← Guardian

Configuration guide

Configure Guardian.
Understand each setting.

Start with the essentials. Find a practical answer, or look up the exact name you see in cTrader.

Guide checked against code v4.0.10

Start here

Starting preset
Guardian
Risk multiplier
0.5016
Sizing mode
Additive

  1. Identify your version

    Compare the installed version with this guide. A historical report can refer to a different version.

  2. Check the account and broker

    Review symbol names, minimum lots, account currency and the daily reset clock. These affect execution and sizing.

  3. Change one thing, then compare

    Save a baseline. Run a backtest after each change, then observe the setup in demo before drawing conclusions.

Prefer to watch it? Video: how to backtest Guardian ↗

What do you need to do?

I want to start with the standard setup

Keep the starting preset shown above and check the symbols your broker provides. Compare the product version, data and costs before trying to reproduce a report. The Free edition runs backtests; demo trading needs the full edition.

I want to reduce the size

Select Custom first, then adjust Risk scale. For example, halving 0.5016 to 0.2508 halves the requested risk before lot rounding and other limits. This is an illustration, not a recommended setting; fixed lots do not use that same calculation. Compare the change in a backtest.

My settings keep reverting

A named preset writes its own values on every startup. Select Custom to keep manual edits to those fields. Loading a saved .cbotset can also replace settings, including the daily reset clock.

I want to retire one strategy

If it still has positions open, review its Mode and use ManageOnly to stop new entries while management continues. Simply turning On off is not the same operation.

The account resets at a different hour

Check the timezone and exact reset hour in the account rules. Set Daily reset clock and Daily reset hour together. A named timezone handles its daylight-saving changes; FixedUtcOffset is a fixed offset. Read the startup log to confirm the applied window.

I want fewer Telegram messages

Keep the messages that help you supervise the bot. Stop-move alerts have a separate switch from trade alerts. Token and chat ID are entered in cTrader, not on this website.

Presets available in Guardian

These are this product’s actual options. Open a profile to see what it changes.

Custom

Keeps your own values. It does not apply a named profile.

Guardian

Reapplies these values at startup:

Risk scale (x all strategies)
0.5016
Daily loss guard %
3.3
Daily entry lock %
0
Max drawdown guard %
6.0
Global risk cap %
4.0
Max open positions
8

Every parameter, explained

The English label matches cTrader. Defaults and ranges below belong to this code version; a preset can override some of them when starting.

Size and directionChoose the base profile, size and limits.10

Risk multiplier

Default: 0.5016
Risk scale (x all strategies)

Multiplies the risk assigned to each strategy. It is not a percentage: 0.5 means half of its designed risk. Fixed-lot overrides use a different sizing path.

Available values: 0.05 → 3.0 · step 0.01

Starting profile

Default: Guardian
Preset

A named profile reapplies its settings at startup. Select Custom before editing those settings yourself.

Available values: Custom · Guardian

Trade direction

Default: Both
Sides

Both allows buys and sells. BuyOnly allows buys; SellOnly allows sells. A strategy can override this with its own Sides setting.

Available values: Inherit · Both · BuyOnly · SellOnly

How position size is calculated

Default: Additive
Sizing mode

Additive uses a fixed starting base. Compound adjusts the sizing base with account equity. Changing this changes the test.

Available values: Additive · Compound

Base for additive sizing

Default: 0
Initial balance (additive base)

Used with Additive. Zero takes the account balance at startup; a positive value supplies the fixed base in account currency.

Available values: 0 → ∞

Simultaneous positions

Default: 8
Max open positions

Limits how many cBot positions can stay open together. A named preset can replace this limit.

Available values: 1 → 50

Prop-firm restrictions

Default: On
Prop-firm mode

Applies the product’s prop-firm guard restrictions. It does not automatically know the rules of every firm.

Available values: true / false

Margin usage limit

Default: 30
Max margin usage % (0 = OFF)

Blocks entries when their margin usage would exceed the configured limit. Zero disables this check. Margin is not the same as risk at the stop.

Available values: 0 → 100

Risk concentrated in one market

Default: 2.5
Asset risk cap %

Limits the risk to stops on one symbol, using the cBot’s netting rules. Zero disables the cap.

