Most traders who fail the The5ers challenge don’t lack a strategy. They break a risk rule on one bad day. This guide turns The5ers’s rules into a concrete plan: which program to choose, how much to risk per trade, and the specific mistakes that fail The5ers accounts.
Step 1: Choose the right program
For most traders we recommend High Stakes, for its wider 5% daily and 10% maximum limits and its scaling path to a 100% split. Here are the rules you’ll be working with:
High Stakes (2-step)
| Profit target | 10% (Step 1), 5% (Step 2) |
|---|---|
| Daily loss | 5% |
| Maximum loss | 10% |
| Minimum | 3 profitable days per step (each closing ≥ 0.5% of starting balance in profit) |
| Leverage | 1:100 |
| News | No trades 2 minutes before or after high-impact news |
Pro Growth / Hyper Growth (1-step)
| Profit target | 10% |
|---|---|
| Daily loss | 3% |
| Stop-out | 6% |
| Minimum | 3 profitable days (Pro Growth); none (Hyper Growth) |
| Leverage | 1:30 |
| Starting split | 75% (Pro Growth); 50% (Hyper Growth) |
Step 2: Size every trade against the limits
On a $100,000 account with a 5% daily limit ($5,000), a 10% maximum loss ($10,000) and a 10% target ($10,000):
| Risk per trade | Risk in $ | Full losses to hit daily limit | Full losses to hit max loss | Wins at 2R needed for target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25% | $250 | 20 | 40 | 20 |
| 0.5% | $500 | 10 | 20 | 10 |
| 1% | $1,000 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
At 0.5% risk you can survive a normal losing streak and still reach the target in a reasonable number of winning trades. At 1%, a single bad morning can end the account. Use our position size calculator to turn this into lot sizes.
Step 3: Set personal limits inside The5ers’s limits
- Stop for the day after losing half the daily allowance ($2,500).
- Stop after three losing trades in a row, regardless of size.
- Treat the static maximum loss as a buffer that grows with profits, but never plan to use all of it.
- Close or reduce positions before major news unless your plan specifically trades it.
Step 4: Avoid the mistakes that fail The5ers accounts
- Hitting the target before completing three profitable days, then overtrading to ‘finish’ the days.
- Forgetting the High Stakes news window.
- Letting an account sit idle for 30 days.
Read the full The5ers rules explained page before your first trade, especially the banned strategies.
Step 5: A realistic timeline
Aim for steady progress of around 0.5–1% on good days rather than hitting the target quickly. At that pace, a 10% target takes several weeks, and with no time limit, there’s no advantage to rushing. Spreading profits across days also keeps you clear of consistency rules.
Fitting the challenge around South African hours
Most The5ers traders in South Africa focus on the London open (09:00 or 10:00 SAST) and the London–New York overlap in the afternoon. Know your daily loss reset time in SAST, and avoid carrying large floating losses into it. Yes. South Africa isn’t on The5ers’ restricted-country list, and South Africans can join High Stakes, Growth and Bootcamp.
Step 6: After you pass
Complete KYC promptly, re-read the funded-account rules (they can differ from the evaluation), and plan your first payout. Payouts at The5ers: Every 14 days; 5–8 business days; 3.5% fee on cash methods. Request a modest first payout to confirm the process works.
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FAQ
How long does it take to pass the The5ers challenge?
It depends on your strategy, but at 0.5–1% on good days a 10% target usually takes several weeks. There is no time limit on the main program.
How much should I risk per trade on The5ers?
Most funded traders risk 0.25–0.5% per trade. On a $100,000 account, 0.5% is $500, which allows 10 full losses before the daily limit.
What is the easiest The5ers program to pass?
For most traders, High Stakes, for its wider 5% daily and 10% maximum limits and its scaling path to a 100% split.
What fails most The5ers challenges?
Hitting the target before completing three profitable days, then overtrading to ‘finish’ the days.
Can South Africans take the The5ers challenge?
Yes. South Africa isn’t on The5ers’ restricted-country list, and South Africans can join High Stakes, Growth and Bootcamp.