Dark Moon is a free automated forex EA powered by the Dark Absolute Trend indicator. Trade EURUSD, GBPUSD, NZDUSD & USDCHF on MT4 or MT5.
Getting Dark Moon EA running on MetaTrader is a straightforward process, from the free download through to your first live or demo trade.
Download Dark Moon at zero cost directly from the MQL5 Marketplace or the Dark EAs website. The download includes the compiled EA file compatible with both MT4 and MT5, along with the complete user manual covering every parameter in detail. No payment, registration, or license key activation is required. If you want to apply the Dark Absolute Trend indicator to your chart for visual signal verification during backtesting, download it separately from MQL5 using the links provided in the manual for your specific MetaTrader version.
Copy the downloaded EA file into your MetaTrader Experts folder, then restart the platform or refresh the Navigator panel. Locate Dark Moon in the Navigator under Expert Advisors and drag it onto your chosen chart — EURUSD M15 is the most commonly recommended starting point. Ensure the AutoTrading button is enabled in MetaTrader's toolbar. The EA properties window will open automatically, allowing you to review input settings before clicking OK. A small panel will appear on the chart confirming the EA is active and monitoring the market.
Choose whether to activate the grid recovery module based on your risk tolerance and account size. If enabled, select a lot management type: Fix is the safest starting option for smaller accounts, while Lots Sum and Martingale offer faster recovery at higher risk. Set the minimum grid distance in points or switch to ATR-based calculation for volatility-adaptive spacing. Configure a monetary or percentage drawdown stop as an emergency circuit breaker protecting your account during extreme adverse moves. Always test grid configurations on demo before applying them to a live account.
Run Dark Moon on a demo account for a minimum of two to four weeks before committing real capital. Observe how Dark Absolute Trend signals fire on your chosen pair and timeframe, how grid sequences develop and recover during drawdowns, and whether the configured trading hours capture the expected activity. Use MetaTrader's Strategy Tester for initial backtesting, then compare those results with forward-testing on demo to identify discrepancies caused by spread or execution differences. Join the Dark EAs Telegram channel for configuration tips and community results comparison.
Dark Moon is a fully automatic, free Expert Advisor built around the proprietary Dark Absolute Trend indicator — a directional trend tool that generates color-shifting lines and arrow signals on any MetaTrader chart. The EA reads those signals to enter scalping trades on recommended pairs including EURUSD, GBPUSD, NZDUSD, and USDCHF, adaptable to additional instruments with parameter adjustments. Four distinct trading strategies derived from Dark Absolute Trend are available: arrow-based trend-following entries, counter-trend arrow entries, continuous line-based trend following, and counter-trend line strategies. This flexibility lets you run momentum or contrarian setups using the same core indicator across M5, M15, H1, and other timeframes. The optional grid recovery module layers additional orders when price moves against the initial position. Choose from four lot management modes — Fix, Lots Sum, All Lots Sum, or classic Martingale — with ATR-based grid spacing and a distance multiplier for precise control over recovery aggression. Risk management layers include configurable trading hours and weekday filters, maximum spread protection, monetary or percentage-based drawdown stops, and a built-in average trailing stop with a visual Yellow line on chart. Both MT4 and MT5 are fully supported, and the active Dark EAs Telegram community provides ongoing configuration guidance. For a zero-cost download, this is a remarkably configurable system.
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Dark Moon EA combines a proprietary trend indicator with a configurable grid system, giving traders full control over entry logic, risk exposure, and recovery behavior across four major forex pairs.
Trade entries are driven by the proprietary Dark Absolute Trend indicator, which generates directional arrows and color-coded trend lines on any MetaTrader chart. Four distinct strategies let you trade with arrow signals at color crossovers, against them for counter-trend setups, follow the continuous trend line, or take counter-trend entries when the line changes. An optional Additional Rules parameter combines multiple conditions simultaneously, tightening entry criteria on EURUSD, GBPUSD, NZDUSD, and USDCHF during mixed or choppy market sessions.
