SuperTrend Indicator V1.0 MT4 — The Cleanest Trend Filter for Fast Decisions
Suitable Pairs: Works on all forex majors & minors, indices, gold (XAUUSD), and crypto CFDs. Popular choices: EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY, XAUUSD.
Recommended Timeframes: M15–H1 for intraday; H4–D1 for swing. (Scalpers can use M5, with tighter risk.)
If you’re tired of noisy charts and second-guessing entries, the SuperTrend Indicator V1.0 for MT4 is a simple, visual trend filter that helps you stay on the right side of the market. It overlays a dynamic line that flips color and side (above/below price) based on volatility and direction, giving you a clear bias—long or short—without clutter. Whether you’re scalping USDJPY on M5, day-trading EURUSD on M15, or swing-trading gold on H4, SuperTrend delivers fast, rule-based signals and clean risk placement.
What Is SuperTrend—and Why It Works
SuperTrend blends Average True Range (ATR) with price action to determine a trailing band. When price closes above the band, trend bias flips bullish and the line typically turns green; when price closes below, bias flips bearish and the line turns red. The ATR component adapts to volatility, so the line expands during fast markets (reducing whipsaws) and tightens when markets calm (allowing closer stops).
Core idea: ride the trend while price stays on one side of the band; exit or flip when price closes through it.
Key Inputs (Typical Defaults)
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ATR Period: 10 (commonly used; 7–14 range works well)
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ATR Multiplier: 3.0 (higher = fewer flips, stronger filter; lower = more signals)
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Applied Price: Close
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Alerts: On/Off for flips or band touches (if implemented)
Quick Tuning Tip:
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For scalping (M5–M15): ATR(7–10), Multiplier 2–2.5 for more signals.
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For intraday (M15–H1): ATR(10), Multiplier 3 for balanced signals.
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For swing (H4–D1): ATR(10–14), Multiplier 3–4 for smoother trends.
Installation (MT4)
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Download the SuperTrend Indicator V1.0 file.
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In MT4, go to File → Open Data Folder → MQL4 → Indicators and paste the file.
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Restart MT4 or refresh the Navigator.
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Drag the indicator onto your chart and set your ATR Period/Multiplier.
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Save a template so you can load your preferred settings in one click.
How to Read the Signals
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Bullish Bias: Line prints below price and turns green → consider long setups only.
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Bearish Bias: Line prints above price and turns red → consider short setups only.
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Flip: A close on the opposite side of the line triggers a bias change (potential exit/entry).
Important: Use closes, not intrabar spikes, to confirm flips. Waiting for the candle to close reduces false signals.
Entry & Exit Playbook (Simple Rules)
Long Setup (trend-follow):
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Wait for a bullish flip (line moves below price).
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Enter on the next candle if price pulls back toward the line or breaks the recent minor high.
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Stop-loss: a few pips below the SuperTrend line.
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Take-profit:
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Fixed R-multiples (1.5R–2R) for intraday, or
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Trail the stop using SuperTrend itself to ride trends.
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Short Setup (trend-follow):
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Wait for a bearish flip (line moves above price).
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Enter on a minor pullback or break of the recent minor low.
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Stop-loss: a few pips above the SuperTrend line.
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Take-profit: fixed R-multiple or trail.
Add Filters to Improve Quality:
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200 EMA for market regime: only take longs above the 200 EMA and shorts below.
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Session timing: focus on London/NY overlap for majors; for XAUUSD, watch high-liquidity windows.
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Structure: align with higher-timeframe bias (e.g., trade M15 in the direction of H1/H4 SuperTrend).
Strategy Examples
1) Intraday Trend Ride (EURUSD, M15)
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Inputs: ATR(10), Multiplier 3.
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Bias flips green during London open; price pulls back near the band and forms a bullish engulfing.
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Long entry on the next candle; stop a few pips under the band.
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Trail with SuperTrend as price grinds up; partials at 1.5R and 2R, final exit on bearish flip.
Why it works: You combine regime change + pullback + session momentum.
2) Gold Swing (XAUUSD, H4)
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Inputs: ATR(14), Multiplier 3.5.
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Breakout above resistance aligns with a bullish flip on H4 while D1 is also green.
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Enter on a modest retrace; stop below H4 SuperTrend.
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Hold for multi-day runs; move stop with the band to protect gains.
Why it works: Volatility-aware trailing with higher-timeframe confluence captures longer legs.
3) USDJPY Scalps (M5)
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Inputs: ATR(7), Multiplier 2.25.
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Bias flips red near the Tokyo/London handover; quick pullback to the band offers a short.
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Tight stop above the band; target 1.2R–1.8R; exit on opposing flip if momentum fades.
Why it works: Fast markets, fast decisions, small but repeatable edges.
Risk Management & Position Sizing
SuperTrend gives logical stop placement—right past the band. Keep risk per trade modest (e.g., 0.5%–1%). Avoid over-leveraging during news; spreads widen and ATR jumps, which can move the line aggressively. If you trail with SuperTrend, remember that tight settings can lead to frequent stopouts; adjust Multiplier to match volatility.
Pro tip: When volatility spikes (ATR balloons), reduce lot size to keep monetary risk stable.
Optimizing by Pair & Timeframe
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EURUSD/GBPUSD: often trend well in London; M15–H1 sweet spot.
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USDJPY: structured moves around session overlaps; M5–M15 for scalps, H1 for cleaner swings.
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XAUUSD: volatile; prefer H1–H4 with higher Multiplier to filter noise.
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Indices (e.g., US30, DAX): strong opens; try M5–M15 with ATR(10) and Multiplier 3+.
Run MT4 Strategy Tester to validate settings. Optimize one variable at a time (e.g., Multiplier first, then ATR Period). Over-optimization leads to curve-fitting; prioritize robustness across months and sessions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Chasing mid-move entries: Wait for a pullback or new structure break after a flip.
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Ignoring higher timeframe: Trading M5 against H1/H4 bias invites whipsaws.
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Too-tight settings in choppy markets: Increase the Multiplier to reduce noise.
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No plan for news: Either step aside or widen stops and cut size—don’t wing it.
FAQ
Q: Which pairs work best?
A: SuperTrend works on all pairs, but EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY, and XAUUSD are favorites due to liquidity and predictable sessions.
Q: What timeframe should I use?
A: M15–H1 for intraday balance; H4–D1 for swing stability. Scalpers can use M5 with conservative risk.
Q: Are alerts included?
A: Many builds include pop-ups, sound, or push notifications on flips. If your version doesn’t, you can add an MT4 alert EA or script.
Q: Can I combine it with other indicators?
A: Yes—add EMA 200 for trend regime, RSI/MACD for momentum confirmation, or basic price action (breakouts/pullbacks) for entries.
Final Thoughts
The SuperTrend Indicator V1.0 MT4 is popular because it’s simple, adaptive, and actionable. It provides a clear bias, logical stops, and easy trailing—exactly what discretionary traders need to systematize decisions. Start with ATR(10), Multiplier 3 on M15–H1 across EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY, and XAUUSD, then fine-tune based on your instrument’s volatility and your risk tolerance. Keep risk small, let winners run with the band, and trade with the higher-timeframe wind at your back.
