The rules you're trading against
To pass Topstep 50K Trading Combine you need to hit the $3,000 profit target, never breach the end-of-day trailing drawdown, and stay under the $1,000 daily loss limit, across at least 2 days.
End-of-day trailing drawdown of $2,000 that freezes once it reaches your starting balance (the Maximum Loss Limit). The floor moves up at each daily close, never intraday.
Where most traders slip
The fastest way out is the $1,000 daily loss limit: a short losing streak at the wrong size. The drawdown gets the patient ones; the daily limit gets the impatient ones.
- →Treat the $1,000 daily loss limit as a hard stop: size so two losers in a row never reach it.
- →Because the trailing MLL moves at end of day, bank profit and walk; giving back an intraday spike still counts against you the next session.
- →Once the trail freezes at your starting balance, your real floor is the $50,000 start. Protect it like a daily-loss line.
- →Spread profit across days so your best day stays under 50% of total: the consistency rule blocks the payout, not the pass.
Figures reflect a common Topstep account at the time of writing. Firms revise rules often, so verify against the Topstep site before relying on them.
Merlin's gauges derive from closed trades. Your firm watches live equity including open positions.
MerlinTrade is independent trading-journal software and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Topstep. All trademarks belong to their owners.