> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.hydravision.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.hydravision.ai/ea-configuration/ea-settings/pcl/pcl-strategy-thresholds.md).

# PCL Strategy Thresholds

Profit Closes Loss, one of the most important sections of configuration in the EA.

{% hint style="info" %}
We strongly recommend watching our videos on PCL in order to fully understand how these engines work in relation to the selected PCL strategy. Using these without complete understanding can result in confusion and incorrect configuration.
{% endhint %}

### STRATEGY :: PCL BOUNCE & MULTI TRAIL THRESHOLDS

These settings define the threshold of the [PCL strategy](/concepts/concepts/pcl-strategies.md) when the PCL Strategy is Bounce or Multi Trail (they are hidden for the other strategies). They perform two critical functions:

#### Profit Trailing enabled

If the Strategy conditions are true, then trailing is enabled and PCL is disabled

* **Bounce** - the position count is at or below Max position count, the original Anchor position is still open, and the Frontier volume is within Max frontier volume.
* **Multi Trail** - the position count is at or below Max position count, the grid is no wider than Max position count x step size, and the Frontier volume is below Max frontier volume.

#### Strategy invalidated - shutdown

The strategy thresholds have been breached, activate PCL and shut down the grid

For Bounce, if the grid is at or below Max position count but the Frontier volume is above Max frontier volume, trailing is not safe. Bounce then temporarily targets the Anchor position (as Hunter does) to close the grid out.

Both thresholds are limits you can switch off: only one needs a value, and **0 means no limit** for that one. For example, Max position count 3 with Max frontier volume 0 limits the grid to 3 positions and puts no cap on the Frontier volume.

The EA refuses to start if both are 0 on Bounce or Multi Trail.

<details>

<summary>Max position count (0 = disabled)</summary>

`Integer`

Default: 3

Valid value range is 2 - x (we recommend keeping this below 5). Once the number of positions exceeds this value, Trailing is deactivated and PCL is activated.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Max frontier volume (0 = disabled)</summary>

`Double`

Default: 5.0

The maximum volume of the Frontier position (which is the target for the PCL Strategy), as a multiple of Starting Volume. Example: Starting Volume 0.01 and a value of 5 allows a Frontier volume of up to 0.05. If the volume of Frontier exceeds this threshold, then Strategy is invalidated.

</details>

### How the thresholds and PCL De-Risk interact

On Bounce and Multi Trail the thresholds are checked first, every time PCL is evaluated.

* **While the grid is within its thresholds,** it has been handed over to trailing. PCL does not run at all, and that includes PCL De-Risk. A grid is within its thresholds from its first position until it breaches one. A Bounce grid also leaves them if its Anchor is closed.
* **Once a threshold is breached,** PCL takes over. If the grid also qualifies for De-Risk (a volume blowout, or the De-Risk checks for your strategy), the De-Risk close competes with the strategy's own close. De-Risk wins only when it needs the smaller retrace (VWAP).

**Example:** Bounce with Max frontier volume 6, and PCL De-Risk on with Volume blowout (x startVol) 3. While the Frontier volume is between 3 and 6 times the Starting Volume and the grid is within its thresholds, the grid is trailing and the volume blowout has no effect. The blowout only matters once the grid has breached a threshold.

The PCL De-Risk settings therefore only come into play on Bounce and Multi Trail grids that have grown past their thresholds. Hunter has no strategy thresholds, so De-Risk is assessed on every Hunter grid. See [PCL De-risking](/ea-configuration/ea-settings/pcl/pcl-de-risking.md).