The Gladiator Phase
The Gladiator Phase is the primary performance qualification stage at PropShopTrader.
This phase is designed for traders to demonstrate consistent, disciplined trading under defined risk parameters and realistic market conditions.
During the Gladiator Phase, traders are assessed on their ability to show:
- Consistency over time
- Risk discipline and control
- Repeatable execution
- Sound decision-making under pressure
The Gladiator Phase exists to prove trading readiness and long-term capability, and to determine eligibility for progression into Real Prop capital
Benchmarks Explained
A Benchmark is a performance-based achievement earned on a Gladiator account when a trader satisfies all defined trading, risk, and general program requirements.
Benchmarks:
- Are achieved after 5 qualifying profitable trading days
- Reflect consistency, not one-off results
- Are not withdrawals
- Are tracked automatically in the trader dashboard
Benchmarks are accumulated over time and are used to evaluate a trader’s readiness to transition into the Real Prop Phase.
How Benchmarks Are Earned
Benchmark Qualification Requirements
To earn a Benchmark, traders must:
- Achieve the required number of qualifying profitable days
- Remain within all drawdown and risk limits
- Follow all trading rules and prohibited practice policies
- Maintain account integrity without manipulation or collusion
Benchmarks reset after completion and progression continues forward — not backward.
Risk & Drawdown Structure
Risk Models in the Gladiator Phase
PropShopTrader offers two drawdown structures during the Gladiator Phase:
Intraday Trailing Drawdown
- Drawdown adjusts in real time as unrealized equity increases
- Account fails if equity falls below the trailing threshold
End-of-Day (EOD) Drawdown
- Drawdown updates once daily after market close
- Fixed during the trading session
These models exist to evaluate a trader’s ability to manage risk under realistic conditions.
Intraday Drawdown Accounts
| Account Size | Trailing Drawdown | Daily Profit Target | Benchmark Profit Target | Benchmark Eligibility (1st) | Signing Bonus (per account) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25K | $1,250 | $125 | $625 | $26,875 | $5,625 |
| 50K | $2,500 | $250 | $1,250 | $53,750 | $11,250 |
| 100K | $5,000 | $500 | $2,500 | $107,500 | $22,500 |
EOD Drawdown Accounts
| Account Size | Trailing Drawdown | Daily Profit Target | Benchmark Profit Target | Benchmark Eligibility (1st) | Signing Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25K | $1,225 | $125 | $625 | $26,850 | $5,625 |
| 50K | $2,250 | $225 | $1,125 | $53,375 | $10,125 |
| 100K | $4,500 | $450 | $2,250 | $106,750 | $20,250 |
How to Read the Gladiator Benchmark Grid
The table above outlines the performance requirements, risk limits, and progression thresholds for each Gladiator account type.
Each item below explains what those terms mean and how they are used during the Gladiator Phase.
Max Drawdown
The maximum allowable loss on the account.
This is the total amount the account can decline before it is considered failed.
Drawdown rules are enforced strictly and are designed to assess a trader’s ability to manage risk over time.
Daily Profit Target
The minimum profit required for a day to count as a qualifying profitable day.
Only days where net P&L meets or exceeds this amount are counted toward Benchmark qualification.
Loss days or days below this threshold do not count.
Benchmark Profit Target
The total profit required to complete a single Benchmark.
This amount must be achieved while also meeting all other requirements, including:
- Required number of qualifying profitable days
- Risk and drawdown limits
- Consistency rules
- Adherence to prohibited trading policies
Benchmark Eligibility Threshold (1st)
The minimum account balance required to unlock eligibility for the first Benchmark.
This threshold ensures the trader has demonstrated sufficient profit and risk control before a Benchmark can be recognized.
Signing Bonus
The Signing Bonus amount associated with that account size, awarded only upon transition to Real Prop.
Signing Bonuses:
- Are not earned or paid during the Gladiator Phase
- Are unlocked after consistent Benchmark completion and Real Prop call-up
- Represent a significant capital event tied to live trading eligibility
Important Clarifications
- Benchmarks are performance achievements, not withdrawals
- The Gladiator Phase is a proving stage, not a payout stage
- Signing Bonuses and payouts apply only in the Real Prop Phase
- All Benchmarks are tracked automatically via the trader dashboard
Progression to Real Prop
How Traders Move to Real Prop
Benchmarks are accumulated over time and reviewed by PropShopTrader’s risk team.
Once a trader demonstrates sustained consistency, they may be invited to transition into the Real Prop Phase.
At transition:
- The trader receives a Signing Bonus
- The trader begins trading live Real Prop capital
- Payouts apply only in the Real Prop Phase
- Live payouts are uncapped and performance-based
The Gladiator Phase contract ends upon transition, and a new Real Prop agreement is issued.
See Real Prop Phase for more details.
The Real Prop Phase
Real Prop Trading
The Real Prop Phase represents the final stage of progression.
Real Prop traders:
- Trade live company capital
- Operate under professional risk controls
- Are eligible for up to a 90/10 profit split
- May qualify for scaling based on consistency and longevity
Real Prop payouts are made by the company and are not withdrawals from the trading account.
Gladiator Terms and Rules
Simple Core Rules
To progress through the Gladiator Phase, traders must adhere to the following foundational rules:
- 5 qualifying profitable trading days are required between each Benchmark
- 40% Consistency Rule applies to all Benchmarks
- Max Adverse Excursion (MAE) at 50% of original max drawdown
- Minimum account balance must not be breached at any time
- Reach the Benchmark Profit Target
These rules are designed to eliminate rushed behavior and promote sustainable trading habits.
