Blue Guardian unveils challenge formats

Blue Guardian just made a very specific product move in prop trading. It split its forex evaluation offering into two clearer paths — 1 Step Pro and 2 Step Standard — and the details tell you exactly who each one is trying to attract. This matters because in prop firms, the real product is not the account size. It is the rule set. A small change in drawdown logic or payout timing can completely change how a trader sizes positions, holds overnight risk, or even decides whether the challenge is worth buying. ### What actually launched? Blue Guardian’s help center now has dedicated rule pages for 1 Step Pro and 2 Step Standard, and both are framed as direct routes into a funded “Guardian Trader” account if the trader hits the targets without breaking risk rules. The 1 Step Pro page is dated March 16, 2026. The 2 Step Standard page was updated in early May 2026. That makes this less like a vague marketing tease and more like a formal packaging of two distinct challenge products. (help.blueguardian.com) ### Why do traders care about the format? Because prop traders do not just ask, “Can I pass?” They ask, “What kind of trading does this rulebook punish?” A one-step model usually appeals to traders who want the shortest path to funding. A two-step model usually appeals to traders who want lower pressure per phase and more room to manage entries over time. Blue Guardian is leaning into that split instead of forcing everyone into one generic evaluation funnel. (help.blueguardian.com) ### What does 1 Step Pro look like? It is the faster, tighter version. Traders need to hit a 10% profit target. The maximum daily loss is 3% of the initial balance. The maximum overall drawdown is a static 6%, not a trailing one. And the minimum to pass is just 3 trading days. On the funded side, the base profit split is 85%, with a 90% add-on available, and payout eligibility starts after the minimum trading-day requirement is met. (help.blueguardian.com) ### What does 2 Step Standard change? It lowers the pressure by splitting the target into two phases — 8% in Phase 1 and 4% in Phase 2. The daily loss limit rises to 4%, and the total drawdown is a static 8%. But the catch is the minimum-day rule is stricter: traders need 5 trading days, and a day only counts if it books at least 0.5% profit. Funded traders still start at an 85% split, with the same optional 90% upgrade. (help.blueguardian.com) ### Why is “static drawdown” the big selling point? Because static drawdown is easier to plan around than trailing drawdown. With a trailing model, the loss floor can ratchet upward as the account gains, which squeezes open risk and often punishes swing-style holding. With a static model, the loss cap stays anchored to the starting balance. Basically, traders know the line in the sand from day one. That makes the account feel more predictable, especially for people who scale in or hold trades longer. (help.blueguardian.com) Blue Guardian explicitly uses static overall drawdown on these formats. ### Are there any hidden catches? A few. News trading is restricted on funded accounts around high-impact events and FOMC releases. Both formats also use “Guardian Shield” — if open-trade PnL reaches a 2% loss of the initial balance, positions can be auto-closed. First breach cuts the profit split to 50%. Second breach permanently breaches the account. So the products are trader-friendly in one dimension, but still tightly managed in another. (help.blueguardian.com) ### Why does this matter beyond Blue Guardian? Because prop firms increasingly compete on rule engineering, not just discounts or headline payouts. Blue Guardian’s homepage is already pitching fast funding, up to 90% profit split, and multiple evaluation paths. These two formats sharpen that menu. One path is for traders who want speed. The other is for traders who want a little more room. In this market, that kind of segmentation is the product. (help.blueguardian.com) ### Bottom line Blue Guardian did not reinvent prop trading. It packaged two different risk philosophies more clearly. And in this business, clearer rules are not a side detail — they are the whole edge. (blueguardian.com)