Gold Trend Grid EA - MQL4 Source Code for XAUUSD with Trend-Aligned Grid Strategy

Summary: Gold Trend Grid EA is an MQL4 expert advisor for XAUUSD that integrates trend filtering with a controlled grid recovery system. Grid only expands in trend direction. Suitable for H1.




Gold Trend Grid EA uniquely combines trend following with a disciplined grid approach. Unlike traditional grid EAs that trade both directions, this EA first determines the major trend using EMA(50) and ADX(14). Once the trend is established, it opens a base position and sets a grid of pending orders only in the trend direction. Grid spacing and lot progression are dynamically adjusted based on ATR volatility. The EA includes maximum grid levels, equity-based drawdown protection, and a take-profit target that scales with grid size.

Recommended Timeframe: H1
Trading Logic:
1. Trend Detection: EMA(50) slope + price position. ADX > 25 confirms trending market.
2. Base Entry: After trend confirmation, enter at market with 0.01 lot.
3. Trend Grid Placement: Place buy limit orders above current price (uptrend) or sell limit below (downtrend) at ATR-based spacing.
4. Grid Progression: Each level increases lot size by GridLotMultiplier (e.g., 1.5x). Maximum 5 levels.
5. Grid Exit: Close entire grid when total floating profit reaches TargetProfitPoints or breakeven after 3 levels.

```mql4
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| GoldTrendGridEA.mq4 |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright ""
#property link ""
#property version "1.00"
#property strict

//--- input parameters with comments
input double BaseLotSize = 0.01; // Base lot size for first position
input int TrendEMAPeriod = 50; // EMA period for trend direction
input int ADXPeriod = 14; // ADX period for trend strength
input int ADXThreshold = 25; // Minimum ADX value for trend market
input double GridSpacingATR = 1.5; // Grid spacing as multiple of ATR
input double GridLotMultiplier = 1.5; // Lot multiplier for each grid level (1.5x)
input int MaxGridLevels = 5; // Maximum number of grid levels
input int TargetProfitPoints = 800; // Target profit in points for grid exit
input double EquityDrawdownLimit = 12.0; // Max equity drawdown percentage to stop
input int MagicNumber = 202418; // Unique EA identifier
input int MaxSpread = 35; // Maximum allowed spread in points
input bool UseFridayClose = true; // Close grid before Friday 20:00 GMT

//--- global variables
datetime lastBarTime = 0;
bool fridayCloseExecuted = false;
double currentTrend = 0; // 1 = bullish, -1 = bearish, 0 = no trend
double lastATR = 0;
double gridStartPrice = 0;
int currentGridLevel = 0;
double equityStart = 0;

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert initialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnInit()
{
lastBarTime = 0;
fridayCloseExecuted = false;
equityStart = AccountEquity();
currentTrend = 0;
currentGridLevel = 0;
return(INIT_SUCCEEDED);
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert deinitialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnDeinit(const int reason)
{
Comment("");
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Determine trend direction |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int GetTrend()
{
double ema = iMA(Symbol(), PERIOD_H1, TrendEMAPeriod, 0, MODE_EMA, PRICE_CLOSE, 1);
double close1 = iClose(Symbol(), PERIOD_H1, 1);
double adx = iADX(Symbol(), PERIOD_H1, ADXPeriod, PRICE_CLOSE, MODE_MAIN, 1);
double diPlus = iADX(Symbol(), PERIOD_H1, ADXPeriod, PRICE_CLOSE, MODE_PLUSDI, 1);
double diMinus = iADX(Symbol(), PERIOD_H1, ADXPeriod, PRICE_CLOSE, MODE_MINUSDI, 1);

if(adx < ADXThreshold) return 0;

// Bullish: price above EMA and DI+ > DI-
if(close1 > ema && diPlus > diMinus)
return 1;
// Bearish: price below EMA and DI- > DI+
else if(close1 < ema && diMinus > diPlus)
return -1;

return 0;
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Calculate dynamic grid spacing based on ATR |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
double GetGridSpacing()
{
double atr = iATR(Symbol(), PERIOD_H1, 14, 1);
if(atr <= 0) atr = 200 * Point;
lastATR = atr;
return atr * GridSpacingATR;
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Get current grid order count |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int CountGridOrders()
{
int count = 0;
for(int i = OrdersTotal()-1; i >= 0; i--)
{
if(OrderSelect(i, SELECT_BY_POS, MODE_TRADES))
{
if(OrderSymbol() == Symbol() && OrderMagicNumber() == MagicNumber)
count++;
}
}
for(int i = OrdersTotal()-1; i >= 0; i--)
{
if(OrderSelect(i, SELECT_BY_POS, MODE_PENDING))
{
if(OrderSymbol() == Symbol() && OrderMagicNumber() == MagicNumber)
count++;
}
}
return count;
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Close all grid orders (market and pending) |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void CloseAllGridOrders()
{
// Close market orders
for(int i = OrdersTotal()-1; i >= 0; i--)
{
