Pine Script Strategy · Starter Plan
MNQ Pine Script Strategy for Prop Firm Evaluations
MNQ is the most traded micro futures contract for prop firm evals — liquid, precise, and perfectly sized for 50k accounts. The strategy we actually run: VWAP Trend Reclaim on the 5-minute chart. 66.25% win rate across 400 trades, +$23,956 net, $4,605 max drawdown.
What is MNQ and why it works for prop firm evals
MNQ is the Micro Nasdaq-100 futures contract — exactly 1/10th the size of the full NQ. Each tick is worth $0.50 (versus $5 on NQ). One full point moves $2.00. That size differential is what makes MNQ the ideal prop firm instrument.
Here's the practical math: on a 50k Apex eval with a $2,500 max drawdown, trading 1 NQ contract gives you just 250 ticks of cushion before breach. On 1 MNQ contract, you have 5,000 ticks. Scale to 5 MNQ contracts and you're running the equivalent of half an NQ contract — with precise control over risk that a full NQ can't give you.
- Tick size: 0.25 index points = $0.50 per tick
- Point value: 1 point = $2.00
- Margin: ~$400–600 per contract (varies by broker and session)
- Exchange: CME — available on Tradovate and Rithmic
- Supported at: Apex, Topstep, MFFU, Tradeify, Bulenox, TradeDay, and all major CME futures prop firms
The MNQ VWAP Trend Reclaim strategy — how it works
The strategy delivered with the Starter plan is the MNQ 5m RTH VWAP Trend Reclaim. It's the one we trade live. The logic is straightforward enough to trust, specific enough to have real edge:
VWAP Reclaim Entry
Price crosses and closes above VWAP (long) or below VWAP (short) on the 5-minute bar. Entry fires at the next bar open. No chasing intrabar wicks.
EMA Trend Filter
No long entries below the EMA in a downtrend. No shorts above the EMA in an uptrend. Filters out counter-trend VWAP reclaims that fail most often.
ATR-Based Stop
Stop is set using ATR at entry, capped at a configurable dollar max per contract. Adapts to session volatility without blowing risk parameters.
Daily Kill Switch
Once session losses hit the configured threshold, no new entries fire. Prevents a bad morning from becoming a blown eval. Resets at the next RTH open.
Session: 9:30 AM – 15:55 ET (RTH only). Max trades/day: 4 (configurable). Target: 1.5–2R based on the morning range. The PDF guide included with every purchase walks through parameter settings for each firm's specific risk limits.
Contract sizing for 50k prop firm accounts
| Firm | Daily Limit | Max Contracts | Stop (ticks) | Risk / Trade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apex 50k | None | 5 MNQ | 30 ticks | $75 |
| Topstep 50k | $1,000 | 4 MNQ | 25 ticks | $50 |
| MFFU 50k | $500 | 3 MNQ | 20 ticks | $30 |
| Tradeify 50k (Growth) | None | 5 MNQ | 30 ticks | $75 |
| Bulenox 50k | None | 5 MNQ | 30 ticks | $75 |
These are conservative starting sizes. The strategy's daily kill switch caps total session loss regardless — but sizing within these ranges means even a maximum losing day stays well inside firm limits.
Which prop firms work best with this MNQ strategy?
Apex Trader Funding
No daily loss limit on the evaluation makes Apex the most flexible environment for this strategy. The intraday trailing drawdown tightens as your balance grows, but the VWAP Trend Reclaim's defined R:R targets exit positions before giving back significant unrealized gains. Run 4-5 MNQ contracts, 30-tick stops, and let the strategy work. Apex eval rules →
Topstep
EOD trailing drawdown is the most forgiving structure for intraday strategies — intraday swings don't move the floor. The $1,000 daily loss limit on the 50k Combine requires conservative sizing (3-4 MNQ contracts), but the EOD structure means a morning loss that gets partially recovered before close doesn't cost you drawdown cushion the way it would at Apex. Topstep Combine rules →
MyFundedFutures
Static drawdown — the floor is fixed from day one and never moves regardless of profit. This is ideal for strategies running consistent daily gains: you build equity without the floor ever chasing you. The $500 daily limit on 50k requires the tightest sizing (2-3 MNQ contracts), but the static floor is the most predictable environment. MFFU rules →
Tradeify (Growth path)
No daily loss limit, EOD trailing drawdown. Most contract flexibility of any firm listed here. Good for running full-size position counts and letting the VWAP reclaim edge fully express. Tradeify rules →
Get the MNQ VWAP Trend Reclaim strategy — $50 one-time.
Pine Script file + PDF setup guide. Instant email delivery. Works on the free TradingView plan. No subscription, no licence restrictions — run it on every account you ever attempt.
Get the Starter Plan — $50 Drawdown CalculatorHow to automate this MNQ strategy on a prop firm account
The Pine Script fires TradingView alerts on every entry and exit signal. To execute those alerts as live orders on your prop firm account:
- Load the script on TradingView — paste it into the Pine Editor and add it to your MNQ chart on the 5-minute timeframe.
- Create a TradingView alert — set the alert to trigger on the strategy's built-in alert conditions (entry long, entry short, exit). Choose webhook delivery.
- Connect TradersPost — create a webhook in TradersPost, link it to your Tradovate or Rithmic account, and paste the webhook URL into TradingView's alert. Every signal now executes automatically.
The PDF guide included with every purchase has step-by-step screenshots for each broker. TradersPost setup takes about 15 minutes if you've never done it before.
Frequently asked questions
What is an MNQ Pine Script strategy?
An MNQ Pine Script strategy is an automated trading strategy written in TradingView's Pine Script language that trades the Micro Nasdaq-100 (MNQ) futures contract. It generates entry and exit signals based on coded rules — in this case, VWAP reclaims with EMA trend confirmation — fires orders on bar close, manages stops programmatically, and sends webhook alerts to execution platforms like TradersPost for hands-free order placement on prop firm accounts.
Is MNQ good for prop firm evaluations?
Yes — MNQ is one of the best instruments for prop firm evaluations. Each tick is $0.50 (versus $5 for full NQ), which lets you run 3-5 contracts on a 50k account while keeping risk per trade well inside daily loss limits. MNQ tracks the Nasdaq-100 index precisely, is highly liquid during RTH, and is available on every major CME futures broker used by prop firms. The small tick value means you can size precisely without rounding errors that would exist on full NQ.
What prop firms allow MNQ trading?
All major futures prop firms support MNQ: Apex Trader Funding, Topstep, MyFundedFutures, Tradeify, Bulenox, TradeDay, FundedNext, and GOAT Funded Trader. MNQ trades on the CME via Tradovate or Rithmic — both are supported at every firm listed. Check each firm's maximum contract size rules before running the strategy, as limits vary by account size.
How many MNQ contracts should I trade on a 50k account?
With 20-30 tick stops, 3-5 MNQ contracts keeps per-trade risk at $30-$75. On Apex (no daily loss limit), 5 contracts is viable. On Topstep ($1,000 daily limit) or MFFU ($500 daily limit), start at 2-3 contracts. The strategy includes a configurable daily kill switch that halts new entries before you breach the firm's limit regardless of contract count — but conservative initial sizing gives you extra buffer while you learn the strategy's rhythm on your specific account.