Trend Pullback EA Template for MetaTrader 5
The Trend Pullback strategy combines the best of trend following and mean reversion: it identifies the trend direction using a 200 EMA, then enters on temporary RSI pullbacks for better entry prices. This free EA template includes ATR-based risk management, an optional ADX trend strength filter, and a max-distance-from-EMA safety check. Best for EURUSD, GBPUSD, and AUDUSD on H1 to D1 timeframes. Build it in AlgoStudio without coding and export a production-ready MQL5 Expert Advisor in minutes.
What Is a Trend Pullback Strategy?
A Trend Pullback strategy follows the old trading adage: “buy the dip in an uptrend, sell the rally in a downtrend.” Instead of entering at the crossover (when the trend starts), it waits for the trend to establish itself and then enters on a temporary retracement. This gives you a better entry price and a tighter stop loss compared to entering at the trend signal itself.
The template uses two indicators working together: the 200 EMA defines the trend direction (price above = uptrend, price below = downtrend), and the RSI(14) identifies pullbacks within that trend. When the RSI dips below 40 in an uptrend, it signals a buying opportunity. When the RSI rises above 60 in a downtrend, it signals a selling opportunity.
This combination is powerful because it solves the two biggest problems with simple trend-following: late entries (buying at the top of a move) and wide stop losses (far from the entry point). By waiting for a pullback, you enter closer to support in an uptrend or resistance in a downtrend, keeping your risk tight.
How This EA Template Works
The max distance from EMA filter (default 2%) prevents entering when price has already moved too far from the EMA. If EURUSD is 3% above the 200 EMA, the pullback may not be deep enough to offer a good entry — the market may be overextended and due for a larger correction, not just a pullback.
The optional ADX filter (threshold 25) ensures a genuine trend exists before looking for pullbacks. Without it, the strategy may interpret sideways choppy price action as a “trend” simply because price is above or below the EMA. ADX measures trend strength regardless of direction, filtering out low-conviction setups.
Default Parameters
These defaults work well on EURUSD, GBPUSD, and AUDUSD on H1 and H4. All parameters are exported as input variables so you can optimize them in the MT5 Strategy Tester.
| Parameter | Value | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Trend EMA Period | 200 | Indicator |
| Pullback RSI Period | 14 | Indicator |
| RSI Pullback Level | 40 (buy) / 60 (sell) | Threshold |
| Max Distance from EMA | 2.0% | Filter |
| Stop Loss | 1.5x ATR(14) | ATR-based |
| Take Profit | 2:1 R:R | Risk-reward |
| ADX Filter | 25 (optional) | Filter |
| Position Sizing | 1% risk per trade | Risk |
How to Build This EA Without Coding
1. Create a new project in AlgoStudio
Sign up for free (no credit card required) and click “New Project”. Name your project “Trend Pullback Strategy” and open the visual builder canvas.
2. Add the Trend Pullback entry strategy block
Drag a Trend Pullback entry strategy block onto the canvas. Set the trend EMA to 200, the RSI period to 14, and the pullback level to 40. The block automatically calculates the opposite pullback level (60) for sell signals. Set the max distance from EMA to 2%.
3. Configure risk management and ADX filter
Set the stop loss to 1.5x ATR(14), take profit to 2:1 risk-reward, and position sizing to 1% risk per trade. Enable the ADX filter with a threshold of 25 to ensure you only trade when a genuine trend exists. This is optional but strongly recommended for better results.
4. Export, backtest, and optimize
Click Export to generate a .mq5 file. Load it into MetaTrader 5 and backtest on EURUSD H1 with at least 2 years of historical data. Optimize the EMA period (50, 100, 200), RSI pullback level (35-45 for longs), and ADX threshold (20-30). Demo trade for 1-3 months before going live.
Optimization Tips
Test multiple EMA periods for different timeframes
The 200 EMA is ideal for H1 and H4 charts. For D1 charts, a 50 EMA may be more responsive. The principle is the same: longer EMAs on lower timeframes, shorter EMAs on higher timeframes. Test 50, 100, and 200 — the strategy should be profitable across a range of EMA values, not just one.
Adjust the RSI pullback depth to market conditions
In strong trends, pullbacks are shallow — RSI may only dip to 45 before the trend resumes. In weaker trends, pullbacks go deeper. A pullback level of 40 is a good default, but test 35-45 in your optimization. If you set it too deep (like 30), you may miss most pullbacks entirely.
Don't optimize too many parameters at once
With EMA period, RSI period, pullback level, ADX threshold, and ATR multiplier, there are many combinations to test. Optimize 2-3 parameters at a time and keep the rest at defaults. If you optimize everything simultaneously, you'll find a perfect backtest result that fails completely in live trading. Simplicity beats complexity in algorithmic trading.