Topstep Max Drawdown Rule, Explained
Rules verified 2026-07-13 · official source
Topstep's max loss line is trailing end-of-day (moves only when a day closes at a new high). Topstep's line stops trailing once it reaches your starting balance (breakeven) — after the lock, further profit no longer drags the line up behind you. Hit the line — even for a moment — and the account fails.
How the line moves
Topstep trails your end-of-day balance: the line only ratchets up when you close a trading day at a new high. Intraday swings don't move the line — but the breach is monitored in real time, so a large open loss can still fail the account mid-session.
Topstep's line stops trailing once it reaches your starting balance (breakeven) — after the lock, further profit no longer drags the line up behind you.
Maximum Loss Limit trails your END-OF-DAY balance up and locks at your starting balance — but it's monitored in real time on realized AND unrealized P&L, so open losses can breach it intraday (immediate liquidation).
The numbers, by account size
Rule mechanics are identical across Topstep sizes — only the dollar amounts scale.
| Plan | Max drawdown | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 50K Trading Combine | $2,000 | Trailing (EOD) |
| 100K Trading Combine | $3,000 | Trailing (EOD) |
| 150K Trading Combine | $4,500 | Trailing (EOD) |
How traders actually breach it
The classic breach: stacking losing days without recalculating the line from the last end-of-day high. The line doesn't reset — it remembers your best close.
TradersGuild tracks this rule live against your trade log and alerts you while there's still room — "you're $220 from the line" beats finding out from a breach email. Tracking is free for your first account.
Recent Topstep rule changes
2026-07-13 — Confirmed the Trading Combine max-position caps (50K = 5 / 100K = 10 / 150K = 15 contracts, micros 10:1; not available on the Live Funded Account) and un-held the Express (XFA) payout paths: STANDARD = 5 winning days of $150+ each, OR CONSISTENCY = trade ≥3 days with the largest winning day ≤ 40% of total net profit. Payout caps $5,000 (Standard) / $6,000 (Consistency), 90/10 split.
2026-07-05 — Corrected the Maximum Loss Limit to end-of-day trailing (locks at your starting balance), and added the Combine's 50%-of-profit consistency rule (40% at the funded payout stage).
FAQ
Is Topstep's drawdown static or trailing?
It's trailing end-of-day (moves only when a day closes at a new high). Topstep's line stops trailing once it reaches your starting balance (breakeven) — after the lock, further profit no longer drags the line up behind you.
Does open (unrealized) profit move the Topstep drawdown line?
No — the line only moves at the daily close. But breaches are checked in real time, so open losses still count against it.
What happens if I touch the Topstep max loss line?
The account fails immediately — even a momentary touch by open equity counts. There is no warning and no grace amount, which is why tracking your live distance to the line matters.
Stop memorizing rules. Track them.
TradersGuild encodes these exact rules and recomputes every line the moment you log a trade — live meters, and a warning while you still have room. Runs on the trades you log. Free for your first account.