Read first: the risks
- You can lose up to 100% of your deposit. The EA holds several positions in one direction and adds positions when price moves against it (grid-like risk). Most baskets close with a small profit, and from time to time one basket closes with a large loss.
- In the tests at 0.01 lot per position, a basket that closed at its stop lost about 121 USD (median), the worst 211 USD, and the deepest fall of closed results was 361 USD; this happened 36 times in 34 months. A bigger lot scales these figures.
- A big account is not protected. A strong one-way move in gold can take a large account too. Only a smaller lot for your balance lowers the risk.
- The win rate on the panel will look very high, but one basket that closes at its stop can take back the profit of dozens of winning baskets.
- The basket stop is held by the EA, not placed at the broker. If MT5 or the VPS is off, the connection drops or price gaps (for example after a weekend), a basket can lose more than the figures in the tables.
- The figures come from past data (real ticks, one broker, January 2024 - October 2026), and the EA was built on these same years, so later years can be worse.
- Start on a Demo account for at least 2-4 weeks, then a Cent account with 50-100 USD (= 5,000-10,000 USC) on Low risk: to learn, not to earn.
Who can use it for free
Free for MT5 accounts opened through our partner (IB) link. One account unlocks every EA.
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What is XAU Layer Engine
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Platform | MT5 on Windows, hedging account (netting accounts are refused) |
| Symbol and chart | XAUUSD (suffix allowed, e.g. XAUUSDm), any timeframe |
| Baskets | 1 at a time, up to 5 positions in one direction |
| Lot | The same on every position in a basket, no martingale |
| Stop loss | None at the broker: every basket has a stop the EA watches and closes itself (MT5 must stay on) |
| Risk modes | Low (default) / Mid / High / Fixed lot |
| Balance per 0.01 lot | Low 6,000 / Mid 3,000 / High 1,000 USD |
| No new baskets | On some major US news days, before the Friday close, and on your own pause dates |
| Always on | VPS or a computer running 24/5, because the EA closes baskets itself |
Who it suits
Suits
- People who understand basket (grid-like) risk and can accept a large loss on one basket from time to time
- People with a VPS or a computer that stays on 24/5
- People who have passed Demo and start real money on a Cent account in Low mode
Does not suit
- People who need this money for living costs
- People who want a fixed monthly income
- People who cannot keep MT5 running all week
- People who plan to raise the risk after a few good weeks
Minimum settings to run it (3 items)
| Input (as shown in MT5) | Suggested value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Risk mode | Low | 0.01 lot for each 6,000 USD of balance (default) |
| Magic number | 52003100 | Change it only if another EA uses it; never while a basket is open |
| Server hours ahead of New York when it cannot be read | 7 | Used only when the EA cannot read the server clock itself; leave it at 7 |
Loss when a basket closes at its stop (Fixed lot, tests)
| Lot per position | Typical loss per basket | Worst loss per basket | Deepest fall (closed results) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.01 | 121 USD | 211 USD | 361 USD |
| 0.05 | 605 USD | 1,055 USD | 1,805 USD |
| 0.10 | 1,210 USD | 2,110 USD | 3,610 USD |
Tests on real ticks, one broker, January 2024 - October 2026: 36 full-basket losses in 34 months; the worst was about 1.7 times the typical one. The deepest fall counts closed baskets only; the floating loss of an open basket comes on top. A live stop can close at a worse price (slippage). On cent and non-USD accounts the money per lot is different from this table.
Risk modes (% of balance)
| Mode | 0.01 lot per | Typical loss per basket | Worst loss per basket | Deepest fall (closed results) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (default) | 6,000 USD | 2.0% | 3.5% | 6.0% |
| Mid | 3,000 USD | 4.0% | 7.0% | 12.0% |
| High | 1,000 USD | 12.1% | 21.1% | 36.1% |
The % is for a balance of exactly one, two, three ... times the amount, the riskiest point. Below one amount the EA still opens the broker's minimum lot (usually 0.01), so 1,000 USD in Low mode carries the risk of High mode. On a cent account with 5,000 USC in Low mode a typical basket loss is about 2.4% and the worst about 4.2%.
How to install XAU Layer Engine on MT5
- Download the .ex5 file with the button above
- Open MT5 and go to File > Open Data Folder
- Open the MQL5 > Experts folder and put the .ex5 file there
- Back in MT5, right-click Expert Advisors in the Navigator window and click Refresh
- Go to Tools > Options > Expert Advisors, tick Allow WebRequest and add these 3 URLs (used for the licence check): https://zab-license.bangzeed.workers.dev, https://zab-license.vercel.app, https://license.forexreviewth.com
- Drag the EA onto a chart, set it up with the settings on this page, then turn on the Algo Trading button
5 hard rules (never do these)
- Do not close, add or change the EA's positions by hand. If you decide to close a basket by hand, close all of its positions together.
- Do not change the Magic number while a basket is open.
- 1 copy per account. A second copy needs its own Magic number, and the margin in use and the risk become 2 times as large.
- Moving VPS: remove the EA from the old one first, then install it on the new one with the same Magic number.
- Do not use real money before 2-4 weeks on Demo.