Static vs Trailing Drawdown: What Is the Difference?
November 4, 2026
Table of Contents
Maximum loss is the rule that ends most accounts, so you need to know which kind you have.
Static drawdown
The floor is set when you start and it never moves.
On a $100,000 Two Step with a 10% static limit, your equity must stay above $90,000. Make $8,000 and the floor is still $90,000. You now have $18,000 of room.
Trailing drawdown
The floor follows your highest equity. It goes up, and it never comes down.
On a $100,000 One Step with a 6% trailing limit, the floor starts at $94,000. Your equity reaches $103,000, so the floor moves up to $97,000.
Now a drop from $103,000 to $97,000 ends the account, even though you are still in profit.
Side by side
| Static | Trailing | |
|---|---|---|
| Does the floor move? | No | Yes, up only |
| Room grows with profit? | Yes | No |
| Open profit counts? | Not for the floor | Yes |
| Easier for beginners? | Yes | No |
How to trade a trailing account
- Take profit at a set level. Do not let a big winner turn around.
- Keep your position size steady after a new high.
- Remember that the floor moved, and work out the new number.
Which ThaurusGuru models use which
| Model | Maximum loss |
|---|---|
| Two Step | 10% static |
| Two Step Pro | 5% static |
| One Step | 6% trailing |
| One Step Static | 5% static |
| Pay After You Pass | 6% trailing |
Want a floor that never moves on a one-phase account? Look at One Step Static.