Complete .mq5 source code
Best MT5 Expert Advisor 2026: How to Choose & What to Avoid
Choosing the best MT5 expert advisor requires understanding key evaluation criteria such as verified backtest methodology, risk management architecture, and live forward-test performance. This guide breaks down the most important factors to assess before purchasing or deploying any MT5 EA, and highlights common red flags that signal curve-fitted or unreliable robots.
Strategy logic
Entry conditions
The example EA in this guide uses a dual moving average crossover (fast 20-period EMA crossing above a slow 50-period EMA) filtered by ADX above 25 to confirm trend strength before entering a long trade. For short entries, the fast EMA must cross below the slow EMA with ADX still above 25, ensuring the strategy only trades in established trending conditions. A minimum ATR-based spread filter prevents entries during high-spread conditions often seen around news events.
Exit conditions
Each trade sets a stop-loss at 1.5x the current ATR value below the entry candle low for longs, or above the entry candle high for shorts, adapting dynamically to recent volatility. Take-profit is placed at 2.5x ATR from entry, giving a fixed risk-reward ratio of approximately 1:1.67 per trade. A trailing stop kicks in once profit exceeds 1x ATR, locking in gains if the trend continues beyond the initial target.
MQL5 Expert Advisor Code
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| BuyerGuide_DualEMA_EA.mq5 |
//| Example EA for "Best MT5 Expert Advisor" buyer guide page |
//| Demonstrates key EA architecture: handles, ATR sizing, RRIM |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Pineify Example"
#property version "1.00"
#property strict
//--- Input parameters
input int FastEMA_Period = 20; // Fast EMA period
input int SlowEMA_Period = 50; // Slow EMA period
input int ADX_Period = 14; // ADX period
input double ADX_Threshold = 25.0; // Minimum ADX to confirm trend
input int ATR_Period = 14; // ATR period for SL/TP sizing
input double SL_ATR_Mult = 1.5; // Stop-loss ATR multiplier
input double TP_ATR_Mult = 2.5; // Take-profit ATR multiplier
input double Trail_ATR_Mult = 1.0; // Trailing stop activation (ATR)
input double LotSize = 0.1; // Fixed lot size
input int MagicNumber = 20260001; // Unique EA magic number
input string TradeComment = "BuyerGuide_EA";
//--- Indicator handles
int handleFastEMA;
int handleSlowEMA;
int handleADX;
int handleATR;
//--- Global state
datetime lastBarTime = 0;
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert initialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnInit()
{
//--- Create indicator handles
handleFastEMA = iMA(_Symbol, PERIOD_CURRENT, FastEMA_Period, 0, MODE_EMA, PRICE_CLOSE);
handleSlowEMA = iMA(_Symbol, PERIOD_CURRENT, SlowEMA_Period, 0, MODE_EMA, PRICE_CLOSE);
handleADX = iADX(_Symbol, PERIOD_CURRENT, ADX_Period);
handleATR = iATR(_Symbol, PERIOD_CURRENT, ATR_Period);
if(handleFastEMA == INVALID_HANDLE || handleSlowEMA == INVALID_HANDLE ||
handleADX == INVALID_HANDLE || handleATR == INVALID_HANDLE)
{
Print("ERROR: Failed to create indicator handles. EA will not trade.");
return INIT_FAILED;
}
Print("BuyerGuide_DualEMA_EA initialized on ", _Symbol,
" | FastEMA=", FastEMA_Period, " SlowEMA=", SlowEMA_Period,
" ADX_Threshold=", ADX_Threshold);
return INIT_SUCCEEDED;
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert deinitialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnDeinit(const int reason)
{
//--- Release indicator handles to free memory
if(handleFastEMA != INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(handleFastEMA);
if(handleSlowEMA != INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(handleSlowEMA);
if(handleADX != INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(handleADX);
if(handleATR != INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(handleATR);
Print("BuyerGuide_DualEMA_EA deinitialized. Reason code: ", reason);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert tick function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnTick()
{
//--- Only process logic on new bar open (bar-close signals)
datetime currentBarTime = iTime(_Symbol, PERIOD_CURRENT, 0);
if(currentBarTime == lastBarTime)
return;
lastBarTime = currentBarTime;
//--- Read indicator buffers (index 1 = last closed bar)
double fastEMA[2], slowEMA[2], adxMain[2], atrVal[2];
if(CopyBuffer(handleFastEMA, 0, 0, 2, fastEMA) < 2) return;
if(CopyBuffer(handleSlowEMA, 0, 0, 2, slowEMA) < 2) return;
if(CopyBuffer(handleADX, 0, 0, 2, adxMain) < 2) return;
if(CopyBuffer(handleATR, 0, 0, 2, atrVal) < 2) return;
double prevFast = fastEMA[0];
double prevSlow = slowEMA[0];
double currFast = fastEMA[1];
double currSlow = slowEMA[1];
double adx = adxMain[1];
double atr = atrVal[1];
//--- Check spread filter (skip if spread is too wide relative to ATR)
double spreadPoints = (double)SymbolInfoInteger(_Symbol, SYMBOL_SPREAD) * _Point;
if(spreadPoints > atr * 0.15)
{
Print("Spread too wide (", spreadPoints, "), skipping bar.");
return;
}
//--- Detect crossovers on last closed bar
bool bullCross = (prevFast <= prevSlow) && (currFast > currSlow);
bool bearCross = (prevFast >= prevSlow) && (currFast < currSlow);
