How to Pass Topstep Combine: Step-By-Step Strategy Explained

Passing the Topstep Trading Combine is the dream of many traders who want to access a funded account without risking personal capital. Yet, the failure rate is high because the challenge tests not just strategy but discipline and risk control. 

In this H2T Funding guide, we’re diving deep into the strategy for how to pass Topstep Combine safely. We’ll cover how to avoid common mistakes and what it takes to prepare for the funded stage with confidence.

1. What is Topstep Combine, and why is it important?

The Topstep Trading Combine is a two-step evaluation designed to prove that a trader can trade with consistency, discipline, and proper risk management. It’s not only about hitting a profit target but also about respecting limits like the daily loss cap and trailing drawdown.

By passing the Combine, you unlock the chance to receive an Express Funded Account, where you trade with real capital. Think of it as your entry exam into professional trading: if you succeed, you show repeatable performance and earn the Funded Trader Certificate.

For most traders, the Trading Combine becomes a real test of patience. Many can generate profits, but only those who avoid emotional decision-making and follow the rules step by step reach the funded stage. That’s why many traders search for guidance on how to pass Topstep effectively.

2. Understand the Topstep Combine rules 

For a trader to ask how to pass the Topstep Trading Combine, you have to do more than just hit the profit target. You need to respect a full framework of rules designed to test discipline, risk control, and consistency. Missing even one can invalidate your progress.

• Profit target: Each account has a specific profit goal: $3,000 for $ 50,000 (a common choice for traders searching for tips on how to pass Topstep 50K Combine), $6,000 for $ 100,000, and $9,000 for $ 150,000. You must reach this amount while following all other objectives.
• Daily loss limit: Some platforms enforce a Daily Loss Limit (DLL). On TopstepX™, new and reset accounts no longer carry this requirement, but if you use NinjaTrader, Tradovate, or Quantower, breaching DLL will close your trades for the session.
• Trailing drawdown (Maximum Loss Limit): Your account cannot touch the Maximum Loss Limit (MLL). This is a trailing threshold that climbs with your profits but never falls back. Once broken, the account becomes ineligible until reset.
• Minimum trading days: You need at least two trading days to complete the Combine. This ensures profits come from repeatable performance, not a single oversized trade.
• Consistency target: Your Best Day must be less than 50% of total profits. If it’s more, you’ll need extra profits to rebalance. This is one of the most common reasons traders fail late in the evaluation.
• Permitted products and trading hours: You can only trade CME futures contracts. All positions must be closed by 3:10 PM CT, no overnight or weekend holding. Some futures close earlier, and you must exit before their session ends.
• Prohibited conduct: Topstep prohibits practices such as account stacking, spoofing, exploiting data errors, or high-frequency trading. Any attempt to “game the system” can lead to account closure or payout denial.
• Notification and compliance: Certain actions, like trading outside approved hours or using unauthorized feeds, can trigger compliance checks. Adhering to official guidelines is a key aspect of demonstrating professional behavior.

The Trading Combine isn’t just about making money. It tests whether you can trade with discipline, consistency, and respect for rules. Mastering these parameters prepares you for the Express Funded Account and real capital.

3. How to pass Topstep Trading Combine: Step-by-step strategy

It’s tempting to rush for the profit target, but that’s where most traders go wrong. Many talented traders fail not because of a weak strategy, but because they lose discipline under pressure. Passing the Combine works better when you treat it as a slow, repeatable process rather than a quick win.

• Step 1: Start small, focus on survival
• Step 2: Manage drawdown actively
• Step 3: Trade during strong sessions
• Step 4: Prioritize quality over quantity
• Step 5: Control emotions, avoid revenge trades

3.1. Step 1: Start small, focus on survival

Trade with tiny lot sizes and risk under 1% per trade. Survival matters more than fast gains. 

