the biggest problem in algo trading isn't finding a strategy. it's not even the technology. it's the settings.

you can find a hundred videos on "how to algo trade." you can sign up for a platform that gives you the tools. but at some point, you're still sitting there asking: "okay... so what settings do I actually use?"

nobody gives you that part. they'll show you the equity curve. they'll tell you algo trading works. but the actual entries, stops, filters, and timeframes that produced those results? that's the part everyone keeps to themselves.

we didn't want that to be the experience on edgeful. so we built algo templates — pre-built starting points across 3 strategy types and multiple tickers, all with real backtested results. this post walks through what's available right now and how to use them.

table of contents

• why most traders never get started
• what are algo templates
• ORB templates
• IB templates
• engulfing candle templates
• how to use algo templates
• key takeaways

why most traders never get started

every algo trading platform gives you the tools to build and test strategies. none of them give you a place to start from.

so you stare at a blank input screen. you don't know which ticker to pick, what timeframe to use, or what values to set for entries, stops, and filters. even if you pick something, you have no idea whether the settings are reasonable or if you're about to backtest something that was never going to work.

this is the gap that stops most traders before they start. not the math, not the coding, not the cost — the starting point.

what are algo templates

algo templates are pre-built starting points for specific tickers and strategies. they're not meant to be a finished product — they're meant to give you real settings that are performing today so you can optimize from there instead of guessing from zero.

here's how they work:

1. pick a template — you'll see the ticker, the strategy, and the timeframe it's built for
2. scroll down to the settings — they match TradingView's inputs one to one
3. open TradingView and input those settings directly
4. run the backtest — you'll see real results on your own chart within minutes

these are a starting point, not a finished strategy. every trader has different risk tolerance, goals, and style. use them as a foundation — adjust targets, stops, and filters to fit how you trade. you can run them by hand on TradingView, or automate them through edgeful's algos system. either way, you're starting from something that works instead of starting from nothing.

the templates are checked and updated monthly to make sure the settings stay current.

right now we have 8 templates across 3 strategy types. let's walk through each one.

ORB templates

the ORB (opening range breakout) algo trades breakouts and breakdowns of the opening range on different timeframes. higher win rate, lower reward-to-risk. trades are usually opened and closed within the first 2 hours of the session — you're in and out quickly, capturing smaller moves.

3 ORB templates are live right now:

• MES 5min ORB — 75.0% win rate, 2.15 profit factor, 64 trades (12/01/25 – 03/18/26)
• MES 15min ORB — 72.0% win rate, 1.57 profit factor, 82 trades (11/03/25 – 03/19/26)
• MNQ 5min ORB — 77.1% win rate, 1.88 profit factor, 83 trades (11/03/25 – 03/19/26)

all 3 are on micro contracts (MES and MNQ), so the account size barrier is low. you don't need a $50k account to start running these. and when you're comfortable, you can scale the same settings to ES and NQ.

for more on how the ORB strategy works, see our ORB trading strategy guide.

IB templates

the IB (initial balance) algo is a break and retest strategy. once one side of the IB range breaks, the algo looks to enter on a retrace back into the range. compared to ORB, these are longer holds with a lower win rate — more of a day trading strategy than a scalp.

there's also a variant called the IB breakeven stop. same break and retest logic, but you specify the trigger criteria for when the algo moves your stop to breakeven or into profit. if you've ever watched a winning trade turn into a loss because you didn't know when to trail your stop, this variant is built for that.

• M2K IB — 65.8% win rate, 2.04 profit factor, 38 trades (11/05/25 – 03/18/26)
• MGC IB breakeven stop — 66.7% win rate, 1.69 profit factor, 51 trades (11/03/25 – 03/17/26)

the IB templates don't trigger every day, so the trade counts are lower. but the profit factors are strong. M2K at 2.04 means for every $1 lost, you made $2.04 back. that's a solid foundation to build on.

for the full IB strategy breakdown, see our initial balance breakout strategy guide.

engulfing candle templates

the engulfing candle algo scalps the engulfing candlestick pattern. it triggers a lot — sometimes multiple times per day. high win rate, low reward-to-risk, and the highest trading volume of any templates available.

if you're trading a prop firm account or you're someone who wants more activity throughout the session, these are worth looking at.

• MGC 5min engulfing — 70.9% win rate, 1.20 profit factor, 810 trades (11/10/25 – 03/19/26)
• MES engulfing — 75.3% win rate, 1.35 profit factor, 990 trades (11/03/25 – 03/18/26)
• MYM engulfing — 75.2% win rate, 1.31 profit factor, 833 trades (11/03/25 – 03/19/26)

800-990 trades over roughly 4.5 months. the win rates are strong across all 3 tickers, and the equity curves speak for themselves.

for more on the engulfing pattern, see our engulfing bars strategy guide.

how to use algo templates

say you just signed up for algos. or maybe you signed up a while ago and never got past the blank screen.

you open the templates page. 8 pre-built options across ORB, IB, and engulfing candle.

you pick one that matches a ticker you already trade. maybe you're an ES trader, so you start with the MES 5m ORB. you see the settings, you input them into TradingView, and you run the backtest. within a few minutes, you're looking at real results on your own chart.

from there, you've got options. run it as-is and see how it performs, or tweak the settings to fit your style. you can use the algo analyzer to find even better settings, or automate it and let the system handle execution for you.

the point is you're not starting from zero anymore. the hardest part — finding a place to start that actually works — is already done.

note: these template results are from settings we've optimized and tested over 4+ months. every trader's results will differ based on when they start, their broker, execution, and any changes they make. results require customization, time, and effort. this is a foundation to build on.

key takeaways

• the biggest barrier in algo trading isn't the math — it's the starting point. algo templates solve that
• 8 templates are live across 3 strategies (ORB, IB, engulfing) and 5 micro tickers (MES, MNQ, M2K, MGC, MYM)
• win rates range from 65.8% to 77.1% with profit factors from 1.20 to 2.15
• all templates are on micro contracts, so the account size barrier is low — scale to full contracts when you're comfortable
• the templates are checked and updated monthly to stay current with market conditions
• use them as a starting point — adjust targets, stops, and filters to match how you trade
• you can run template settings by hand on TradingView or automate them through edgeful's algos system

trading involves risk. past performance and historical data do not guarantee future results. backtested performance may not reflect live trading conditions. always trade with proper risk management.