⚖️ Affiliate disclosure: I am an official affiliate partner of Phidias Propfirm. The links in this article contain my affiliate code — if you open an account with the LUCAS code, I receive a commission at no extra cost to you. This doesn't bias my opinion: all my recommendations are based on my real experience.
1. My personal experience at Phidias
I'm not going to give you a theoretical guide. I'm going to give you what worked for me, concretely, with real numbers.
I started with Phidias in 2024. First attempt: failure on day 3 by trying to force trades on NQ outside of my usual kill zones. The lesson was clear — the Phidias challenge doesn't forgive impulsivity.
Second attempt: I applied strict rules. I validated in 19 days of trading. First payout: $800. Then I was more consistent. And results followed.
These results aren't exceptional in absolute terms — but they prove the method works. This guide summarizes everything I've learned so you don't have to repeat my mistakes.
2. The types of Phidias accounts
Before talking about strategy, you have to choose the right type of account. Phidias mainly offers three models:
| Type | Phase(s) | Drawdown | Target | For whom? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Static OTP | 0 (direct) | Static | None | Beginners |
| OTP Fund 50K | 0 (direct) | Trailing EOD $2,500 | None | Intermediate |
| Evaluation 50K | 1 phase | Trailing intraday $2,500 | +6% ($3,000) | Experienced |
| Evaluation 100K | 1 phase | Trailing intraday $3,000 | +6% ($6,000) | Experienced |
✅ My recommendation: If you're starting on Phidias, begin with the Static OTP 25K account (~$55 with LUCAS code). No challenge, no trailing drawdown, direct access. You learn the specifics of Rithmic and Futures without pressure. Then move to an OTP Fund 50K to scale.
3. Rules and conditions of the Evaluation challenge
The Phidias Evaluation challenge is clear, with no hidden clauses. Here are the essential rules:
Targets to reach
- Profit target: +6% of the initial balance (e.g.: $3,000 on a 50K account)
- Minimum trading days: 5 active days mandatory
- No time limit: You have as much time as needed
Limits not to exceed
- Trailing intraday drawdown: $2,500 (50K) or $3,000 (100K) — recalculated in real time
- No daily loss limit per se — but trailing intraday is there
- News trading not forbidden at Phidias (unlike other prop firms)
- No EAs (robots) allowed on the Evaluation challenge
- Max position size: defined per account (check specific conditions at the time of opening)
⚠️ Critical point: On the Evaluation account, the drawdown is trailing intraday — the threshold rises as soon as a new position in profit raises your floating balance. This is stricter than the trailing EOD of the OTP Fund account. Adjust your position size accordingly.
4. Risk management specific to the challenge
This is the most important part of this article. Risk management kills more challenges than lack of strategy.
Risk per trade: the 1% rule
On an Evaluation 50K account, your maximum risk per trade is $500 (1% of capital). It's non-negotiable during the challenge. Here's why:
- With 5 consecutive losing trades at $500 each = -$2,500 = drawdown reached. Account closed.
- With 5 losing trades at $300 each = -$1,500 = you're still alive. You can recover.
| Account | Capital | Drawdown | Max risk / trade (1%) | Recommended daily target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation 25K | $25,000 | $1,500 | $250 | $150-300 |
| Evaluation 50K | $50,000 | $2,500 | $500 | $300-500 |
| Evaluation 100K | $100,000 | $3,000 | $1,000 | $500-800 |
Self-imposed daily stop loss
Even though Phidias doesn't impose a daily stop loss on the Evaluation challenge (unlike the OTP account), you must set one yourself. My personal rule: -$1,000 on a 50K account. If I hit -$1,000, I turn off the platform. Period.
Why? Because the days you chase losses, you ruin your account in 20 minutes. The best traders lose days — they don't lose accounts.
5. Which strategy to use?
I'm not going to sell you a magic strategy. Here's what I use and what works on Futures:
Recommended markets
- ES (E-mini S&P 500): The most liquid, tight spreads, ideal for beginners. 1 point = $50.
- NQ (E-mini Nasdaq): More volatile, larger gains/losses. 1 point = $20. More suitable once you're comfortable.
- MES (Micro E-mini S&P 500): Micro version of ES, 1 point = $5. Ideal for learning without risking too much.
Key trading hours
The ICT Kill Zones are the periods when liquidity and directional movements are most reliable:
- ⏰ London Kill Zone: 2:00 AM–5:00 AM ET (less recommended for beginners)
- ⏰ New York Open Kill Zone: 8:30 AM–11:00 AM ET ← Priority
- ⏰ New York PM Kill Zone: 2:00 PM–4:00 PM ET ← Good opportunity
💡 Tip: 90% of my valid trades happen between 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM ET. After 11:30 AM ET, the market often becomes chaotic and non-directional. I then close my terminal and come back the next day. Less is more in prop trading.