Benchmark Eligibility & Benchmark Locks
Each Benchmark represents a locked performance achievement.
To qualify for a Benchmark, all of the following conditions must be met:
Benchmark Eligibility Requirements
- Benchmark Eligibility Threshold (BET) must be covered
- BET = Drawdown (EOD or Trailing) + Benchmark Profit Target
- A total of 5 or more qualifying profitable trading days
- At or above Daily Profit Target
- Compliance with the 40% consistency rule
- Full adherence to all prohibited trading policies (as listed on the website)
Benchmarks are auto-triggered at the end of the trading day once all eligibility criteria are satisfied.
Benchmark Process & Progression
- Benchmarks are tracked automatically in the trader dashboard
- Once earned, a Benchmark is locked and cannot be reversed
- Progression continues forward
Real Prop Call-Up Criteria
- A minimum of 8 Benchmarks on a single account is required for Real Prop consideration
- Additional active accounts are reviewed case-by-case by the Risk Team
This structure ensures that Real Prop transitions are based on proven consistency, not short-term performance.
Signing Bonus & Real Prop Transition
Once called to Real Prop:
- Traders are eligible to receive Live Signing Bonus
- Signing Bonuses are awarded only upon transition to Real Prop
Signing Bonus Release Structure
- 50% of the Signing Bonus is released immediately
- The remaining 50% is paid evenly across the first two Real Prop payouts
All payouts apply only in the Real Prop Phase.
Max Adverse Excursion (MAE)
MAE is strictly enforced to assess risk discipline.
- Maximum MAE = 50% of original max drawdown
- MAE allowance does not change, regardless of profitability
Example:
If an account has a $2,500 drawdown, the maximum MAE allowed in a single trade remains $1,250 — even if the account has $5,000 in profits.
MAE Enforcement
- MAE breach results in one MAE warning
- Each MAE Warning resets trading days and consistency to zero
- Existing benchmarks achieved otherwise remain in place
- 3 total MAE warnings over the account’s lifetime result in account failure
- No appeals are permitted for MAE violations
- Only one MAE warning per account per day will be issued
Hedging Rules
Hedging is strictly regulated.
Prohibited Hedging
- Same-symbol hedging
- Micro-to-parent contract hedging
Permitted Hedging
- Correlated markets (e.g., NQ ↔ ES)
All hedging flags must be appealed.
Unresolved or confirmed hedging violations may impact Benchmark eligibility and progression and may result in account failure.
Prohibited Trading Policies
All traders must comply with PropShopTrader’s prohibited trading policies, including but not limited to:
- Account manipulation
- Coordinated or collusive trading
- Unauthorized automation or tools
Violations may result in:
- Benchmark invalidation
- Loss of eligibility
- Account termination
Model Philosophy
The Gladiator Phase is designed to:
- Reward longevity and consistency
- Remove rushed behavior
- Create a single scalable progression path
- Identify traders ready for Real Prop capital
Benchmarks represent earned progression, not withdrawals.
The ultimate objective is transition into Real Prop, where traders operate with live capital, uncapped payouts, and long-term scaling potential.
| Example | Account Type | Account Balance | Benchmark | Eligibility | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ineligible | Intraday ($2,500 DD) | $52,000 | $1,250 | ❌ Not Eligible | Needs $53,750 to clear the threshold. Balance is below benchmark eligibility. |
| Eligible | $54,000 | ✅ Eligible - Benchmark Hit | Cleared threshold ($53,750) | ||
| Ineligible | EOD ($4,500 DD) | $105,000 | $2,250 | ❌ Not Eligible | Needs $106,750 to clear the threshold. Balance is below benchmark eligibility. |
| Eligible | $108,000 | ✅ Eligible - Benchmark Hit | Cleared threshold ($106,750) |
Available Day Trading Sessions
Futures
- Trading starts at 6:00 PM EST and all positions must be liquidated by 4:45 PM EST the following day.
Additional Gladiator Checkpoints
- Trade available products per asset class (Click Here for PDFs).
- Trade within max position sizes.
- No Daily Drawdown Limit (within Max Drawdown and MAE).
- Abide by Stop Loss & Drawdown Limits.
- Consistency Rule: We enforce a Consistency Rule on all accounts:
- A 40% consistency limit continues to apply unless the account fails and is repurchased or reset.
- This percentage resets at each new benchmark.
- Follow our prohibited trader policies (CLICK HERE).
- While in the Gladiator Phase, traders may be called up to REAL PROP based on performance, consistency, and overall trading history. We encourage you to trade well and strive for greatness!
Contact Us – We Care & We’re Here To Help!
If you need to speak with someone about our risk management structure, please don’t hesitate to reach out and we will put you in touch with our team! Our model was built on the backbone of understanding all firms in this industry and then crafting a model that supports both the trader and the firm in a way that is superior to any other firm.
Our dedicated team is here to answer any and all concerns you may have. Please email: support@propshoptrader.com
Disclaimer:
Signing Bonuses are not tied to trading performance, profitability, or future results. Advancement to the Real Prop Phase is based on the completion of defined benchmark and time-based requirements and remains subject to firm risk and compliance review. Signing Bonuses are issued only after execution of the applicable Real Prop Trading Agreement and at the firm’s discretion.