Available values: 0 → 100

Total open risk

Default: 4
Global risk cap %

Caps the combined risk to stops across the portfolio. This is an entry limit, not a promise about the final loss.

Available values: 0 → 100

Daily loss and account clockDefine the day being measured and what happens at the limit.6

Daily loss stop

Default: 3.3
Daily loss guard %

Stops further trading when the configured daily loss threshold is reached. Closing existing trades depends on Daily guard closes all.

Available values: 0.5 → 5.0 · step 0.1

Stop new entries earlier

Default: 0
Daily entry lock %

Blocks new entries at this daily loss level while existing positions remain managed. Zero disables this earlier lock.

Available values: 0 → 5.0 · step 0.1

Close positions at the daily stop

Default: On
Daily guard closes all

Controls whether the daily guard also closes the positions covered by the cBot. Check this separately from the loss threshold.

Available values: true / false

Clock used for the trading day

Default: CentralEuropean
Daily reset clock

Chooses the timezone used to reset the daily loss reference. Match it to the account’s actual reset rules.

Available values: CentralEuropean · EasternEuropean · NewYork · Utc · FixedUtcOffset

Daily reset hour

Default: 0
Daily reset hour (in that clock)

Hour in the selected clock. Zero means midnight; 17 means 5 pm.

Available values: 0 → 23

Fixed UTC offset

Default: 0
Daily reset UTC offset h (Fixed only)

Only used with FixedUtcOffset. It is ignored with the named timezones.

Available values: -12 → 14 · step 0.5

Total drawdownThe overall loss stop, independent of the daily control.2

Enable the total drawdown guard

Default: On
Max drawdown guard ON

Enables the total drawdown guard. Switching it off removes this protection.

Available values: true / false

Total drawdown threshold

Default: 6.0
Max drawdown guard %

Stops the cBot when total drawdown reaches its threshold. Prop-firm mode may clamp the allowed value. A stop is not a guaranteed loss ceiling.

Available values: 1.0 → 100.0 · step 0.5

Balance protectionOptional moving-average and profit-trail controls.6

Optional balance protection

Default: Off
Balance protection

Off disables it. EquityEma uses a moving-average reference; ProfitTarget arms a profit trail after reaching the target.

Available values: Off · EquityEma · ProfitTarget

Moving-average length

Default: 20
EMA period (days)

Days used by the EquityEma protection. A shorter window reacts sooner and can react to more noise.

Available values: 2 → 200

Room below the average

Default: 0.0
EMA buffer %

Tolerance below the moving-average reference before the protection triggers. Used with EquityEma.

Available values: 0 → 20 · step 0.1

Close on an EMA breach

Default: Off
EMA close-all on breach

Decides whether the EquityEma protection also closes positions when breached.

Available values: true / false

Profit level that arms the trail

Default: 10.0
Profit target %

Used with ProfitTarget. Reaching this level arms the profit trail; it is not a guaranteed return.

Available values: 1.0 → 100.0 · step 0.5

Profit trail distance

Default: 2.0
Profit trail gap %

Allowed pullback from the profit peak once the ProfitTarget trail is active.

Available values: 0.5 → 20.0 · step 0.5

Dynamic risk reductionReduce position size under specified conditions.7

Reduce size in volatile periods

Default: Off
Vol-target de-lever

Can reduce new position risk when the portfolio’s measured volatility exceeds the target. It does not increase risk above the original size.

Available values: true / false

Volatility target

Default: 14
Vol-target annual %

Annual volatility target used by the reduction overlay. It is a sizing input, not a forecast.

Available values: 0 → 50 · step 0.5

Volatility observation window

Default: 40
Vol-target lookback (days)

Number of days used to estimate recent portfolio volatility.

Available values: 5 → 120 · step 5

Minimum size multiplier

Default: 0.5
Vol-target floor

Lowest multiplier the volatility overlay can apply. A value of 0.5 means half the original size.

Available values: 0.1 → 1.0 · step 0.05

Reduce size below the equity trend

Default: Off
Equity de-risk

Reduces the risk of new entries when equity is below its moving-average reference.

Available values: true / false

Equity reference length

Default: 30
Equity de-risk EMA (days)

Days in the average used by Equity de-risk.

