Your First Backtest in 5 Minutes

Follow this step-by-step guide to create and run your first strategy backtest on StratBase.ai. No coding required — the AI assistant will help you every step of the way.

1. Click Create Backtest in the top navigation bar
2. The split-screen interface opens:
   • Left panel — Strategy configurator (form)
   • Right panel — AI chat assistant

You have two options:

Option A: AI-Guided Wizard (Recommended for beginners)

The AI offers a 6-step guided setup:

1. Market type — Crypto, Forex, or Stocks
2. Instrument — e.g., BTC/USDT, EUR/USD, AAPL
3. Entry idea — describe in plain language: "Buy when RSI drops below 30 and price is above the 200 EMA"
4. Exit strategy — Fixed SL/TP, trailing stop, or signal-based exit
5. Risk profile — Conservative, Moderate, or Aggressive
6. Confirmation — review and adjust before running

Option B: Manual Setup

Fill in the configurator form directly:

1. Set the strategy name
2. Choose market type and instrument
3. Select direction (Long, Short, or Both)
4. Set timeframe and test period
5. Add entry and exit conditions
6. Configure risk management

Add at least one entry condition. Example for a simple RSI strategy:

| Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Indicator | RSI | | Period | 14 | | Operator | Less than | | Value | 30 |

You can add multiple conditions. By default, ALL conditions must be true (AND logic). Use OR groups for alternative entry signals.

Configure how the strategy closes positions:

• Stop-Loss — e.g., 2% below entry (protects from large losses)
• Take-Profit — e.g., 4% above entry (locks in gains)
• Or use AI — tell the AI: "Set stop-loss at 2% and take-profit at 4%"

Pro Tip: Always set a stop-loss. Strategies without SL can experience catastrophic drawdowns.

1. Review your configuration in the left panel
2. Click Run Backtest
3. Watch real-time progress via the progress bar
4. Results appear automatically when complete (usually 5–30 seconds)

The results page shows:

• Summary — total return, win rate, profit factor, max drawdown
• Equity Curve — visual representation of account balance over time
• Trade Log — every trade with entry/exit prices, P&L, duration
• Monthly Returns — performance breakdown by month
• StratBase Score — overall strategy quality score (0-100)

Here's a complete example you can try:

| Setting | Value | |---------|-------| | Market | Crypto Futures | | Instrument | BTC/USDT | | Direction | Long | | Timeframe | 1h | | Period | Last 1 year | | Entry | RSI(14) < 30 AND Price > EMA(200) | | Stop-Loss | 3% | | Take-Profit | 6% | | Position Size | 10% of account |

Or simply tell the AI: "Create a long BTC strategy on 1h. Enter when RSI drops below 30 and price is above the 200 EMA. Set stop-loss 3%, take-profit 6%, use 10% of account."

After your first backtest:

• Try different instruments and timeframes
• Add more conditions for refined entry signals
• Experiment with exit strategies (trailing stop, multi-level TP)
• Explore Position Sizing modes
• Request an AI Analysis Report for deeper insights (Pro+)

Important: Backtest results show historical performance only. Past results do not guarantee future returns. Always use proper risk management when trading with real funds.

Q: How long does a backtest take? A: Most backtests complete in 5–30 seconds. Complex strategies with many conditions or long periods may take up to 2 minutes.

Q: Can I edit a completed backtest? A: Backtests are immutable — editing creates a new backtest. This preserves the integrity of published results.

Q: What happens if I run out of backtests on the Free plan? A: Free users can run 5 backtests per day. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited backtests.

• Entry Conditions — Logic Builder
• Exit Conditions Overview
• Key Metrics Explained
• How AI Chat Works