Apex Trailing Drawdown Explained: Complete Guide
Understanding Apex Trader Funding's trailing drawdown is the single most important thing for passing their evaluation. Here's everything you need to know.
Profit Split
100% first $25K, then 90%
Max Funding
$300,000
Evaluation
1-Step
What Is Trailing Drawdown?
Key Concept
Trailing drawdown moves up with your highest profit, but never moves down. Once your account peaks, the drawdown "locks in" at that level.
Example: $50K Account
| Starting Drawdown | 2,500 trailing) |
|---|---|
| Your equity peaks at $52,000 | Drawdown moves to $49,500 |
| You drop to $51,000 | Drawdown stays at $49,500 |
| You drop to $49,400 | ❌ Account terminated |
The drawdown follows your high-water mark up but never follows you down.
How It Works: Step by Step
| Step | Equity | Trailing Drawdown | Buffer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | $50,000 | $47,500 | $2,500 |
| Win $1,000 | $51,000 | $48,500 | $2,500 |
| Win $2,000 more | $53,000 | $50,500 | $2,500 |
| Lose $1,500 | $51,500 | $50,500 | $1,000 |
| Lose $1,100 more | $50,400 | $50,500 | ❌ Violated |
Critical Understanding
Even though you're still profitable (50,000 start), you violated drawdown because your trailing level locked at 53,000.
The End-of-Day (EOD) Alternative
Apex offers two drawdown types:
| Type | How It Calculates | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Real-Time Trailing | Every tick | Scalpers who close quickly |
| End-of-Day (EOD) | At market close only | Swing traders, position traders |
EOD Advantage
With EOD drawdown:
- Intraday drawdowns don't count
- Only your 4 PM CT equity matters
- More room to ride volatility
Strategy
If you hold positions through the day, choose EOD drawdown. You can be down $2,000 intraday, but if you recover by close, it doesn't affect your drawdown.
Common Mistakes
The Buffer Strategy
Phase 1: Build Protection (Days 1-5)
| Day | Target | Risk | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +$200-400 | 0.5% | Get positive |
| 2 | +$200-400 | 0.5% | Build cushion |
| 3-5 | +$500-800 | 0.75% | Extend buffer |
After 5 days: You should have 2,000 buffer above starting drawdown.
Phase 2: Controlled Scaling (Days 6-15)
Key Insight
Once you have a buffer, occasional larger losses won't terminate you. But never let a single day erase more than half your cushion.
| Buffer Size | Max Risk Per Trade |
|---|---|
| $500-1,000 | 0.5% |
| $1,000-2,000 | 0.75% |
| $2,000+ | 1% (maximum) |
Trailing vs Static Drawdown Comparison
| Feature | Apex (Trailing) | FTMO (Equity-Based) |
|---|---|---|
| Moves up | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Floating losses | Count real-time | Count real-time |
| Recovery possible | Harder once it trails | From starting level |
| Best for | Quick profit-takers | All styles |
Key Difference
Apex trailing drawdown is more forgiving at first (starts low) but less forgiving once you're profitable (locks in gains). Plan accordingly.
Final Strategy Summary
- Trade small early to build buffer
- Choose EOD if you hold positions through the day
- Take partials rather than letting winners run too far
- Track your high-water mark daily
- Never risk more than 1% even with buffer
PropFirmCircle Team
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