Automated strategy for NinjaTrader 8
AutoMaker– Cycle Breakout
A rules-based futures strategy that measures the market in cycles. It builds a reference range, waits for confirmation, and executes breakouts with predefined risk on every trade.
Based on cycle-breakout concepts from the Fimathe method.
Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor.
How it works
Four steps, zero discretion
Every session follows the same sequence. The strategy never guesses: it waits for price to confirm each stage before moving to the next.
01
Build the Opening channel
From the session's Anchor Candle, the strategy measures the high and low of the first candles. That range, the Opening channel, becomes the unit every cycle is measured in.
02
Confirm Cycle 1
A candle closing above or below the Opening channel confirms direction. Cycle 1 is projected one Opening channel height beyond it.
03
Execute the breakout
When price breaks through the far edge of Cycle 1, the strategy enters the Continuation trade. A close back through the opposite side of the Opening channel triggers the Inversion trade instead.
04
Manage the exit
Every order is sent with a stop loss and a profit target sized by your risk/reward ratio. Break-even, session cut-offs and daily limits handle the rest.
Features
Built-in risk controls
Every behaviour is a documented parameter you control in NinjaTrader.
Stop & target on every order
Protective stop and profit target are attached when the entry is placed, sized by a configurable risk/reward ratio.
Max-SL Guard
Set a maximum dollar risk per contract. Setups whose stop would exceed it are skipped or capped.
Break-even trigger
Optionally move the stop to entry once price covers a set percentage of the distance to target.
One Reversal
If the stop is hit, the strategy can take one trade in the opposite direction, once per session, before the reversal cut-off.
Continuous Cycles (PCM)
Optionally rebuild a fresh Opening channel after each trade, limited by maximum trades and maximum losses per day.
Session control
Anchor time, session cut-off and forced flat before the market closes, with timezone support.
Smart entries
If price overshoots a trigger by more than a set threshold, a limit order waits at the trigger instead of chasing the move.
On-chart visuals
Opening channel, Cycle 1 zones, targets and executions are drawn on your NinjaTrader chart.
Optional Martingale sizing (off by default)
The strategy includes an optional sizing mode that doubles position size after a losing trade, up to a maximum multiplier you set, and resets after a win.
Martingale increases position size after losses. It can amplify drawdowns significantly and can lead to losses larger than with fixed sizing. It is disabled by default and is not used in any results shown on this site unless stated.
Results
Hypothetical performance
Every figure below is calculated directly from the NinjaTrader trade export, trade by trade. Nothing is typed in by hand.
Hypothetical backtest
MGC backtest
Values in USD for 1 contract.
- Net P&L
- +$9,489.20
- Max drawdown
- -$2,370.00
- Trades
- 212
- Win rate
- 57.1%
- Profit factor
- 1.40
- Average trade
- +$44.76
- Largest loss
- -$360.40
Long / short: 114 / 98
- Source
- NinjaTrader 8 Strategy Analyzer
- Instrument
- MGC, Micro Gold futures (COMEX)
- Period
- Jan 4, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026
- Position size
- 1 contract, fixed
- Commission
- $2.40 per round turn, included
- Slippage
- 1 tick per fill
- Martingale
- Off
Hypothetical performance disclosure · CFTC Rule 4.41 / NFA Rule 2-29(c)
HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE MANY INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN. IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVED BY ANY PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM. ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS IS THAT THEY ARE GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. IN ADDITION, HYPOTHETICAL TRADING DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK, AND NO HYPOTHETICAL TRADING RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING. FOR EXAMPLE, THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND LOSSES OR TO ADHERE TO A PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM IN SPITE OF TRADING LOSSES ARE MATERIAL POINTS WHICH CAN ALSO ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER FACTORS RELATED TO THE MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY SPECIFIC TRADING PROGRAM WHICH CANNOT BE FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS.
Futures and forex trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for every investor. An investor could potentially lose all or more than the initial investment. Risk capital is money that can be lost without jeopardizing one's financial security or lifestyle. Only risk capital should be used for trading, and only those with sufficient risk capital should consider trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Platform
Built for NinjaTrader
AutoMaker – Cycle Breakout runs as a native NinjaScript strategy inside NinjaTrader 8. NinjaTrader is our recommended platform for charting, backtesting and automated execution.
Get NinjaTraderNinjaTrader is a trading platform, not a party to this product. AutoMaker is an independent third-party add-on.
Native NinjaScript strategy, no external bridge
Backtest and optimise in Strategy Analyzer
Run in simulation before trading live
Works with the brokers and data feeds supported by NinjaTrader
Partners
Available through our partner trading rooms
AutoMaker – Cycle Breakout is distributed to members of the trading rooms we partner with, where the underlying concepts are taught.
- Maker's ClubMake It Simple
- Run a trading room?Get in touch to discuss a partnership.Contact us →
Access
How to get access
- 1
Join a Partner Room
Access is provided to members of our partner trading rooms, or through a purchase made there.
- 2
Send an access request
Use the form below and tell us which room you belong to. We confirm your membership with the room.
- 3
Receive your licence
Once confirmed, you receive the strategy and a NinjaTrader licence for your installation.
Contact
Request access
Tell us a little about yourself. We reply within 2 business days.
Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor.