> 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/smartentry/anchor-signal-settings.md).

# Anchor Signal Settings

The foundation entry for your grids

An Anchor is the first position of a new grid. It sets the foundation for everything that follows — if the anchor is placed badly, every re-entry inherits that position’s drawdown. Anchor filters are therefore more restrictive than Re-Entry filters by design.

SmartEntry checks the anchor settings only when that side (buy or sell) has no open position. Once a grid is open on that side, its re-entries use the Re-Entry settings instead.

When Hydra Vision requests an anchor entry, SmartEntry checks every setting that is enabled. An anchor opens only when all of them pass. If any one fails, SmartEntry sends a No Entry response back to Hydra Vision. The order of the checks does not matter, with one exception: if Extreme DD blocks, SmartEntry stops at once and checks nothing else.

There are two kinds of check:

* **Vetoes** block a new grid: Waterfall, Extended Price, Extreme DD, Exhausted Moves and Market Regime.
* **Confirmations** must be present before a new grid opens: Micro Break and the MA Cross.

```mermaid
sequenceDiagram
    participant EA
    participant SmartEntry
    participant Vetoes
    participant Confirmations
    EA->>SmartEntry: Request Anchor (no open position on that side)
    SmartEntry->>Vetoes: Waterfall
    SmartEntry->>Vetoes: Extended Price
    SmartEntry->>Vetoes: Extreme DD
    Note over SmartEntry,Vetoes: If Extreme DD blocks, the check stops here
    SmartEntry->>Vetoes: Exhausted Moves
    SmartEntry->>Vetoes: Market Regime
    Vetoes->>SmartEntry: Response
    SmartEntry->>Confirmations: Micro Break
    SmartEntry->>Confirmations: MA Cross
    Confirmations->>SmartEntry: Response
    SmartEntry->>EA: Entry only if every enabled check passes
```