Available values: 5 → 120 · step 5

Reduced-risk multiplier

Default: 0.5
Equity de-risk factor

Risk multiplier used while Equity de-risk is active. A value of 0.5 means half risk before other controls.

Available values: 0.1 → 1.0 · step 0.05

Broker, language and diagnosticsSymbol mapping, conversion and event logs.4

Broker symbol names

Default: Empty
Symbol overrides (USATECHIDXUSD=US100.cash,...)

Maps a portfolio symbol to your broker’s symbol. Example: USATECHIDXUSD=US100.cash. Confirm the actual name in your broker first.

Available values: Text

Manual currency conversion

Default: Empty
Manual quote->acct rates (JPY=0.0059,USD=0.92)

Fallback conversion rates for custom-data backtests. Leave empty when the broker supplies the required conversion.

Available values: Text

Detailed event log

Default: On
Verbose event log

Shows trading and guard events in the log. The Free edition may restrict diagnostic output.

Available values: true / false

Interface language

Default: English
Language

Selects the language of the cBot’s messages.

Available values: English · Espanol

Strategy selection and entry windowsControl the subset, entry count and manual pause windows.4

Share of strategies enabled per account

Default: 100
B: account sleeve keep %

Keeps a subset of sleeves for the account. At 100 all are retained; lowering it changes the portfolio you are testing.

Available values: 50 → 100 · step 5

Minimum active sleeves

Default: 6
B: min active sleeves (floor)

Lower limit for the account’s sleeve selection. Applies together with the keep percentage.

Available values: 1 → 50

Daily entry count limit

Default: 0
Max new entries per day (0=unlimited)

Limits new entries per UTC day. Zero means unlimited. Exits and position management are not new entries.

Available values: 0 → 100

Pause entries around events

Default: Empty
News blackout windows (UTC CSV)

Manual UTC windows when no new entries are allowed. This field is not an automatic news calendar.

Available values: Text

Alerts and connectionChoose which messages you receive.11

Enable Telegram messages

Default: On
Telegram alerts

Enables messages when your bot token and chat ID are configured. No credentials are needed to read this guide.

Available values: true / false

Your Telegram bot token

Default: none
Telegram bot token

Enter your own bot’s token in cTrader. Keep it private; never publish it in a screenshot or support message.

Available values: Text

Destination chat

Default: none
Telegram chat id

Chat ID receiving the cBot’s alerts. Configure it inside cTrader.

Available values: Text

Startup alert

Default: On
Alert on start

Sends a message when the cBot starts.

Available values: true / false

Trade alerts

Default: On
Alert trades

Controls messages about trades.

Available values: true / false

Stop adjustment alerts

Default: On
Alert stop moves

Controls messages about stop-loss movements.

Available values: true / false

Guard and session alerts

Default: On
Alert guards and session

Controls messages about guards and session events.

Available values: true / false

Error alerts

Default: On
Alert errors

Controls error messages sent to Telegram. The local log remains useful for diagnosis.

Available values: true / false

Daily summary

Default: On
Daily summary

Enables the daily summary message.

Available values: true / false

Message limit

Default: 200
Max alerts per day

Caps alerts per day to control message volume.

Available values: 10 → 2000

CLI connection watchdog

Default: 15
Restart after minutes with no session (CLI only, 0 = off)

CLI-only recovery threshold for missing session activity. Zero disables it. It is not a strategy signal or a restart timer for the standard interface.

Available values: 0 → 1440

Inside each strategy

A sleeve is an independently controlled strategy unit. Each has its own switches. Open only the one you want to adjust.

S01 · DAX · Breakout5

Enable this sleeve

Default: On
· On

Enables this strategy sleeve. To retire one with positions still open, review ManageOnly before disabling it.

Available values: true / false

Risk for this sleeve

Default: 0
· Risk % (0 = as designed)

Zero keeps the designed risk. A positive percentage overrides this sleeve’s risk before the global multiplier.

Available values: 0 → 5 · step 0.05

Direction for this sleeve

Default: Inherit
· Sides

Inherit follows the global Sides setting; another value overrides it for this sleeve.