Take it from Jason Love, a futures trader who passed the $50K Combine in just 15 days. His key insight? Reducing his position from two lots to one during volatile sessions was the simple adjustment that helped him survive longer. His example is often cited when traders ask how to pass Topstep Combine 50K without risking too much capital in volatile sessions.

3.2. Step 2: Manage drawdown actively

The Maximum Loss Limit is the biggest trap. To avoid it, many traders set a personal daily loss stop at half of the allowed amount. Keeping losses capped early in the day prevents frustration and protects both account balance and confidence.

Strong drawdown control is what makes passing possible, even if you plan to try to pass Topstep Combine in 2 days.

3.3. Step 3: Trade during strong sessions

Liquidity peaks during the London and New York hours. Price action is cleaner, spreads are tighter, and setups unfold with more clarity. Staying away from thin, late-session markets reduces unnecessary losses.

3.4. Step 4: Prioritize quality over quantity

Aim for two to three solid setups each day. A few high-probability trades with at least a 2.5:1 reward-to-risk ratio often outperform dozens of mediocre entries. Traders who passed consistently highlight how less trading meant more control and fewer mistakes.

3.5. Step 5: Control emotions, avoid revenge trades

The most common failure comes from trading after losses out of anger or fear of missing out. Successful traders often set a modest daily goal, such as +$300, and walk away once it’s hit. Protecting mental energy ensures you stay sharp for the next day.

Passing the Trading Combine requires more than technical skill. A trader needs the patience to start small, discipline to respect loss limits, awareness to trade in strong sessions, and courage to stop when ahead. With these steps, the journey to a funded account becomes less about luck and more about building consistent habits.

4. Practical tips from traders who passed the Trading Combine

Many traders who succeed in the Combine share a few practical habits that separate them from those who reset again and again. These insights come from real experiences of funded traders who emphasize discipline over speed.

• Focus on fewer markets: Most recommend sticking to one or two major futures contracts, such as the E-mini S&P (ES) or Nasdaq (NQ). Specializing helps you read price action more clearly and avoid confusion across multiple products.
• Set daily profit goals below the official target: Instead of chasing the full account profit requirement in a single week, traders often aim for a smaller cushion each day, such as $300 to $500 on a $ 50,000 account. This approach prevents oversized risk and keeps the best day profit under 50% of total gains, which directly supports the consistency rule.
• Stop trading once ahead: A common tip is to step away after reaching +2R or hitting the daily goal. Traders who ignored this often turned a winning day into a losing one. Quitting early preserves psychological capital, which is just as important as the balance itself.
• Backtest before going live in the Combine: Several successful candidates stress the importance of testing strategies in a demo environment. Knowing your setups and statistics builds confidence, so when real evaluation pressure arrives, execution is smoother and less emotional.
• Respect your personal rhythm: Some traders find the morning session works best, while others prefer the first two hours of New York. Passing often comes down to trading during the hours that match your style rather than forcing trades when the market feels slow or unpredictable.

The traders who pass are not always the most skilled technically; they are the ones who control pace, protect wins, and respect their own limits. Practical steps like narrowing focus, reducing goals, and stepping away when ahead may feel simple, but they make the difference between repeated resets and finally earning a funded account.

5. Common mistakes that make traders fail

It’s not just beginners who fail the Combine. Even skilled traders get tripped up by the same repeating mistakes because the evaluation is designed to expose weaknesses in discipline. Most failures fall into a few repeating categories that can be avoided with better preparation and awareness.

• Overtrading and chasing setups are the most common mistakes. Traders feel pressure to hit the target quickly, so they take low-quality trades or keep clicking after a small loss. Instead of building consistent results, they drain their psychological energy and often break risk rules.
• Using oversized lot sizes creates another trap. A trader might believe that doubling contracts will speed up progress, but a single bad move can erase several days of gains. Passing is about survival, and reckless size usually leads to the Maximum Loss Limit being hit sooner than expected.
• Ignoring the written rules also ruins many accounts. It is easy to focus on price action and forget about the trailing drawdown or daily loss thresholds. Yet one violation, even with profits in the account, is enough to fail the Combine and require a reset.
• Lack of patience may be the hardest obstacle. Some traders try to finish in just a few days, only to exceed the 50% best day consistency rule or trigger emotional trading after a drawdown. The Combine rewards those who pace themselves and approach it like a long-term test, not a race.

