What results can I realistically expect with Parabellum EA? +

Historical tracking from 2021 showed 159.75% gain over 96 days with 21.56% drawdown on gold trading. However, data is 3+ years old during different market conditions. Current gold volatility patterns differ significantly from 2021. Demo testing mandatory 90+ days minimum before assessing realistic expectations for today's markets. Performance depends heavily on broker spreads, capital size, and ranging vs trending market mix.

Why do traders choose Parabellum EA over other EAs? +

Parabellum EA specializes exclusively in XAUUSD mean reversion versus general-purpose EAs attempting multiple pairs. The three-indicator filter system targets sideways price action specifically, differentiating from trend-following approaches. Time filtering avoids rollover spread widening other gold EAs ignore. Choose Parabellum if you focus solely on gold trading, accept 20-25% drawdown tolerance, and operate $10,000+ capital. Choose alternatives if you need multi-pair diversification or drawdown below 15%.

How does Parabellum EA work? +

The system detects sideways XAUUSD markets using statistical analysis with three technical indicator filters confirming mean reversion setups. When filters align, EA opens 0.01 initial lot position with 50-point take profit target. If price moves against position without closing, grid activates: new position opens 95 points away with 1.8x larger lot size (0.018 lot). Process continues up to 20 grid levels maximum, calculating recovery price where entire sequence closes in profit. Spread filter blocks entries above 30 points; time filter avoids trading 23:30-00:30 server time during rollover. Optimal during ranging gold markets with clear support/resistance zones. Caution during strong breakout trends exceeding 200+ pips and major news events causing spread spikes.

What are the trade-offs I should understand with Parabellum EA? +

Grid-based recovery prioritizes position averaging over quick stop losses, resulting in 20-25% typical drawdown during gold corrections. This occurs because strategy requires price retracement to grid levels for profit—extended trends without pullbacks keep positions open longer. Control via $10,000+ capital minimum providing adequate margin, Conservative 0.01 starting lot preventing oversizing, and ECN brokers with sub-2 pip spreads reducing per-trade costs. With proper capitalization and 95-100 point grid spacing, drawdown maintains manageable range during normal gold volatility while capturing reversion moves.

Who should use Parabellum EA? +

Parabellum EA works best for gold-focused traders with $10,000-$20,000 capital seeking automated mean reversion strategies, and experienced grid traders understanding recovery mechanics. Requires intermediate MT4 knowledge, acceptance of 20-25% drawdown periods, and ECN broker with maximum 30-point spreads on XAUUSD. Suited for hands-off traders comfortable with 24/7 automated operation via VPS hosting. Understanding of martingale-style lot progression and grid trading principles essential for proper risk assessment.

How long before Parabellum EA pays for itself? +

Initial investment includes EA cost plus recommended $10,000-$20,000 trading capital. Historical 19.91% monthly returns from 2021 suggest potential payback, but data is 3+ years outdated. Current gold market conditions differ significantly—volatility patterns, spread environments, and liquidity changed substantially. Actual timeline varies with capital size (larger accounts absorb drawdowns better), broker quality (spreads directly impact profitability), and market regime (ranging vs trending). Factor 3-6 month demo validation period before assessing true performance expectations for today's markets.

Should I test Parabellum EA on demo first? +

Demo testing absolutely mandatory 90+ days minimum before risking capital. Monitor drawdown behavior during gold volatility spikes, grid recovery patterns after losing sequences, and performance consistency across ranging vs trending periods. Demo accounts provide perfect execution—expect 2-4% performance difference live due to slippage during fast markets and real spread variation. Validate using 0.01 starting lot Conservative settings first. Only transition to live after 3+ months consistent demo results confirming strategy suits current market conditions versus 2021 historical data.

What capital do I need to run Parabellum EA profitably? +

Minimum documented: $10,000 based on developer recommendations for safe grid operation. Recommended: $10,000-$20,000 providing adequate margin for 20-grid-level sequences with 1.8x lot multiplier. This capital supports 0.01 initial lot sizing, sufficient room for 21-25% drawdown without margin calls, and proper 95-point grid spacing on XAUUSD volatility. Under-capitalization below $10,000 increases risk dramatically—insufficient margin for full grid deployment during extended gold trends. Larger capital ($15,000+) allows more conservative lot sizing and better drawdown tolerance.

What are the main risks I should know about? +

Primary risk is extended drawdown periods (20-25%) during strong directional gold trends when multiple grid levels activate without retracement. This occurs during breakout moves exceeding 200+ pips in single direction—XAUUSD volatility can produce such moves during geopolitical events or Fed announcements. Twenty-level grid limit with 1.8x lot multiplier creates substantial position size at deeper levels (initial 0.01 lot grows to 0.38+ lot by level 20). Control through $15,000+ capital providing margin buffer, Conservative 0.01 starting lot, and ECN broker with sub-2 pip XAUUSD spreads reducing accumulation costs. With proper setup and avoiding trading during extreme news events, typical drawdown maintains 18-23% range with systematic recovery as gold returns to mean. Strategy requires patience—recovery takes days to weeks depending on volatility.

Which brokers work best with Parabellum EA? +

Requires ECN or STP brokers with maximum 30-point spreads on XAUUSD—spread costs accumulate significantly across grid levels. Fast execution under 100ms latency essential for accurate entry pricing during gold volatility spikes. Avoid market maker brokers with 3+ pip typical spreads—grid profitability suffers 40-50% due to increased per-position costs compounding across 20 potential levels. Recommended broker characteristics: Raw spread accounts, reliable execution during news events, and 1:100+ leverage supporting grid margin requirements. VPS hosting mandatory for 24/7 operation preventing connection interruptions during critical recovery phases.