Available values: Inherit · Both · BuyOnly · SellOnly

Open, manage or both

Default: OpenAndManage
· Mode

OpenAndManage does both. ManageOnly stops new entries but keeps managing existing positions. OpenOnly disables the management layer, not every strategy exit rule.

Available values: OpenAndManage · ManageOnly · OpenOnly

Fixed lots instead of risk sizing

Default: 0
· Lots (0 = size by risk %)

Zero keeps percentage-based sizing. A positive value requests fixed lots, subject to broker normalization and the remaining entry checks.

Available values: 0 → 100 · step 0.01

S02 · DAX · Regime Shift5

Enable this sleeve

Default: On
· On

Enables this strategy sleeve. To retire one with positions still open, review ManageOnly before disabling it.

Available values: true / false

Risk for this sleeve

Default: 0
· Risk % (0 = as designed)

Zero keeps the designed risk. A positive percentage overrides this sleeve’s risk before the global multiplier.

Available values: 0 → 5 · step 0.05

Direction for this sleeve

Default: Inherit
· Sides

Inherit follows the global Sides setting; another value overrides it for this sleeve.

Available values: Inherit · Both · BuyOnly · SellOnly

Open, manage or both

Default: OpenAndManage
· Mode

OpenAndManage does both. ManageOnly stops new entries but keeps managing existing positions. OpenOnly disables the management layer, not every strategy exit rule.

Available values: OpenAndManage · ManageOnly · OpenOnly

Fixed lots instead of risk sizing

Default: 0
· Lots (0 = size by risk %)

Zero keeps percentage-based sizing. A positive value requests fixed lots, subject to broker normalization and the remaining entry checks.

Available values: 0 → 100 · step 0.01

S03 · GBPUSD · Pullback5

Enable this sleeve

Default: On
· On

Enables this strategy sleeve. To retire one with positions still open, review ManageOnly before disabling it.

Available values: true / false

Risk for this sleeve

Default: 0
· Risk % (0 = as designed)

Zero keeps the designed risk. A positive percentage overrides this sleeve’s risk before the global multiplier.

Available values: 0 → 5 · step 0.05

Direction for this sleeve

Default: Inherit
· Sides

Inherit follows the global Sides setting; another value overrides it for this sleeve.

Available values: Inherit · Both · BuyOnly · SellOnly

Open, manage or both

Default: OpenAndManage
· Mode

OpenAndManage does both. ManageOnly stops new entries but keeps managing existing positions. OpenOnly disables the management layer, not every strategy exit rule.

Available values: OpenAndManage · ManageOnly · OpenOnly

Fixed lots instead of risk sizing

Default: 0
· Lots (0 = size by risk %)

Zero keeps percentage-based sizing. A positive value requests fixed lots, subject to broker normalization and the remaining entry checks.

Available values: 0 → 100 · step 0.01

S04 · GBPJPY · Weekly Bias5

Enable this sleeve

Default: On
· On

Enables this strategy sleeve. To retire one with positions still open, review ManageOnly before disabling it.

Available values: true / false

Risk for this sleeve

Default: 0
· Risk % (0 = as designed)

Zero keeps the designed risk. A positive percentage overrides this sleeve’s risk before the global multiplier.

Available values: 0 → 5 · step 0.05

Direction for this sleeve

Default: Inherit
· Sides

Inherit follows the global Sides setting; another value overrides it for this sleeve.

Available values: Inherit · Both · BuyOnly · SellOnly

Open, manage or both

Default: OpenAndManage
· Mode

OpenAndManage does both. ManageOnly stops new entries but keeps managing existing positions. OpenOnly disables the management layer, not every strategy exit rule.

Available values: OpenAndManage · ManageOnly · OpenOnly

Fixed lots instead of risk sizing

Default: 0
· Lots (0 = size by risk %)

Zero keeps percentage-based sizing. A positive value requests fixed lots, subject to broker normalization and the remaining entry checks.

Available values: 0 → 100 · step 0.01

S05 · Nasdaq · Trend5

Enable this sleeve

Default: On
· On

Enables this strategy sleeve. To retire one with positions still open, review ManageOnly before disabling it.

Available values: true / false

Risk for this sleeve

Default: 0
· Risk % (0 = as designed)

Zero keeps the designed risk. A positive percentage overrides this sleeve’s risk before the global multiplier.