if(OrderSelect(i, SELECT_BY_POS, MODE_TRADES))
{
if(OrderSymbol() == Symbol() && OrderMagicNumber() == MagicNumber)
{
if(OrderType() == OP_BUY)
OrderClose(OrderTicket(), OrderLots(), Bid, 3, clrNONE);
else if(OrderType() == OP_SELL)
OrderClose(OrderTicket(), OrderLots(), Ask, 3, clrNONE);
}
}
}
// Delete pending orders
for(int i = OrdersTotal()-1; i >= 0; i--)
{
if(OrderSelect(i, SELECT_BY_POS, MODE_PENDING))
{
if(OrderSymbol() == Symbol() && OrderMagicNumber() == MagicNumber)
OrderDelete(OrderTicket());
}
}
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Calculate total floating profit of grid |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
double GetGridFloatingProfit()
{
double profit = 0;
for(int i = OrdersTotal()-1; i >= 0; i--)
{
if(OrderSelect(i, SELECT_BY_POS, MODE_TRADES))
{
if(OrderSymbol() == Symbol() && OrderMagicNumber() == MagicNumber)
profit += OrderProfit() + OrderSwap() + OrderCommission();
}
}
return profit;
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Create pending grid orders in trend direction |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void CreateGridOrders()
{
if(currentTrend == 0) return;

double spacing = GetGridSpacing();
double currentPrice = (currentTrend == 1) ? Ask : Bid;
double lot = BaseLotSize;

for(int level = 1; level <= MaxGridLevels; level++)
{
double orderPrice;
if(currentTrend == 1) // Bullish: buy limit above current price
orderPrice = currentPrice + (spacing * level);
else // Bearish: sell limit below current price
orderPrice = currentPrice - (spacing * level);

double lotSize = BaseLotSize * MathPow(GridLotMultiplier, level - 1);
if(lotSize > 1.0) lotSize = 1.0;

int cmd = (currentTrend == 1) ? OP_BUYLIMIT : OP_SELLLIMIT;

int ticket = OrderSend(Symbol(), cmd, lotSize, orderPrice, 3, 0, 0, "Trend Grid", MagicNumber, 0, clrNONE);
if(ticket < 0)
Print("Failed to create grid order level ", level, " error: ", GetLastError());
else
Print("Grid level ", level, " created at ", orderPrice);
}
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Check if grid should be closed based on profit target |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
bool ShouldCloseGrid()
{
double profit = GetGridFloatingProfit();
double targetProfit = TargetProfitPoints * Point * (CountGridOrders() * BaseLotSize * 10); // rough estimate
if(profit >= targetProfit)
return true;

// Emergency close if drawdown too high
double equityDrawdown = (equityStart - AccountEquity()) / equityStart * 100;
if(equityDrawdown >= EquityDrawdownLimit)
return true;

return false;
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert tick function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnTick()
{
// Friday close protection
if(UseFridayClose && !fridayCloseExecuted)
{
datetime currentTime = TimeCurrent();
if(TimeDayOfWeek(currentTime) == 5 && TimeHour(currentTime) >= 20)
{
CloseAllGridOrders();
fridayCloseExecuted = true;
return;
}
if(TimeDayOfWeek(currentTime) != 5)
fridayCloseExecuted = false;
}

// Spread filter
if(MarketInfo(Symbol(), MODE_SPREAD) > MaxSpread)
{
Comment("Spread too high: ", MarketInfo(Symbol(), MODE_SPREAD));
return;
}

// New bar logic (H1)
if(Time[0] == lastBarTime)
return;
lastBarTime = Time[0];

// Update equity start daily
if(TimeDayOfYear(TimeCurrent()) != TimeDayOfYear(TimeCurrent() - 86400))
equityStart = AccountEquity();

// Check if grid should close
if(CountGridOrders() > 0 && ShouldCloseGrid())
{
CloseAllGridOrders();
currentGridLevel = 0;
Comment("Grid closed by profit target or drawdown limit");
return;
}

// Determine trend
int newTrend = GetTrend();
currentTrend = newTrend;

// If no existing grid and trend is valid, start new grid
if(CountGridOrders() == 0 && currentTrend != 0)
{
// Open base market position
double lot = BaseLotSize;
double sl = 0, tp = 0;
int cmd = (currentTrend == 1) ? OP_BUY : OP_SELL;
double price = (cmd == OP_BUY) ? Ask : Bid;

int ticket = OrderSend(Symbol(), cmd, lot, price, 3, sl, tp, "Base Grid", MagicNumber, 0, clrNONE);
if(ticket > 0)
{
Print("Base position opened in trend direction");
CreateGridOrders();
}
}
else if(CountGridOrders() > 0 && currentTrend == 0)
{
// Trend weakened, close grid
CloseAllGridOrders();
Comment("Trend weakened, grid closed");
}

// Update comment with status
double profit = GetGridFloatingProfit();
Comment("Trend: ", currentTrend==1?"BULLISH":(currentTrend==-1?"BEARISH":"NEUTRAL"),
" | Grid Orders: ", CountGridOrders(),
" | Floating: ", DoubleToStr(profit, 2),
" | ATR: ", DoubleToStr(lastATR/Point, 1));
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert tick function end |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
```
Reference: Original MQL4 code for educational purposes.
Disclaimer: Grid trading carries risk of significant drawdown in strong trending or ranging markets. This EA is provided as-is without any guarantee of profit. Test thoroughly on a demo account for at least 3 months before live deployment. Past performance does not guarantee future results.