//--- ADX trend filter
bool trendStrong = (adx >= ADX_Threshold);
//--- Manage trailing stops on existing positions
ManageTrailingStops(atr);
//--- Count open positions for this EA
int openPositions = CountOpenPositions();
if(openPositions == 0)
{
if(bullCross && trendStrong)
OpenTrade(ORDER_TYPE_BUY, atr);
else if(bearCross && trendStrong)
OpenTrade(ORDER_TYPE_SELL, atr);
}
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Open a market order with ATR-based SL and TP |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OpenTrade(ENUM_ORDER_TYPE orderType, double atr)
{
MqlTradeRequest request = {};
MqlTradeResult result = {};
double price, sl, tp;
double ask = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_ASK);
double bid = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_BID);
if(orderType == ORDER_TYPE_BUY)
{
price = ask;
sl = NormalizeDouble(price - SL_ATR_Mult * atr, _Digits);
tp = NormalizeDouble(price + TP_ATR_Mult * atr, _Digits);
}
else
{
price = bid;
sl = NormalizeDouble(price + SL_ATR_Mult * atr, _Digits);
tp = NormalizeDouble(price - TP_ATR_Mult * atr, _Digits);
}
request.action = TRADE_ACTION_DEAL;
request.symbol = _Symbol;
request.volume = LotSize;
request.type = orderType;
request.price = price;
request.sl = sl;
request.tp = tp;
request.magic = MagicNumber;
request.comment = TradeComment;
request.deviation = 10;
if(!OrderSend(request, result))
Print("OrderSend failed: ", result.retcode, " | ", result.comment);
else
Print("Trade opened: ", EnumToString(orderType), " @ ", price,
" SL=", sl, " TP=", tp, " Ticket=", result.order);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Manage trailing stops for open positions |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void ManageTrailingStops(double atr)
{
for(int i = PositionsTotal() - 1; i >= 0; i--)
{
ulong ticket = PositionGetTicket(i);
if(!PositionSelectByTicket(ticket)) continue;
if(PositionGetString(POSITION_SYMBOL) != _Symbol) continue;
if(PositionGetInteger(POSITION_MAGIC) != MagicNumber) continue;
double openPrice = PositionGetDouble(POSITION_PRICE_OPEN);
double currentSL = PositionGetDouble(POSITION_SL);
double trailDist = Trail_ATR_Mult * atr;
ENUM_POSITION_TYPE posType = (ENUM_POSITION_TYPE)PositionGetInteger(POSITION_TYPE);
if(posType == POSITION_TYPE_BUY)
{
double bid = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_BID);
double profitPoints = bid - openPrice;
if(profitPoints >= trailDist)
{
double newSL = NormalizeDouble(bid - trailDist, _Digits);
if(newSL > currentSL)
ModifyPositionSL(ticket, newSL);
}
}
else if(posType == POSITION_TYPE_SELL)
{
double ask = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_ASK);
double profitPoints = openPrice - ask;
if(profitPoints >= trailDist)
{
double newSL = NormalizeDouble(ask + trailDist, _Digits);
if(newSL < currentSL || currentSL == 0)
ModifyPositionSL(ticket, newSL);
}
}
}
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Modify position stop-loss |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void ModifyPositionSL(ulong ticket, double newSL)
{
MqlTradeRequest request = {};
MqlTradeResult result = {};
request.action = TRADE_ACTION_SLTP;
request.position = ticket;
request.sl = newSL;
request.tp = PositionGetDouble(POSITION_TP);
if(!OrderSend(request, result))
Print("ModifyPositionSL failed: ticket=", ticket, " retcode=", result.retcode);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Count open positions managed by this EA |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int CountOpenPositions()
{
int count = 0;
for(int i = PositionsTotal() - 1; i >= 0; i--)
{
ulong ticket = PositionGetTicket(i);
if(!PositionSelectByTicket(ticket)) continue;
if(PositionGetString(POSITION_SYMBOL) == _Symbol &&
PositionGetInteger(POSITION_MAGIC) == MagicNumber)
count++;
}
return count;
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+Copy this code into MetaEditor, save it in the MQL5/Experts folder, and compile with F7.
Generate a custom Multi-pair buyer-guide EA
Describe the ATR inputs, alert rules, visual style, or confirmation filter you want. Pineify generates editable MQL5 source code that you can inspect and compile in MetaEditor.
Pine Script vs MQL5: Same Strategy, Different Platforms
| Aspect | Pine Script (TradingView) | MQL5 (MetaTrader 5) |
|---|---|---|
| Execution | Series evaluated on chart updates | Event handlers with explicit buffers |
| Deployment | Runs in TradingView with alerts | Runs in the MT5 terminal or on a VPS |
| Broker access | Via TradingView broker integration | Direct broker connectivity |
| Backtesting | Strategy Tester for strategy scripts | Strategy Tester for Expert Advisors |
| Code complexity | Simpler, functional syntax | C++-like, more powerful |
The calculation can be implemented on either platform, but the runtime model and buffer APIs differ. Read the Pine Script Supertrend reference before porting logic between them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related MQL5 pages
Risk and testing note
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Backtest statistics are based on historical data and do not guarantee future profits. Trading involves significant risk of loss. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.