ICT order blocks are the last opposite candle before a move that breaks structure. The order block indicator for ICT indicator waits for a strong body that also closes beyond the recent high or low, finds the opposite candle behind it, and marks a later candle that dips into that block and closes back out.
This build ships as a compiled .ex4 for MT4 and .ex5 for MT5; the screenshots below come from EURUSD H1.
| Platforms | MT4 (.ex4) + MT5 (.ex5) |
|---|---|
| Chart window | Main price chart |
| Plots | 4: OB Buy, OB Sell, Bullish OB Top, Bearish OB Bot |
| Alerts | popup, push notification, email, sound |
| Inputs | 12 |
What you get on the chart
Block lines, boxes and two marks.
`Bullish OB Top` traces dodger blue along demand.
`Bearish OB Bot` traces orange along supply.
`ShowZones` draws each block as a box.
`OB Buy` prints lime with arrow 233.
`OB Sell` prints red with arrow 234.
- OB Buy: arrow, lime, width 2, arrow code 233
- OB Sell: arrow, red, width 2, arrow code 234
- Bullish OB Top: line, dodger blue, width 1
- Bearish OB Bot: line, orange, width 1
How it all fits together
Structure break
A bullish body larger than `ImpulseATRmult` `1.5` ranges must close above the highest high of the prior `StructureLookback` `50` bars.
Block candle
The last down candle before that body becomes demand, from its high to its low. Supply mirrors this.
Retest
A bullish candle that dips to the block top, closes above its bottom and closes up prints a buy. `CooldownBars` `6` spaces them.
Reading day to day
Blue lines track live demand.
Orange lines track live supply.
Blocks expire after `MaxOBlife` `80` bars.
Marks show retests, not the break itself.
One block can give several retests.
Warm-up needs about sixty-six bars.
Alert channels in this build: popup, push notification, email and sound, one message per closed bar.
Retests report with the price they happened at. `EnableAlerts` is the master switch, and the popup plus the sound playing `SoundFile` are on from the start.
Every Order Block Indicator for ICT Indicator input
Core settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
StructureLookback |
Structure lookback. Bars behind the structure break, `50`. | 50 |
ImpulseATRmult |
Impulse candle = body > ATR*mult. Impulse body in ranges, `1.5`. | 1.5 |
ATRperiod |
ATR period. Range window, `14`. | 14 |
MaxOBlife |
Max bars an OB stays plotted. Bars a block stays live, `80`. | 80 |
CooldownBars |
Bars between same-side signals. Bars between same-side marks, `6`. | 6 |
Display settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
ShowZones |
Draw OB zones as rectangles. Draw block boxes, `true`. | on |
Alert settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
EnableAlerts |
Master alert switch. Master alert switch, `true`. | on |
EnablePopup |
Popup alert. Popup, `true`. | on |
EnablePushNotify |
Push to mobile. Mobile route, `false`. | off |
EnableEmail |
Email alert. | off |
EnableSound |
Sound alert. Sound, ships on, `true`. | on |
SoundFile |
(see inputs panel) | alert.wav |
Where to point it
Structure breaks on strong bodies come a few times a week on hourly charts. EURUSD H1 is the reference chart. On M15 they follow the session opens. On H4 each block marks a major shift.
Where it falls short
Fifty-bar breaks are rare in ranges.
Retests can fail straight through the block.
Blocks expire even if never tested.
The sound route ships on.
Copy the compiled Order Block Indicator for ICT Indicator file into your MQL4/Indicators folder, and the MT5 build into MQL5/Indicators, then restart the terminal and drag it onto a chart. The step-by-step guide with screenshots is at how to install MT4 and MT5 indicators.
Related on forexmt4systems.com: ICT Style Strategy.
Download the Order Block Indicator for ICT Indicator for MT4 and MT5
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FAQ
What structure break does ImpulseATRmult 1.5 need?
A bullish body larger than one and a half ranges that closes above the highest high of the previous fifty bars. Without that close, no block is created.
When does OB Buy print at a block?
When a later bullish candle dips to the top of the live demand block, closes above its bottom, and closes higher than it opened. `CooldownBars` keeps marks six bars apart.
What does MaxOBlife 80 remove?
Blocks older than eighty bars. After that, a return to the old block no longer produces a mark, and the build stops drawing its line on the chart.
How does this match the ICT definition?
It follows the core idea: the last opposite candle before a displacement that breaks structure. It does not grade blocks by fair value gaps or premium and discount.
Are results guaranteed?
No. Trading involves risk. Results are not guaranteed; past performance is not indicative of future results. Use the Order Block Indicator for ICT Indicator as one input. Always backtest before trading live.
Category: this is part of our Smart Money collection. Browse more Smart Money for MetaTrader, or explore every MT4 indicator and MT5 indicator on the site.
External references
- The core method is documented in Order matching system on Wikipedia.
- Additional market context is at Backtesting at Investopedia.
About the author
Written by Dominic Walsh, a Forex trader and MT4/MT5 indicator, Expert Advisor and script developer. Every tool on forexmt4systems.com is tested on live charts before release and ships with ready-to-use compiled MT4 (.ex4) and MT5 (.ex5) files. Learn more about the trader and developer behind this site.
How we build, test and correct every tool: Editorial & Testing Policy. Trading carries risk; see the disclaimer.