Battle Plan Basics
Everything You Need To Know
Battle Plan Indicator Setup: Pin to Scale & Alerts
First, set “Scale Price Chart Only”… see the image below.
Then, set the indicator scale but pin to “A Scale” or “Right Scale”. .. see the video below. This will make the mappings magically appear.
1. What Is The Battle Plan?
Each evening, I scan the ES chart and ask one primary question: Where are the bulls and bears positioned?
The Battle Plan is a structured list of potential trade scenarios I identify before the market opens. The arrows you see highlight pressure points—zones where reactions in price are most likely. Careful consideration is given to:
- Trend direction and momentum
- Range structure
- Liquidity pools
- Strong Levels — our custom TradingView indicator
Most arrows lean toward the buy side. That's no coincidence—the ES is a long-biased instrument over time.
2. Why Trade With a Plan?
A Battle Plan helps you act with intention rather than react emotionally to price movements. It encourages discipline by forcing you to wait for specific setups instead of chasing random trades.
By outlining trades in advance, the Battle Plan reduces emotional decision-making during volatile moments. It instills patience, composure, and the habit of following through—skills that are crucial for surviving both winning and losing streaks.
The most important skill a trader must develop? Patience. Trading success often depends more on emotional control than technical analysis.
3. How to Read the Battle Plan
The Arrows: Highlight zones where I expect price reactions. These are the pressure points between bulls and bears.
Green Path: My preferred trade idea. Some days, there aren't any. A preferred trade requires an AMAZING trade location — pay special attention when I have a preferred trade idea. It will be colored GREEN.
White Path: Regular trade ideas.
The Numbers: Provided only as visual reference—they do not indicate priority or importance. The LOCATION of the number indicates the location of the 'safest' entry location. Your mileage may vary on your preferred entry location.
🚨 Always refer to the chart notes for important details about entry risk for each trade idea.
4. How to Trade the Battle Plan
Video: How To Trade The Battle Plan
Zoom: If your membership includes the Daily Zoom sessions (Mon–Fri), make it a priority to join us live as often as you can. I'll walk you through the price action candle-by-candle in real time.
How you choose to trade these zones is entirely up to you. Here are your options:
Entry Methods
- Our Core Strategy: Low-timeframe bounce levels (taught at Gold Level)
- Level Reclaim: Market order with proper stop loss under the low
- Your Own Method: Use the arrows as a price map and trade on your own confirmation
- Paper Trade: Practice until confident before risking real capital
Set alerts on TradingView—ES/MES trades 23 hours a day, so entries may occur at any time.
Instruments
- Futures (ES/MES): My primary instrument for scalps and multi-day holds
- Option Spreads: An alternative approach for those who prefer options
5. Entry Strategy: Understanding Ladders
Ladders are staggered levels for entering a trade, each with varying risk and confirmation. This approach helps you manage risk while giving you multiple opportunities to enter.
Apex — "High Risk Entry". Most aggressive entry. First touch of the zone—highest risk, highest reward potential.
First Ladder. Moderate risk. Some confirmation—balanced risk/reward.
Second Ladder. Safest entry. Strongest confirmation—waits for clear signal.
Recommendation for new traders: Favor the Second Ladder. It helps you avoid prematurely entering counter-trend trades and rewards patience.
6. Trade Management: The Runner Strategy
A Runner is a portion of your position—usually one contract—that you leave open after taking partial profits. It allows you to participate in potentially large moves (100+ points) without re-entering.
Why Use Runners?
- Stay in strong trades longer without the stress of full exposure
- Capture bigger moves that you would otherwise miss
- Since profit is already locked in, manage with less pressure
- Increases your chance of catching large, unexpected gains
Runners are a key tool for maximizing trades while reducing emotional interference. You've already won—now let the market work for you.
7. Battle Plan vs. Core Strategy
Understanding the difference between these two approaches is crucial for getting the most out of your membership.
Battle Plan — Strategic Positioning (Macro View)
- Big-picture roadmap
- Identifies major support/resistance zones
- Tells you where to look for trades
- Daily/higher timeframes
- Works standalone
Core Strategy — Tactical Execution (Micro View)
- Precision entry system
- Specific bounce levels on 3-minute chart
- Tells you when to enter
- Includes 3-Contract System for trade management
- Taught at Gold Level
How They Work Together
Battle Plan provides the zones (the "where")
Core Strategy provides the entry trigger (the "when")
You can use Battle Plan alone and still profit
Combine them: wait for price to reach a Battle Plan zone, then use Core Strategy for precise entry
Think of the Battle Plan like painting with a broad brush—the buildings, the mountains, the foundational elements. Core Strategy is the fine detail work.
8. The Strong Levels Indicator
The Strong Levels is a TradingView indicator updated each Sunday. These represent the most important levels for the week ahead.
We craft our Battle Plan trades around these levels, coupled with current price action.
The Strong Levels and Battle Plan work hand-in-hand. One without the other is, in my humble opinion, incomplete. The indicator is available to paid Battle Plan or full Micros Trader members.