ICT setup on Futures
Without going into all the details (I have a dedicated article on ICT Kill Zones), here's the basic setup I apply:
- Identify the directional bias on daily and H4 (ICT market structure)
- Spot liquidity levels: equal highs/lows, fair value gaps (FVG), order blocks
- Wait for the Kill Zone open (8:30 AM ET)
- Enter on a return to FVG or OB in the direction of the bias
- Tight stop loss below/above the liquidity structure
- Target: next liquidity level or minimum 1:3 risk/reward
Start your challenge with LUCAS code for –80% on the Evaluation account
Open a Phidias Evaluation account →6. The 6 steps to validate
Choose the right account and read the rules in full
Before the first trade, read the complete Evaluation account conditions on the Phidias dashboard. Note the profit target (6%), the drawdown ($2,500), and the minimum days (5). Print or note these numbers.
Configure Rithmic and choose your instrument
Configure NinjaTrader, Quantower or ATAS with your Phidias Rithmic account. Start on MES (Micro ES) if you're not familiar with CME Futures. Micro contracts are perfect for calibrating your management without risking the entire account.
Define your trading plan and limits BEFORE trading
Before turning on the platform each morning: calculate your current drawdown threshold, decide your maximum daily risk (recommended: max 2 losing trades at 1% each), and define your daily profit target. No plan = no trading.
Trade only during the Kill Zones
During the challenge, only trade between 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM ET. Period. No "late day" trades, no random breakout trades. Discipline here is 80% of the work.
Progress gradually toward the target (no home run)
The target is $3,000 on 50K. In 15 trading days at +$200/day, it's done. There's no reason to risk $1,500 on a single trade to finish in 3 days. Deliberate slowness is a strategy, not a weakness.
Validate and request the first payout after 8 days
After validation, it takes 8 days of active trading on the funded account to request the first withdrawal. Verify you've respected all the rules (minimum days, no EAs, etc.) before submitting. Withdrawal is made via Rise.
7. 5 mistakes that make 90% of traders fail
Mistake 1: Increasing position size when in drawdown
The natural reaction when losing is to "recover" with a bigger trade. It's the shortest path to elimination. Each trade must have the same size, regardless of what happened before.
Mistake 2: Trading after 11:30 AM ET
Liquidity drops after mid-morning. False breakouts multiply. I've lost several accounts in this time window thinking I was "seeing a setup". Close the platform.
Mistake 3: Cutting profits too early
The fear of losing a paper profit pushes you to exit too early. Result: R/R of 1:0.5 instead of 1:2. On 10 trades, you might have 6 winners but you lose money. Let trades go to their target.
Mistake 4: Changing strategy mid-challenge
Two losing days and you start watching YouTube videos on new strategies. Stop. You must have a single strategy, tested beforehand, and stick to it. Strategy diversification in live is a psychological weakness disguised as curiosity.
Mistake 5: Ignoring the trailing intraday drawdown
Most traders calculate their drawdown threshold in the morning and don't recalculate it during the day. If you go up to +$1,200 floating profit then come back to +$100, your threshold has risen by $1,200. You're much closer to elimination than you think. Check the threshold regularly.
8. After validation: payout and live account
Once the Evaluation challenge is validated, Phidias gives you access to a funded account. Here's what changes:
Funded account conditions
- Split: 80% of profits
- First withdrawal: after 8 days of active trading
- Method: Rise (bank transfer)
- Drawdown: identical to challenge (trailing intraday)
- Move to Live account: after 3 consecutive payouts (Phidias conditions in 2026)
Post-validation strategy
On the funded account, the goal changes: it's no longer to "pass", it's to last. Reduce your position size by 20% compared to the challenge. The goal is to withdraw 3 clean payouts to access the Live account, not to make +30% in a month.
💰 My routine: On each funded account, I aim for +$200 to +$400/day maximum. I withdraw as soon as the monthly target is reached. After 3 clean payouts, moving to Live improves conditions (90%+ split, fewer constraints). Patience pays.
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the profit target of the Phidias Evaluation 50K challenge?
The target is +6%, i.e. $3,000 of net profit on a 50K account. There is no time limit. The minimum is 5 active trading days. The trailing intraday drawdown limit is $2,500.
How many days does it take to validate the Phidias challenge?
There is no time limit. The minimum constraint is 5 trading days. Aiming for +$200-300/day, validation generally takes 2 to 6 weeks. Wanting to finish in 3 days is the main cause of failure.
Which strategy works best to pass the Phidias challenge?
ICT strategies (Kill Zones, order blocks, fair value gaps) on ES or NQ during the New York Open session (8:30 AM-11:00 AM ET) offer the best consistency/performance ratio. The key is having a tested strategy, respecting 1% risk per trade, and not chasing losses.
Can you trade on weekends on the Phidias challenge?
No, CME Futures (ES, NQ, CL, GC) are closed on weekends. The challenge only allows trading during regular opening hours. Some instruments like NQ have extended hours during the week (globex), but weekends remain inactive.
What happens if you fail the Phidias challenge?
If the trailing drawdown is reached, the account is automatically closed. You can take a new Evaluation account (with LUCAS code for -80%). Failure is normal and part of the process. Most traders who succeed have failed 1 to 3 times before validating.
Ready to get started on Phidias?
Use the LUCAS code for –80% on all accounts. Evaluation 50K account at about $23 only (promo price applied). Start, fail, learn, succeed.
Open my Phidias account with –80% →