The TopStep Trading Combine is the most-attempted futures eval in the world. Hundreds of thousands of traders have paid the $165/month subscription fee to take the test. The pass rate hovers below 15% on cold attempts. Among traders who follow a rules-based discipline framework, that pass rate climbs to 70-85%.
This guide walks through every rule in the Combine, the math behind each, and the specific framework FuturesHive students use to pass on first attempt. By the end you'll know what to do on Day 1, what to avoid on Day 4, and how to stop yourself from blowing up at $2,800 of the $3,000 target.
Combine quick reference: 50K account costs $165/month. Hit $3,000 profit (6%) without exceeding $1,000 daily loss. Minimum 5 winning days. No maximum days. Pass and pay activation fee for funded account.
What Is the TopStep Combine?
The TopStep Combine is a paid evaluation account on simulated capital. You trade real-time market data with simulated dollars. Hit the profit target without violating the rules and TopStep funds you on a real account where they pay 100% of the first $10,000 of profits and 90% thereafter.
The Combine is the gateway. Until you pass it, you're a paying customer. After you pass it, you're a funded trader sharing profits with the firm.
The Combine Rules in Detail
| Rule | 50K Combine | 100K Combine | 150K Combine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $165 | $325 | $375 |
| Profit target | $3,000 (6%) | $6,000 (6%) | $9,000 (6%) |
| Daily loss limit | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Maximum drawdown | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Minimum winning days | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Maximum days | None | None | None |
| Allowed contracts | 3 (mini) / 30 (micro) | 6 / 60 | 9 / 90 |
Daily Loss Limit (DLL)
The single most important rule. Your account can lose up to the DLL from start-of-day balance before being terminated. It does not move based on equity peaks. If your day starts at $50,500 and you lose $1,000, the Combine ends — even if your highest equity that day was $50,800.
Maximum Drawdown
The hard floor for the entire Combine. Once your account exceeds the starting balance, the maximum drawdown stays where it was set, giving you a cushion. Stay above this line; touch it and the Combine ends regardless of profit accumulated.
Minimum Winning Days
You need at least 5 separate days where you closed in profit. This is the consistency enforcement — you can't pass in 1-2 lucky days. Even at $3,000+ profit, the Combine doesn't pass without 5 winning days.
Allowed Contracts
3 ES (or 30 MES Micros) on the 50K Combine. Trading more contracts than allowed terminates the Combine immediately. Most violations come from accidentally placing 4 contracts when "3" was the limit.
The Math Behind Sizing
Most Combine failures come from incorrect position sizing. Here is the math everyone needs:
Per-trade risk = $250 (0.5% of $50K)
With a 6-tick stop on ES (1.5 points), each contract risks 6 × $12.50 = $75. Position size: $250 ÷ $75 = 3 contracts (which happens to match the Combine's contract ceiling).
With a 12-tick stop, each contract risks $150. Position size: $250 ÷ $150 = 1 contract (round down — never round up).
Same math on Micros: 6-tick stop = $7.50/contract risk. Position size: $250 ÷ $7.50 = 33 contracts (cap at 30 due to Combine rule).
The 7-Day Pass Plan
- Day 1: Start small. Take 2-3 setups with 0.25% risk per trade ($125). Learn how the platform reacts in live conditions. Aim for $200-400 profit. Confirm a winning day; book the rule.
- Day 2: Step up to 0.5% risk. $250 per trade max. Take 3-5 setups during the morning window (9:30-11:30 ET). Aim for $400-600. If you hit it by 11 AM, walk away.
- Day 3: Same as Day 2. Consistency > heroics. Stack 3 winning days. You're at ~$1,200-1,500 cumulative.
- Day 4: Watch for fatigue. Three consecutive winning days is when traders get over-confident. Trade smaller if you feel the urge to size up. Aim for $400-600 again.
- Day 5: Approach the target. Now at ~$2,200-2,400. Your goal is to clear $3,000 within the next 1-2 sessions while logging Winning Day #5.
- Day 6: Push to the target. Hit $3,000+ profit. The Combine is now eligible to pass. Don't stop yet — confirm with the next day.
- Day 7: Lock the pass. Trade only your highest-conviction setup of the day. Reduce size to 0.25% risk. Take a small win and walk. The Combine passes once you have 5 winning days AND $3,000+ profit AND haven't violated any rules.
The most expensive day in the Combine: The day after you hit the profit target. Many traders relax discipline once they see $3,000+. They take an oversized trade, blow up the day, hit the daily loss limit, and watch the Combine terminate at the finish line. Don't. Reduce size, take one good setup, walk.
The Five Mistakes That Kill Combines
1. Ignoring the daily loss limit until late in the day
You're down $700. The market gives you a "one more trade" feeling. You take it. You're now down $1,050. Combine over. Hard stop at -$700 the next time, not -$1,000.
2. Sizing up after losses
The classic revenge trade. You took two losses, you're down $500, you decide to "make it back" with a 4-contract trade. The trade goes against you, and the Combine ends. Same per-trade size always.
3. Trading through major news
FOMC, CPI, NFP — these create slippage that breaks normal stop math. Be flat 5 minutes before scheduled events. Re-enter only after the dust settles.
4. Confusing trailing buffer with daily loss
TopStep uses STATIC drawdown, but the maximum drawdown still moves up to the starting balance once exceeded. Track both numbers carefully — daily loss is your day-1 stop; maximum drawdown is your account-life floor.
5. Stopping the Combine subscription before passing officially
The Combine subscription must be active when you submit for funded review. Cancel too early and you reset to scratch.
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Get Free Access →What Happens After You Pass
After 5 winning days plus $3,000+ profit and no rule violations:
- TopStep reviews your trade log within 1-2 business days.
- You pay an activation fee (typically $130-$170 depending on account size) to convert the Combine into an Express Funded or PA account.
- You start trading the funded account.
- Trade at least 5 days on the funded account.
- Request your first payout. Subject to consistency rule (no single day > 50% of total profit).
- First $10K of profits pay 100%. Profits above that pay 90%.
Combine FAQ
What is the TopStep Combine?
TopStep's evaluation account on simulated capital. Pass it, get funded with real broker capital and a 100%/90% profit split.
How long does the Combine take?
Disciplined traders pass in 7-12 trading days. Minimum is 5 winning days; max is unlimited.
What is the daily loss limit?
$1,000 on 50K Combine; $2,000 on 100K; $3,000 on 150K. Static, measured from start-of-day balance.
What is the profit target?
6% of starting balance. $3,000 on 50K. Plus minimum 5 winning trading days.
How much does the Combine cost?
$165/month for 50K. Subscription cancels anytime. Failure means paying again to retry.
Can you trade overnight in the Combine?
Some Combine accounts allow overnight; verify per-product. Most consistent passes happen with intraday-only setups regardless.
Bottom Line
The TopStep Combine isn't designed to fail you — it's designed to filter for risk discipline. Profit targets are realistic; daily loss limits are tight but manageable; the 5-winning-day rule prevents lucky one-day passes. Traders who follow a rules-based framework with 0.5% per-trade risk and a hard daily-loss line pass the Combine in under 14 trading days routinely.
Don't try to pass on the first day. Don't size up after losses. Don't violate the daily loss limit "just this once." Trade your plan, log your wins, walk away when target is met. Combine passed.
The Strategy Built for the TopStep Combine
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