When the initial position moves against you, the configurable grid module places additional orders at set intervals to reduce average entry cost. Choose from four lot management modes: Fix (equal sizes throughout), Lots Sum (progressive addition per direction), All Lots Sum (counts both buy and sell orders together), or classic Martingale multiplier. Set minimum distance in fixed points or ATR multiples, with a distance multiplier that scales grid spacing wider as more levels open, preventing overly tight accumulation during volatile price movements.
Dark Moon is calibrated for EURUSD, GBPUSD, NZDUSD, and USDCHF but adapts to other currency pairs and instruments with parameter adjustments. Timeframe selection is fully open: M5 suits active scalping, M15 balances frequency and signal quality, and H1 works for slower setups with larger point targets. Pairing the right timeframe with the appropriate Dark Absolute Trend strategy for your chosen instrument is the most critical configuration step before transitioning from demo to live trading.
Multiple layered risk controls protect your account beyond simple grid limits. Configure monetary loss stops that close all positions at a fixed dollar threshold, or percentage-based drawdown stops tied to account balance. The average trailing stop calculates a weighted average entry across all open positions in one direction and trails the group as a unit, visible as a Yellow line directly on chart. Stop Target Mode can reference either the first order price or a weighted average entry point, providing flexibility in exit calculation across multi-level grid sequences.
Restrict Dark Moon to preferred market sessions or block specific weekdays through independent toggle settings. Each filter operates separately — allowing Asian session entries on USDCHF while blocking EURUSD trading during overnight low-liquidity periods. Grid orders can optionally bypass these time restrictions, continuing to manage open recovery positions even outside your designated window. The Friday close option reduces weekend gap risk by targeting closure of positions currently in gain before market close while leaving recovering grid sequences open.
Every major setting is externally adjustable through MetaTrader's EA input panel without any source code access or programming knowledge. Adjust lot sizing, grid spacing, indicator strategy selection, ATR periods, take target and stop loss distances, trailing stop parameters, and display options through simple input fields. All settings carry seamlessly across MT4 and MT5, and the Dark EAs developer actively maintains the EA through MQL5 Marketplace updates and the Telegram channel, keeping the system compatible as MetaTrader platforms evolve.
Dark Moon EA adapts to your experience level and trading goals, whether you are running your first Expert Advisor or optimizing a multi-pair automated portfolio on MetaTrader.
No programming or coding knowledge required. Download Dark Moon from MQL5 Marketplace at zero cost and install it on an EURUSD M15 chart in under 10 minutes. Default settings provide a working starting configuration immediately. Begin on a demo account for at least two to four weeks, observing how Dark Absolute Trend arrows fire and how the grid behaves during drawdowns before moving real capital. Start with Strategy 1 and grid disabled for the most straightforward first experience.
You already understand how trends develop on EURUSD or GBPUSD and know when to enter — but screen time limits the opportunities you capture. Dark Moon monitors your preferred pairs continuously, entering when Dark Absolute Trend confirms direction during your configured session window. Enable the hour filter to restrict trading to London or New York hours, disable the grid if you prefer clean single-position trading without averaging, and let the trailing stop manage exits automatically while you focus elsewhere.
You want indicator-driven logic you can inspect and verify, not a black-box system. Dark Moon is built on the publicly available Dark Absolute Trend indicator, separately listed on MQL5 for both MT4 and MT5, meaning you can apply it to any chart and confirm exactly when signals fire before trusting live entries. Four lot management modes, ATR-based grid spacing, a distance multiplier, and independent filter settings for grid orders provide enough parameters for rigorous optimization without requiring source code modifications.
Running Dark Moon across EURUSD, GBPUSD, NZDUSD, and USDCHF simultaneously using different Magic Numbers creates natural diversification across four uncorrelated currency pairs. Each instance operates independently without order conflicts, with separate hour and weekday filters aligning each pair to its most liquid session. The key consideration is ensuring combined margin requirements across all active instances remain within comfortable limits — a minimum of $1,000 is advisable when trading all four pairs simultaneously with conservative lot sizing.
From signal detection to grid recovery and risk control, Dark Moon handles the full trading cycle automatically with granular settings to match your individual risk tolerance and account size.
Download Dark Moon at zero cost from MQL5 Marketplace or the Dark EAs website — no license fees, subscriptions, or premium tiers to unlock features.