Available values: 0 → 5 · step 0.05

Direction for this sleeve

Default: Inherit
· Sides

Inherit follows the global Sides setting; another value overrides it for this sleeve.

Available values: Inherit · Both · BuyOnly · SellOnly

Open, manage or both

Default: OpenAndManage
· Mode

OpenAndManage does both. ManageOnly stops new entries but keeps managing existing positions. OpenOnly disables the management layer, not every strategy exit rule.

Available values: OpenAndManage · ManageOnly · OpenOnly

Fixed lots instead of risk sizing

Default: 0
· Lots (0 = size by risk %)

Zero keeps percentage-based sizing. A positive value requests fixed lots, subject to broker normalization and the remaining entry checks.

Available values: 0 → 100 · step 0.01

S06 · USDJPY · Trend5

Enable this sleeve

Default: On
· On

Enables this strategy sleeve. To retire one with positions still open, review ManageOnly before disabling it.

Available values: true / false

Risk for this sleeve

Default: 0
· Risk % (0 = as designed)

Zero keeps the designed risk. A positive percentage overrides this sleeve’s risk before the global multiplier.

Available values: 0 → 5 · step 0.05

Direction for this sleeve

Default: Inherit
· Sides

Inherit follows the global Sides setting; another value overrides it for this sleeve.

Available values: Inherit · Both · BuyOnly · SellOnly

Open, manage or both

Default: OpenAndManage
· Mode

OpenAndManage does both. ManageOnly stops new entries but keeps managing existing positions. OpenOnly disables the management layer, not every strategy exit rule.

Available values: OpenAndManage · ManageOnly · OpenOnly

Fixed lots instead of risk sizing

Default: 0
· Lots (0 = size by risk %)

Zero keeps percentage-based sizing. A positive value requests fixed lots, subject to broker normalization and the remaining entry checks.

Available values: 0 → 100 · step 0.01

S07 · Gold · Price Action5

Enable this sleeve

Default: On
· On

Enables this strategy sleeve. To retire one with positions still open, review ManageOnly before disabling it.

Available values: true / false

Risk for this sleeve

Default: 0
· Risk % (0 = as designed)

Zero keeps the designed risk. A positive percentage overrides this sleeve’s risk before the global multiplier.

Available values: 0 → 5 · step 0.05

Direction for this sleeve

Default: Inherit
· Sides

Inherit follows the global Sides setting; another value overrides it for this sleeve.

Available values: Inherit · Both · BuyOnly · SellOnly

Open, manage or both

Default: OpenAndManage
· Mode

OpenAndManage does both. ManageOnly stops new entries but keeps managing existing positions. OpenOnly disables the management layer, not every strategy exit rule.

Available values: OpenAndManage · ManageOnly · OpenOnly

Fixed lots instead of risk sizing

Default: 0
· Lots (0 = size by risk %)

Zero keeps percentage-based sizing. A positive value requests fixed lots, subject to broker normalization and the remaining entry checks.

Available values: 0 → 100 · step 0.01

S08 · Gold · Volatility5

Enable this sleeve

Default: On
· On

Enables this strategy sleeve. To retire one with positions still open, review ManageOnly before disabling it.

Available values: true / false

Risk for this sleeve

Default: 0
· Risk % (0 = as designed)

Zero keeps the designed risk. A positive percentage overrides this sleeve’s risk before the global multiplier.

Available values: 0 → 5 · step 0.05

Direction for this sleeve

Default: Inherit
· Sides

Inherit follows the global Sides setting; another value overrides it for this sleeve.

Available values: Inherit · Both · BuyOnly · SellOnly

Open, manage or both

Default: OpenAndManage
· Mode

OpenAndManage does both. ManageOnly stops new entries but keeps managing existing positions. OpenOnly disables the management layer, not every strategy exit rule.

Available values: OpenAndManage · ManageOnly · OpenOnly

Fixed lots instead of risk sizing

Default: 0
· Lots (0 = size by risk %)

Zero keeps percentage-based sizing. A positive value requests fixed lots, subject to broker normalization and the remaining entry checks.

Available values: 0 → 100 · step 0.01