Propulsion Block
Also: propulsion candle, propulsion block candle
A {direction} order block (down candle for bullish, up candle for bearish) that has itself traded back into a prior {direction} order block, stacking the two OBs. The newer, higher-level (bullish) or lower-level (bearish) OB inherits the sensitivity of the prior OB and is expected to produce an immediate, violent price response when revisited. The mean threshold (50% of the body's range) must hold — price may trade into the high/low of the propulsion candle and a little below/above, but should not violate the midpoint of the body. A mean threshold violation signals the setup has failed.
Identification3
- A prior {direction} OB exists (e.g., a down candle in bullish context that caused a short-term rally).
- A subsequent {direction} candle (down candle bullish / up candle bearish) trades back into that prior OB, overlapping or touching it — this second candle is the propulsion block.
- The underlying directional context (buy side or sell side of the curve) must support the {direction} bias for the stacked OB to qualify.
Entry3
- Bullish: enter long when price retraces into the high of the propulsion candle (down closed candle); immediate responsiveness expected.
- Bearish: enter short when price retraces into the low of the propulsion candle (up closed candle); immediate responsiveness expected.
- Entry may also be taken at the mean threshold (50% of body) if price reaches that far, but this is the outer limit — treat with caution.
Stop1
- Ultra-tight stop: place just beyond the mean threshold of the propulsion candle's body. Mean threshold violation is the invalidation signal.
Target1
- Not explicitly stated in source. Implied: next liquidity draw or OB consistent with the prevailing market maker model.
Invalidation1
- Price breaks the mean threshold of the propulsion candle's body (trades below the 50% midpoint of the body for bullish; above for bearish) — setup is invalidated, consider exit or reversal.
Inferred Conditions (Unvalidated)
- The propulsion candle is distinguished from a plain OB by the fact that it has already dug into a prior OB — this stacking amplifies the expected response.
- Immediate feedback is a defining characteristic: if price does not respond quickly and violently upon touching the propulsion level, reconsider the setup.
- Multiple consecutive {direction} candles forming the initial OB should be treated as a single OB unit before identifying a propulsion candle against them.
ICT Quotes
"It's a propulsion candle because it propels price quickly and suddenly. And it gives you immediate feedback, very little drawdown immediate price responsiveness. That's exactly what we're looking for short term traders."
"If we break the mean threshold, that type of candle where it's already traded down into a previous order block, it's bullish. If this loses its mean threshold, chances are, it's probably not a good trade. So it means you can have a really ultra tight stop loss on your long entry. Or you can have immediate feedback that you're on the wrong side of the marketplace."
Version History5 versions
32-ICT Mentorship Core Content - Month 4 - ICT Propulsion Block.srt
"a precaution block is a candle or bar that is previously traded down into a down candle or bullish order block, and takes over the role of price support for higher price movement. In this example here…"
Transcript contains 'precaution block' — this is a transcription error for 'propulsion block', confirmed by context and subsequent usage throughout the file.
32-ICT Mentorship Core Content - Month 4 - ICT Propulsion Block.srt
"What makes it propulsion is that it's already dropped back down into the owner block that's already predisposed to go higher. Then we created another higher order block that touches the initial one, t…"
32-ICT Mentorship Core Content - Month 4 - ICT Propulsion Block.srt
"When this candle creates the down close and closes, this becomes a propulsion candle. What makes it a propulsion candle is that we are trading another down candle into a previous down candle when the …"
ICT YT - 2024-09-30 - ICT 2024 Mentorship - Lecture 36.srt
"Not every single price run is going to have a propulsion block. Not every single price run is going to have an institutional entry. I'm sorry, institutional order, flow entry drill. Not every single o…"
2024 PD array hierarchy confirmation: propulsion block is an optional enhancing qualifier — a high-probability signal when present — but not required for every trade. FVG is the only universal PD array. Propulsion block, breaker, and IOFED are higher-level elements that may or may not appear.
07 - ICT 2026 Market Commentary ⧹ March 09, 2026.en.srt
"This order block is parent. Okay. This order block is a propulsion block. It's the last down closed candle part of this series of downlosed candles. What is this candlestick doing in relationship to t…"
2026 live session reiterates and clarifies the propulsion block validation criteria: (1) It's the last down close candle in a series of down close candles that trades inside a prior order block. (2) Mean threshold (50% of body) must hold — if the propulsion candle's retest doesn't reach mean threshold, that's even stronger validation. (3) Once price breaches the opening price of the propulsion candle, it validates the setup and extrapolation to the upside should follow quickly. ICT also reinforces the "change in state of delivery" concept — the opening price breach activates the propulsion block like a switch.
Notes
The transcript contains one instance of "precaution block" (block 2, 00:00:29) which is a transcription error — the surrounding context and all subsequent references confirm the term is "propulsion block". The mean threshold concept (50% of body height) is introduced in this file specifically in relation to the propulsion block; it has been extracted to a separate mean-threshold.yaml file. 2024 live-session context (L36, Sep 30): ICT states "Not every single price run is going to have a propulsion block" — confirming propulsion block is an optional qualifier for high-probability setups, not a required element of every trade. "Not every single price run is going to have a propulsion block. Not every single one of them is going to have an institutional order, flow entry drill. Not every single one of them is going to have a breaker. Not every single one of them is going to have every PD array, but there will be a fair value gap in every fucking one of them." (L36, 01:02:45). This establishes the propulsion block's place in the PD array hierarchy: optional enhancer, not foundational requirement.