Most failures happen not because strategies are weak, but because traders overtrade, oversize, skip rule checks, or rush for fast results. Recognizing these traps early and building discipline around them greatly improves the chances of advancing to a funded account.

6. Instructions for receiving an Express Funded account and payout policy

After passing the Combine, the journey does not stop. You must complete the activation process to unlock an Express Funded Account and understand the payout policy that governs how you withdraw profits. Knowing these conditions early helps you avoid delays and manage expectations as you transition to trading real capital.

6.1. Conditions to unlock the Express Funded Account

Once the Trade Report confirms your pass (usually updated between 5–6 PM CT on weekdays), you will receive a notification by email, dashboard banner, and Trade Report link. From there, you must:

1. Select the passed Combine in your dashboard.

2. Click “Start Express Funded Account” and confirm account details.

3. Review and accept the Express Funded Account Agreement and the Activation Fee Agreement.

4. Pay the Activation Fee securely via debit or credit card.

5. Confirm activation by clicking “Create Express Funded Account”.

Important: If you already hold five Express Funded Accounts or one Live Funded Account, you cannot activate another until space becomes available. You also have 30 days to pay the fee after passing; otherwise, the account expires.

6.2. Payout rules and profit sharing

Payouts begin after you record five winning trading days, defined as $150+ Net PNL per day on the new dashboard ($200+ on legacy). A winning day does not need to be consecutive, but the cycle resets after every payout.

• The first payout is capped at $5,000 or 50% of your account balance, whichever is lower.
• After the first withdrawal, traders can continue to request payouts as long as they complete another cycle of five new winning days.
• The profit split starts at 100% of the first $5,000 withdrawn. Beyond that amount, the split moves to 90/10 in favor of the trader.

This payout structure rewards steady progress. Many funded traders recommend setting realistic daily goals to build toward these thresholds without unnecessary risk.

6.3. Key notes for funded trading

Trading an Express Funded Account comes with responsibilities. You must place at least one trade every 30 days to keep the account active, or it may be closed for inactivity. Breaking rules like the Maximum Loss Limit will result in account closure, though the Back2Funded option now allows reactivation up to twice for eligible traders on TopstepX.

Traders should also be mindful of psychological discipline. Once real payouts are possible, the temptation to overleverage grows. Many funded traders succeed by sticking to the same cautious style they used to pass the Trading Combine, rather than trying to accelerate profits too quickly.

Unlocking and managing an Express Funded Account requires the same focus on discipline, clarity, and patience that got you through the Combine. Activation fees, payout rules, and account activity all serve to reinforce consistent performance. Respecting these terms ensures you not only reach funding but also keep it long enough to enjoy real payouts.

7. FAQs about passing Topstep Combine

8. Conclusion

In the end, mastering how to pass Topstep Combine is more about proving discipline under pressure. Success comes from respecting rules such as the Maximum Loss Limit, trading with small risk, and pacing progress across multiple days. These habits not only help you pass the evaluation but also prepare you to manage real capital with confidence.

The Combine should be seen as a training ground, not just a hurdle. Traders who focus on survival and consistency build stronger habits than those who rush. By approaching the challenge with patience and structure, the transition to a funded account becomes smoother and more sustainable.

To continue learning, explore our Prop Firm & Trading Strategies category on H2T Funding. You’ll find detailed guides on Topstep rules, account scaling, and trading psychology, along with insights from real funded traders. These resources are designed to help you trade smarter and stay funded longer.