Choose from four Dark Absolute Trend modes: trend-following arrows, counter-trend arrows, continuous line trend following, or counter-trend line entries.
Layer additional positions during adverse moves using Fix, Lots Sum, All Lots Sum, or Martingale lot management — or disable the grid entirely for pure single-position scalping.
Optimized for EURUSD, GBPUSD, NZDUSD, and USDCHF, with adaptability to additional instruments through manual parameter adjustments.
Trails all open positions as a group based on weighted average entry price, displayed as a Yellow line directly on the MetaTrader chart.
The Dark EAs Telegram channel provides configuration help, strategy discussions, and developer-released updates shared directly with the user community.
Dark Moon has established itself as one of the most configurable free Expert Advisors in the Dark EAs product family, with an active Telegram community and consistent developer updates through MQL5.
Complete download cost — no license fees, subscriptions, or premium tiers ever
Distinct Dark Absolute Trend trading strategies available within a single EA
Core currency pairs officially supported: EURUSD, GBPUSD, NZDUSD, USDCHF
Grid lot management modes: Fix, Lots Sum, All Lots Sum, and Martingale
Both MetaTrader platforms fully supported with identical feature sets and parameters
Dark Moon stands out among free Expert Advisors for its parameter depth, indicator transparency, four distinct entry strategies, and active developer community on Telegram.
Dark Moon is available at zero cost from MQL5 Marketplace and the Dark EAs website, with no monthly subscription, license renewal, or hidden upgrade tier. The full feature set — including optional grid recovery, four Dark Absolute Trend strategies, weighted average trailing stop, and all risk management controls — is available in the free download with no locked features requiring payment to access.
Dark Moon's core signal logic is powered by the publicly listed Dark Absolute Trend indicator, separately downloadable from MQL5 for both MT4 and MT5. This means you can apply the indicator directly to any chart during backtesting or demo trading and verify exactly when and why entries fire. Unlike black-box systems hiding their rules, this transparency lets you evaluate the strategy's behavior before committing settings to live capital.
Rather than locking you into a single entry approach, Dark Moon offers four strategy modes: arrow-following trend entries, counter-trend arrow entries, continuous line-based trend following, and counter-trend line signals. This variety lets you test which interpretation of Dark Absolute Trend performs best on your chosen pair and timeframe combination, rather than accepting a generic default that may not suit current market conditions.
The Dark EAs Telegram channel connects you with the developer and a trading community sharing configurations, results, and optimization tips. Updates are distributed through MQL5 Marketplace, maintaining compatibility with new MetaTrader builds. Community responses are often faster than formal support tickets, particularly valuable for first-time users troubleshooting broker-specific configuration challenges or choosing appropriate grid settings for smaller accounts.
The Dark Moon EA user manual covers every parameter in detail, from Dark Absolute Trend strategy selection and trading hour configuration to grid management modes and target settings. A video review is available covering installation and live setup on MetaTrader, and the Dark EAs Telegram channel provides ongoing configuration guidance from both the developer and fellow traders. Both MT4 and MT5 setup procedures are covered in the included documentation.
Watch the Video Review
Everything you need to know about Dark Moon EA — from installation and pair selection to grid management and risk settings.
Dark Moon is recommended on EURUSD, GBPUSD, NZDUSD, and USDCHF, covering a diversified set of major and minor pairs with different volatility profiles. Timeframe selection is flexible — M5 suits active scalping with higher trade frequency, M15 provides a balance between signal quality and activity, and H1 works for lower-frequency setups with larger point targets. The EA adapts to other pairs and instruments with appropriate parameter adjustments, but always run a thorough backtest on any new instrument and broker spread conditions before deploying real capital.
Dark Moon includes an optional grid recovery module that can be enabled or disabled entirely. When enabled, choose from four lot management modes: Fix (equal position sizes throughout), Lots Sum (progressive addition per direction), All Lots Sum (counts both buy and sell orders combined), or classic Martingale (exponential lot multiplication with a configurable coefficient). Conservative traders typically use Fix or disable the grid entirely for pure single-position scalping mode. The Martingale mode carries significantly higher risk and requires larger account buffers. Always understand the selected lot management mode and its maximum exposure implications before applying to a live account.
