The ICT Silver Bullet is a time-based strategy identifying high-probability trading setups within specific one-hour windows. These Silver Bullet opportunities occur three times daily, allowing traders to focus on potential trades for either three hours total or during their preferred one-hour session.
ICT Silver Bullet Strategy Times
The strategy revolves around three key time windows (New York Local Time):
| Session | Silver Bullet Time (NY Time) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| London Session | 03:00 AM – 04:00 AM | Early institutional moves in London market |
| New York AM | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Post NYSE open, high volatility |
| New York PM | 02:00 PM – 03:00 PM | Afternoon reversals and rebalancing moves |
These windows are selected because they align with institutional trading behavior and provide cleaner setups when the market grabs liquidity.
What is the London Silver Bullet?
The London Silver Bullet is a high-probability intraday trading setup introduced by ICT (Inner Circle Trader). It is specifically designed to take advantage of liquidity grabs and sharp price reversals during the early moments of the London trading session, a time when institutional activity is at its peak.
When Does the London Silver Bullet Occur?
This setup typically forms between 03:00 AM and 04:00 AM (New York local time). Although this is early morning for U.S. traders, it aligns with the official opening of the London financial markets, a time known for high volatility and liquidity.
Why Is This Time Important?
During this 1-hour window, major financial institutions and smart money initiate large trades. These moves often aim to trigger stop-losses of retail traders by pushing price beyond recent highs or lows — a behavior known as a liquidity grab. After clearing this liquidity, price often reverses direction, presenting a trade opportunity.
This setup is particularly effective on major currency pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD, which are highly active during the London session. The goal is to capture a high-probability move within a short time window, using institutional behavior and market structure to guide entry and exit.
Best Instruments to Trade
- Forex: EUR/USD, GBP/USD
- Indices: FTSE, DAX
What is the New York Silver Bullet?
The New York Silver Bullet is a time-sensitive, high-probability intraday trading setup ,just like the London Silver Bullet, it aims to exploit liquidity grabs followed by market reversals during clearly defined institutional trading windows.
These setups are crafted around the New York trading session, which is known for its significant market movements and increased volume — especially due to overlapping sessions (London and New York) and major U.S. economic releases.
When Does the New York AM Session Silver Bullet Occur?
Time: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (New York Local Time).
This period comes right after the New York Stock Exchange opens at 09:30 AM. Price often spikes during the first 30 minutes due to institutional rebalancing, after which liquidity is engineered and a reversal setup can form.
When Does the New York PM Session Silver Bullet Occur?
Time: 02:00 PM to 03:00 PM (New York Local Time).
This marks the afternoon re-pricing phase where institutions position themselves ahead of the daily close. It’s a reliable time for price reversals and liquidity sweeps, especially after the lunch hour consolidation.
Important Pairs for Trading In NY Silver Bullet Sessions
The following instruments are optimal during the New York Silver Bullet sessions:
- Forex: EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, USD/CAD
- Indices: NASDAQ (US100), S&P500 (US500), DOW JONES (US30)
- Commodities: Gold (XAU/USD), Oil (WTI/USD)
what is ict silver bullet strategy?
This strategy can be applied to any Silver Bullet session — London, New York AM, or New York PM.
- Mark Liquidity on 15-Minute Chart at Session Start
- Identify obvious highs/lows (Buy Side Liquidity or Sell Side Liquidity) at the start of the Silver Bullet window.
- Wait for Liquidity Sweep
- If price sweeps Sell Side Liquidity, prepare to go long (Buy).
- If price sweeps Buy Side Liquidity, prepare to go short (Sell).
- Wait for MSS (Market Structure Shift)
- Confirm that price shows a shift in market structure, signaling a potential reversal.
- Identify Fair Value Gap (FVG) on Lower Timeframes
- Drop to 1-minute or 3-minute charts.
- Find a clean FVG created after the MSS.
- Enter on Retracement to FVG
- Wait for price to retrace into the FVG, then take the entry in the direction of the trade.
- Exit Trade Using OTE or Next Liquidity Target
- Use ICT’s Optimal Trade Entry (OTE) levels for partial exits.
- Or target the next liquidity zone (e.g., a recent high/low or imbalance).
ICT Silver Bullet Strategy PDF Download
Is the ICT Silver Bullet Strategy Profitable?
Yes, the ICT Silver Bullet strategy can be profitable — when applied correctly with discipline, precision, and proper risk management. It is designed to take advantage of institutional price manipulation (liquidity grabs) and market reversals during high-probability time windows.
However, profitability depends on:
- Your ability to read price action
- Consistent identification of Market Structure Shifts (MSS)
- Using Fair Value Gaps (FVGs) accurately for entries
- Applying strict risk-reward ratios (typically 1:2 or better)
Traders who are well-versed in ICT concepts and patient enough to wait for valid setups often report high success with the strategy.
Does the ICT Silver Bullet Work?
Yes, it works well for many ICT-trained traders. It’s a time-based setup built on the principles of Smart Money Concepts (SMC). It works by:
- Waiting for liquidity to be swept during predictable sessions
- Confirming market structure shifts (MSS)
- Entering on retracements to FVGs or order blocks
It’s important to note: It’s not a magical setup that works in every condition. It requires:
- Market context (avoiding major news releases)
- Higher time frame bias (directional understanding)
- Emotional control and backtesting
ICT Silver Bullet Win Rate
While no fixed win rate is publicly verified, experienced ICT traders often report:
- 60% to 80% win rates on well-validated setups
- Risk-reward ratios of 1:2, 1:3, or higher — meaning even with a 50-60% win rate, it can be very profitable.
Key: Win rate isn’t everything. Risk-reward and consistency matter more.
What time frame should I use for entry in the Silver Bullet strategy?
Use 1-minute or 3-minute charts to refine entries after confirming a sweep and a Market Structure Shift (MSS). These lower timeframes help you spot Fair Value Gaps (FVGs) for precise entries.
Can the ICT Silver Bullet Strategy be automated?
Partially. You can automate entry criteria like time, liquidity sweeps, MSS, and FVG detection. However, market bias and discretion-based setups still require human judgment.
What pairs work best with the Silver Bullet strategy?
The most commonly traded pairs include:
EUR/USD
GBP/USD
NAS100 / US30 (for indices)
These pairs have high volatility and institutional participation during the London and New York session
How do I exit trades using the ICT Silver Bullet strategy?
You can exit at:
The next liquidity pool (high/low)
ICT’s Optimal Trade Entry (OTE) levels
A fixed risk-reward ratio (e.g., 1:2 or 1:3)