to pass because I wasn't using Lucid's EOD advantage.

Fix:

Lucid's EOD structure lets you be more aggressive with position sizing and heat tolerance. A position that's -$600 intraday isn't a breach risk if you're confident it'll recover by close. Use that flexibility.

Mistake 2: Overtrading to Hit Target Fast

What happened:

I hit +$2,400 on Day 3 of a $3,000 target. Only needed $600 more. Got impatient, took 4 marginal trades, gave back $800. Failed the eval at -$400 net.

Fix:

Slow down when you're close to target. The last 20% of profit should come from the same high-quality setups as the first 80%. Don't switch to "any setup will do" mode.

Mistake 3: Holding Overnight During Evaluation

What happened:

Long 3 NQ overnight. Woke up to a gap down that put me -$900. Still passed the eval eventually, but the stress wasn't worth it.

Fix:

Flat by 4:00 PM ET during evaluation. Every time. Overnight holds are for funded phase only.

Mistake 4: Not Using Stop Losses Because "EOD Drawdown"

What happened:

Took a VWAP pullback that went way offside. Thought "it's fine, EOD drawdown will save me if it doesn't recover." It didn't recover. Lost -$1,200 on one trade.

Fix:

EOD drawdown protects you from intraday swings, not from bad trades that stay bad. Every trade still needs a predefined stop.

Mistake 5: Ignoring the Two-Stop Rule

What happened:

Took two stops in the first hour. Frustrated, kept trading. Took 3 more trades (1 win, 2 stops). Ended the day -$1,100.

Fix:

Two stops = done for the day. No exceptions. Even during funded phase.

The Mental Game: How to Stay Disciplined

Strategy is 50% of success. The other 50% is executing the strategy without emotional interference.

Pre-Market Routine: Set the Tone

What I do every morning:

1. Review previous day's trades (5 minutes)
   • What worked? What didn't?
   • Any patterns emerging?
2. Check economic calendar (2 minutes)
   • Is there news today?
   • If yes, adjust trading windows
3. Define max trades and max loss for the day (1 minute)
   • Example: "Max 3 trades, max -$500 loss"
   • Write it down, stick to it
4. Set one profit goal (1 minute)
   • Example: "+$400 today"
   • This keeps me from overtrading when I hit it

Total time: 10 minutes. Returns: Massive.

During Trading: Stay Process-Focused

Principles:

• Focus on executing the setup, not the P&L
  • "Did I follow my entry rules?" matters more than "Did I make money?"
• Detach from outcome of individual trades
  • One loss doesn't mean your strategy is broken
  • One win doesn't mean you're invincible
• Celebrate small wins
  • +$300 day? That's a win. Don't diminish it because it's not +$1,000.

Post-Market Review: Learn and Adjust

What I track:

• Entry price, exit price, P&L (obvious)
• Setup type (VWAP pullback, OR breakout, fade)
• Why I took the trade (note: specific reason, not "looked good")
• What I'd do differently (even on winners)

After 20 trades, I analyze:

• Which setups have highest win rate?
• Which times of day are most profitable?
• Am I following my rules or improvising?

Data drives improvement. Without tracking, you're guessing.

Tools and Platforms I Use on Lucid

Platform choice affects execution quality. Here's my exact setup.

TradingView (Charting & Analysis)

What I use it for:

• VWAP, volume profile, RSI indicators
• Multi-timeframe analysis (5-min, 15-min, 1-hour)
• Replay mode for backtesting setups

Settings:

• Chart: 5-min primary, 15-min confirmation
• Indicators: VWAP, Volume, RSI(14)
• No clutter (more indicators = more confusion)

Tradovate (Order Execution)

Why Tradovate:

• Connects directly to Lucid accounts (no middleware)
• Fast fills, tight spreads
• DOM (Depth of Market) shows real-time order flow

Order types I use:

• Limit orders for entries (control fill price)
• Stop-market for stops (guaranteed exit)
• Bracket orders for scaling out (automatic profit-taking)

Alternative: NinjaTrader

If you prefer NinjaTrader, it also connects well to Lucid. I used it for 6 months before switching to Tradovate. Both work—pick whichever you're more comfortable with.

Scaling to Multiple Lucid Accounts

Once you've passed one eval and are consistently profitable on a funded account, consider scaling to multiple accounts.

Why multiple accounts:

1. Diversification: If one account has a bad month, others offset it
2. Higher earning potential: 3 accounts × $2,000/month = $6,000/month
3. Risk distribution: Spread risk across accounts instead of concentrating it

How I scaled:

• Month 1-3: One 50K LucidFlex (proving consistency)
• Month 4: Added second 50K LucidFlex (same strategy, different account)
• Month 6: Added 100K LucidFlex (same strategy, larger size)
• Month 9: Added LucidDirect 50K (instant funding, different rule set)

Currently trading:

• 2× 100K LucidFlex
• 1× 50K LucidFlex
• 1× 50K LucidDirect

Total capital: $300K across 4 accounts

Strategy doesn't change—just execution across multiple accounts. I trade the same setups, same risk management, same session timing. The accounts are parallel, not divergent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this strategy work on other prop firms?

Yes, but you'll need to adjust for their specific rules. The core principles (session timing, position sizing, setup selection) are universal. But EOD drawdown management is Lucid-specific—other firms will require tighter intraday risk management.

How long does it take to become profitable with this strategy?

If you're already familiar with futures trading, 2-4 weeks to adapt to Lucid's rules. If you're new to futures, expect 2-3 months of demo trading + small live accounts before running a Lucid eval.

What's the minimum account size to start?

Lucid's smallest account is $25K. I recommend starting with $50K—it gives you more breathing room for position sizing and drawdown management.

Do I need to trade every day during evaluation?

No. I typically trade 4-5 days per week during evaluation. If conditions aren't ideal (choppy market, major news, unclear setups), I skip the day. Better to wait for quality than force mediocrity.

What if I fail an evaluation?

Reset costs on Lucid are cheaper than buying a new eval. If you breach drawdown, you can reset the account and try again. I've failed 6 evals—learned from each one, adjusted, and eventually passed consistently.

Can I trade multiple contracts on different accounts simultaneously?

Yes, but it's mentally demanding. I trade one account at a time, close all positions, then move to the next account. Trying to manage 3 accounts simultaneously is a recipe for mistakes.

Final Thoughts: Why This Strategy Works

I'm not going to claim this is the "best" Lucid Trading strategy. It's the strategy that works for me—73.9% pass rate, 14 payouts, $18,400 withdrawn, multiple funded accounts.

What makes it work isn't some secret setup or magic indicator. It's:

1. Understanding Lucid's EOD drawdown and using it to your advantage
2. Patience to wait for high-probability setups instead of forcing trades
3. Conservative position sizing that keeps you safe from single-trade blowups
4. Discipline to stop trading after two stops or when you hit daily goals
5. Process focus instead of P&L obsession

The traders who fail Lucid evaluations aren't bad traders. They just don't adjust their strategy to match Lucid's rule structure. Treat EOD drawdown like intraday trailing, and you'll either pass slowly or fail quickly.

Treat EOD drawdown like the advantage it is—breathing room to let high-probability trades work—and you'll pass consistently.

If you're planning to run a Lucid evaluation, this framework will get you there. Adapt it to your contracts, your trading times, and your risk tolerance. But keep the core principles intact: patience, discipline, conservative sizing, and process focus.

Good luck. You've got this.