Gandalf_PRO
Gandalf PRO is a trend-following Expert Advisor that identifies market direction using a combination of moving average crossovers and momentum filters to generate trade signals. It employs a systematic entry and exit approach with configurable stop loss and take profit levels, aiming to capture sustained directional moves. The EA includes additional filters to avoid trading in unfavorable conditions and manages positions with trailing stop functionality.
Open the interactive view (equity curve, symbol switch)Key facts
Backtest results (H1, about 1 year)
| Symbol | P&L | Annual | Max DD | Trades | Win rate | Sharpe | Recovery | Losing streak | Per trade | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD | -0.03% | -0.02% | 3.48% | 102 | 54.50% | — | — | — | — | Custom indicator approximated |
| GBPUSD | +2.36% | +2.05% | 4.79% | 99 | 47.50% | — | — | — | — | Custom indicator approximated |
| USDJPY | +2.67% | +2.32% | 4.61% | 95 | 48.40% | — | — | — | — | Custom indicator approximated |
| XAUUSD | +37.13% | +29.81% | 42.85% | 94 | 54.80% | — | — | — | — | Custom indicator approximated |
On every market this backtest is identical to EA-62812, EA-67691. The automatic conversion almost certainly lost what makes this EA different (a custom indicator, a filter or the money management), so these results are not ranked or counted.
Converted from MQL5 to Python and run with the same rules for every EA. Positions use MT5 lot sizes (100,000 units per FX lot, 100 oz per gold lot) with 1:100 leverage, one order at a time, and a stop-out below 10% of the starting balance. Sharpe is computed from the equity curve. Results marked as unreliable are shown for completeness only.
Blow-up risk: No blow-up pattern found
None of the usual blow-up patterns were found in the code, and the account was not stopped out in our backtests. That is not a guarantee: any EA can lose money.
High: stopped out in our backtest, or martingale/grid sizing without a stop loss. Elevated: martingale or grid sizing with a stop loss, or several positions at once without a stop loss. What the label means and what we found →
Strategy analysis
Gandalf PRO's core strategy is based on trend-following principles, utilizing the crossover of fast and slow moving averages as the primary directional signal for trade entries. Entry conditions require the fast MA to cross above the slow MA with momentum confirmation from indicators such as RSI or MACD to validate trend strength before opening a long position, and vice versa for shorts. Exit conditions include reaching the preset take profit target, triggering the stop loss, or closing when the moving averages produce a reverse crossover signal. Position sizing supports both fixed lot and percentage-based account balance modes, with configurable parameters allowing users to adjust trade sizes. Money management incorporates stop loss and take profit configuration along with a trailing stop mechanism to lock in floating profits, though it lacks strict controls on the maximum number of simultaneous positions. The overall strategy logic is clear, but its adaptability to ranging markets is limited, potentially generating numerous false signals during non-trending periods.
Strengths
- Clear strategy logic based on the classic moving average crossover trend-following method, easy to understand and verify
- Equipped with trailing stop functionality that effectively locks in profits during trending markets
- Highly configurable parameters allowing users to adjust MA periods, stop loss, take profit and other key settings for different markets and timeframes
- Provides a momentum filter for additional confirmation, reducing false signals in ranging markets
- Uses magic numbers for order management, preventing conflicts with other EAs' positions
Weaknesses
- Moving average crossover strategy is prone to frequent false signals in ranging markets, leading to consecutive losses
- Lacks volatility-adaptive mechanisms such as ATR-based stops; fixed pip stop loss and take profit may not suit all market conditions
- No maximum position count limit, potentially opening too many positions during adverse conditions and amplifying risk
- Missing filters for major news events or high-impact data, risking significant slippage during volatile periods
- Insufficient backtesting data; the strategy's robustness across long-term and varying market conditions remains unverified
Possible improvements
- Add ATR-adaptive stop loss and take profit mechanism that dynamically adjusts distance based on market volatility, improving adaptability across different market conditions
- Incorporate a volatility filter or ranging market detection module to automatically pause trading during low-volatility sideways markets, reducing losses from false signals
Risk assessment
Overall risk: Medium
- Fixed pip stop loss and take profit may be inappropriate in high or low volatility markets, making risk control inflexible
- No limit on maximum simultaneous positions, potentially creating excessive exposure during extreme market conditions
- No news event filter, risking abnormal slippage during major economic data releases
Evaluation scores
Parameters
| Parameter | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
LotSize | 0.1 | Fixed trading lot size |
StopLoss | 50 | Stop loss in points |
TakeProfit | 100 | Take-profit in points (~10 points) |
FastMA_Period | 10 | Fast MA period |
SlowMA_Period | 50 | Slow MA period |
MA_Method | MODE_SMA | Moving average method (smoothed MA) |
TrailingStop | 30 | Trailing stop in points; 0 to disable |
MagicNumber | 123456 | EA magic number for order identification |
MaxSlippage | 3 | Maximum slippage |
MomentumFilter | true | Enable momentum filter |
Similar Trend Following EAs
Backtests are historical simulations and do not guarantee future results. Not financial advice.