For single-pair operation with the grid disabled and conservative fixed lot sizing, a minimum of approximately $300 to $500 on a standard account is workable. Running all four recommended pairs simultaneously with grid enabled requires at least $1,000 to maintain adequate margin during recovery sequences without risking margin calls. Traders with smaller budgets can use cent accounts available at brokers like RoboForex, which reduce per-trade risk dramatically by treating micro-lots as nano-lots, making the EA viable on accounts as small as $100 equivalent in real capital terms with appropriate lot sizing.
Dark Moon is accessible to beginners at the installation and basic configuration level — downloading from MQL5 and placing the EA on an EURUSD M15 chart takes under 10 minutes, and default settings provide a working starting point without deep technical knowledge. However, the optional grid recovery system introduces complexity that demands understanding before enabling in a live account. Beginners should start with grid disabled in pure scalping mode, run at least two to four weeks on demo observing how Dark Absolute Trend signals behave, then gradually explore grid options once comfortable with the baseline performance.
A VPS is not technically mandatory but is strongly recommended for consistent performance, particularly on M5 or M15 timeframes with the grid enabled. High-frequency scalping requires uninterrupted connectivity — even brief internet disruptions can leave grid positions unmanaged during volatile moves or cause missed entry signals during your configured trading window. A low-latency Windows VPS near your broker's server (ideally under 10ms ping) improves fill quality and reduces slippage. Monthly VPS costs typically range from $15 to $30 for specifications adequate for running multiple MetaTrader chart instances continuously.
Dark Moon is generally not suitable for most proprietary trading firm challenges due to its optional grid recovery logic. The majority of prop firms prohibit position averaging, grid strategies, and martingale position sizing regardless of how conservatively configured. Running with grid disabled in pure single-position scalping mode might comply with some firm rules, but you must verify every aspect against your specific firm's terms before attempting a challenge. Scalping restrictions, minimum trade duration requirements, and daily drawdown limits vary significantly across firms and may present additional compatibility challenges.
Every major parameter is externally adjustable through MetaTrader's EA input panel without source code access. Configurable settings include lot sizing method, risk percentage, maximum lot cap, Dark Absolute Trend strategy selection and indicator periods, trading hour start and stop times, individual weekday toggles, grid management type and coefficient, minimum grid distance in points or ATR multiples, distance multiplier, take target and stop loss distances, stop target calculation mode, monetary and percentage drawdown stops, average trailing stop values, and Friday close behavior. This level of granularity makes Dark Moon one of the most configurable free Expert Advisors available.
Strategy 1 (Buy Bull Arrow, Sell Bear Arrow) enters in the direction of the arrow signal — buy on a green bull arrow, sell on a red bear arrow. Strategy 2 (Buy Bear Arrow, Sell Bull Arrow) reverses this logic, treating arrows as counter-trend signals. Strategy 3 (Buy Uptrend, Sell Downtrend) uses the continuous trend line — buy while the line is green, sell while red. Strategy 4 (Buy Downtrend, Sell Uptrend) reverses Strategy 3 for counter-trend line trading. Strategies 1 and 3 suit trending conditions; Strategies 2 and 4 suit ranging markets. Apply the Dark Absolute Trend indicator to your chart to visually verify each mode before selecting.
Dark Moon stands out among free Expert Advisors for its parameter depth and strategy variety. Most free EAs offer a single fixed strategy with minimal customization — Dark Moon provides four distinct entry strategies, four grid lot management modes, ATR-based grid spacing, a distance multiplier, weighted average trailing stops, and layered risk controls including both monetary and percentage-based loss stops. The indicator transparency is also notable: the underlying Dark Absolute Trend is publicly available on MQL5, allowing independent signal verification. This level of configurability in a free product is uncommon in the algo trading space.
Dark Moon receives updates through the MQL5 Marketplace and the Dark EAs Telegram channel as the developer addresses compatibility with new MetaTrader builds, refines parameters based on forward-testing results, or adds strategy options. As a free product, update frequency varies and follows no fixed release schedule. Follow the Dark EAs Telegram channel for update announcements and download new versions promptly to maintain compatibility. The developer maintains an active catalog of free and paid Dark EAs products on MQL5, indicating ongoing development activity across the product family.
