Traders search for the easiest challenge and get answered with the lowest advertised target. That is the wrong variable, and optimising for it makes evaluations harder rather than easier.
The five variables that decide difficulty
| # | Variable | Easy | Hard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Target ÷ max loss | Below 0.75 | Above 1.5 |
| 2 | Drawdown type | Static from starting balance | Trailing on intraday equity |
| 3 | Daily loss measurement | End of day | Intraday equity |
| 4 | Time limit | None | Under 30 days |
| 5 | Consistency rule | None | Undisclosed threshold |
Variable 1 is the one people mistake for "the target." A 4% target against a 4% trailing drawdown is far harder than an 8% target against an 8% static one — the first gives you no room at all, the second gives you a full target's worth. There is a fuller explanation in growth targets explained.
The gentlest configuration available
Across FundedAxe's paths, the mathematically easiest is the Pay After Pass 1-Step: a 3% target against an 8% static maximum loss — a ratio of 0.38 — with a 5% end-of-day daily limit, no time limit and no minimum trading days on the challenge. The trade is that the funded account it issues runs a trailing maximum loss.
| Path | Target ÷ max loss | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Pay After Pass 1-Step | 0.38 | Gentlest overall |
| FundedAxe Pro 3-Step | 0.75 per phase | Gentle, but cleared three times |
| FundedAxe Pro 2-Step | 0.80 / 0.50 | Balanced |
| FundedAxe Pro 1-Step | 1.43 | Tight — needs disciplined sizing |
How to actually make it easy
- Pick a path with a ratio below 0.75 and static drawdown.
- Risk 0.5% per trade and stop after two consecutive losses.
- Take an evaluation with no time limit so you can skip bad weeks.
- Trade the account size where 0.5% is a position you would take anyway.
Start the gentlest path for $9.99
3% target, 8% static maximum loss, no clock.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest prop firm challenge to pass?
The one with the best ratio of growth target to maximum loss, a static rather than trailing drawdown, and no time limit. A 4% target against a 10% static drawdown is far easier than a 4% target against a 4% trailing one.
Does a lower profit target make a challenge easier?
Not on its own. Difficulty is the target divided by the drawdown you have to reach it in. A low target with a tight trailing drawdown is harder than a higher target with generous static drawdown.
FundedAxe evaluations and funded accounts are simulated. Traders do not trade real client capital; rewards are paid on simulated performance under the terms of the FundedAxe trader agreement.