How to Pass the Topstep Trading Combine: Rules and Strategy Guide

Topstep is one of the most established names in the prop firm space, specializing in futures trading. Their Trading Combine evaluation has funded thousands of traders since the company launched in 2012. Here is how to pass it.

Topstep Rules Overview

Topstep uses a two-step evaluation process: the Trading Combine (Step 1) followed by a Live Funded Account simulation (Step 2).

• Step 1 profit target: $3,000 for the $50K account, $4,500 for the $100K, $9,000 for the $150K
• Step 2: No profit target — maintain discipline and consistent profitability
• Maximum daily loss limit (trailing): varies by account size — $1,000 to $4,500
• Maximum drawdown (trailing): $2,000 to $4,500 depending on account size
• Minimum trading days: Varies — typically around 5 days
• Scaling plan: Position size limits increase as profits grow
• Profit split: 100% of the first $10,000, then 90/10 split

Topstep is futures-only: E-mini S&P 500, Nasdaq, crude oil, gold, and other CME Group products. Forex is not available.

Account Sizes and Pricing

• $50,000 account — $49/month subscription
• $100,000 account — $99/month subscription
• $150,000 account — $149/month subscription

Topstep uses a monthly subscription model rather than a one-time fee. This means you pay each month until you pass. They regularly offer promotional pricing — first-month deals at $49 for any account size are common. The subscription model incentivizes passing quickly to minimize costs.

How to Pass

1. Understand the trailing drawdown. Topstep's trailing drawdown is the most important rule. As your account balance reaches a new high, the drawdown floor rises with it. This means you cannot build a large cushion and then take big risks — every new high tightens the drawdown limit.
2. Trade one or two products only. Focus on the instrument you know best. Trying to trade ES, NQ, crude, and gold simultaneously during a challenge leads to scattered focus and inconsistent results.
3. Respect the scaling plan. Topstep limits position sizes based on account profit. You cannot trade 10 contracts from day one. Start with the minimum allowed and scale as the rules permit.
4. Avoid the first 30 minutes of RTH. Regular Trading Hours (RTH) open with heavy volume and wide spreads in futures. Many challenge failures happen from oversized moves in the opening rotation.
5. Target one to two points on ES per day. For a $50K account, you need $3,000. At 1-2 ES points per day, you reach the target in 8-15 trading days. No need for heroics.

Common Failures

• Not understanding the trailing drawdown. Traders build a $2,000 profit, then give back $2,500, and are surprised when they breach. The drawdown floor moved up with their profits — they were closer to breach than they realized.
• Overtrading futures. Futures are leveraged and volatile. A single ES point is $50 per contract. Taking too many contracts or too many trades amplifies both gains and losses beyond what the drawdown allows.
• Trading during major economic releases. FOMC announcements, jobs data, and CPI releases can move ES 30-50 points in minutes. Being on the wrong side with even a single contract can end the challenge instantly.
• Not adjusting to the subscription cost. The monthly fee creates pressure to pass quickly, which leads to aggressive trading — the exact opposite of what the Combine rewards.

Track Your Challenge with TradeLens

TradeLens supports Topstep challenge tracking with real-time trailing drawdown calculations. You can see exactly where your drawdown floor is, how close you are to breach, and how much more you need to hit the profit target. The AI Bias Detector alerts you when your trading patterns shift toward overtrading or revenge trading — the two behaviors most likely to end a Topstep Combine.

Pass your Combine with confidence. Get your free Discipline Score and track your Topstep challenge from day one.

Is Topstep legit?

Yes. Topstep has been operating since 2012 and has funded thousands of traders. They have verifiable payout records and a large community of funded traders. As with any prop firm, read the current terms carefully and understand the rules before starting.

Can I trade micro contracts during the Topstep Combine?

Yes. Topstep allows micro E-mini and micro futures contracts, which are 1/10th the size of standard contracts. Trading micros is an excellent strategy for the Combine because it gives you precise position sizing and lower risk per trade while still meeting the minimum activity requirements.

How long do most traders take to pass the Topstep Combine?

Successful traders typically pass Step 1 in 2-4 weeks and Step 2 in another 2-4 weeks. The total time from starting the Combine to receiving a funded account is usually 4-8 weeks. Rushing to pass within the first week often leads to overtrading and failure.