Dark Moon is completely free. There are no purchase fees, monthly subscriptions, license renewal costs, or premium tiers requiring payment. The full-featured EA — including all four Dark Absolute Trend strategies, the optional grid recovery module, average trailing stop, monetary and percentage drawdown stops, and all risk management controls — is available in the free download with no locked features. Download it from the MQL5 Marketplace or directly from the Dark EAs website at zero cost. This free model makes it an accessible starting point for traders exploring automated scalping before committing to premium paid systems.
ECN or RAW spread brokers with tight execution are recommended for optimal scalping performance. Spreads consistently below 1.5 pips on EURUSD and GBPUSD during active sessions significantly improve the economics of scalping on M5 and M15 timeframes. RoboForex is officially recommended by Dark EAs, offering competitive spreads, cent account options for small capital, and 1:500 leverage. Other compatible brokers include IC Markets, Pepperstone, and Fusion Markets. Avoid brokers with dealing desk execution, excessive requotes, or artificially widened spreads during news events, as these conditions erode scalping edge rapidly regardless of strategy settings.
Yes, Dark Moon can run on multiple pairs simultaneously by assigning a unique Magic Number to each chart instance. This prevents order conflicts, as the EA uses Magic Numbers to track and manage only its own positions on each chart. Running all four recommended pairs — EURUSD, GBPUSD, NZDUSD, and USDCHF — simultaneously is common among portfolio traders. The key consideration is ensuring combined margin requirements across all active instances remain within comfortable limits for your account balance, particularly when grid recovery sequences are open on multiple pairs simultaneously during adverse market conditions.
Yes, the grid is fully optional and can be disabled entirely through the Enable Grid toggle in the EA input panel. With the grid off, Dark Moon operates in pure single-position scalping mode — one trade per direction, closed at your configured take target or stop loss without any position averaging or recovery logic. This mode carries much lower risk, requires significantly less account capital, and is the recommended starting configuration for new users. Conservative traders and those concerned about grid drawdowns often prefer this approach permanently, particularly on smaller accounts or during higher-volatility periods.
Best suited for: Intermediate traders comfortable with indicator-based systems - Dark Moon suits traders who understand how trend indicators behave and want to automate entries without surrendering visibility into the signal logic. Familiarity with Dark Absolute Trend arrows and lines in trending versus ranging markets helps you choose the right strategy mode, configure appropriate take target distances on M15 charts, and decide on grid activation based on current conditions. Budget-conscious traders wanting free automation — The zero-cost model removes the financial barrier to algorithmic forex trading. Traders testing scalping automation on EURUSD, GBPUSD, NZDUSD, or USDCHF before investing in premium Expert Advisors get a fully capable system at no cost. The feature set — optional grid, four entry strategies, weighted trailing stop, and hour/day filters — is comparable to paid alternatives in the same strategy category. Active scalpers looking to automate their sessions — If you currently scalp EURUSD or GBPUSD manually, Dark Moon monitors those sessions automatically through the hour filter. Disable the grid for clean single-position trading and let the EA execute during your target window without requiring constant chart presence. Portfolio traders building multi-pair coverage — Running Dark Moon across EURUSD, GBPUSD, NZDUSD, and USDCHF with different Magic Numbers creates natural diversification. Each instance operates independently with separate hour filters aligning each pair to its most liquid session. Not recommended for: Complete beginners unfamiliar with grid risks — The grid accumulates positions during adverse price moves, producing significant unrealized drawdowns. Traders without foundational knowledge of position averaging should start with a simpler single-position EA before enabling the grid. Traders with accounts under $300 — Grid sequences require margin for multiple simultaneous positions. A minimum of $500 on a standard account or use of cent account options is advisable for safe grid operation. Prop firm challenge participants — Grid and martingale strategies are prohibited by most proprietary trading firms. Even with grid disabled, scalping restrictions and drawdown limits may conflict with the EA operating parameters. Traders requiring formal support infrastructure — Dark Moon is supported through the Telegram community rather than a dedicated customer service team. Traders expecting defined response times or formal onboarding should consider premium paid alternatives.
