What Are the Differences Between Upcomers Programs?

Upcomers offers 12 different programs. Six are step-based Challenges that lead to a Funded account, two are Instant Funding programs, two are time-limited instant funding formats, and two are fixed-reward performance challenges.

This article compares all of them side by side, including what changes in the Funded phase.

Step-Based Challenges (Challenge Phase)

These programs require passing one or more evaluation stages before reaching a Funded account.

Program	Profit Target	Daily DD	Max Overall Loss	Min Days	Funded up to
Ash (Half step)	2%	5%	5% Dynamic	None	$1M
Thunderbolt (1 step)	6%	6%	6% Dynamic	2	$1.5M
Phoenix (2 step)	3% → 5%	4%	10% Static	3 / 3	$1.5M
Astral (3 step)	3% → 3% → 4%	6%	6% Static	3 / 3 / 3	$1.5M
Obsidian (4 step)	2% → 2% → 3% → 3%	6%	6% Static	2 / 2 / 2 / 2	$1.5M
Eon (5 step)	2% × 5	6%	6% Static	2 × 5	$1.5M

All programs: Unlimited time limit. 1:100 leverage. News trading and weekend holding allowed.

What changes in the Funded Phase?

Once you pass and reach the Funded phase, the rules tighten. Here's what applies across all six challenge programs:

Parameter	All Programs
Daily Drawdown	3%
Max Single Trade Loss	3%
Best Day Rule	20% (soft)
Payout Requirement	1%
Min Trading Days	None
Profit Split	99%
Payout Processing	12 hours

Maximum Overall Loss in the Funded Phase is the one parameter that differs between programs:

Program	Funded Maximum Overall Loss
Ash	5% Dynamic
Thunderbolt	5% Dynamic
Phoenix	6% Static
Astral	5% Dynamic
Obsidian	5% Dynamic
Eon	5% Dynamic

Phoenix is the only program that stays Static in the Funded phase (6% instead of 10%). Astral, Obsidian, and Eon switch from Static to Trailing (Dynamic Risk Shield™) when you reach Funded.

Instant Funding Programs

Vanguard and Oracle are not challenge-based. There is no evaluation phase. The rules apply from the moment you start trading.

Parameter	Vanguard	Oracle
Profit Target	None	None
Daily Drawdown	3%	3%
Dynamic Risk Shield™	6% Trailing	5% Trailing
Max Single Trade Loss	2%	1%
Payout Eligibility	6 days (0.5%+ each)	7 days (0.5%+ each)
Best Day Rule	20% (soft)	15%
Time Limit	Unlimited	Unlimited
Profit Split	99%	99%
Leverage	1:100	1:100
Funded up to	$1,000,000	$1,000,000

Oracle has tighter risk limits (1% single trade loss, 15% best day rule) but is the lowest-priced program in the entire lineup. Vanguard offers more room per trade (2% single trade loss) and a more relaxed best day rule (20%).

Time-Limited Instant Funding: SUPERNOVA & HYPERNOVA

Both programs share the same structure: a fixed trading window, a profit target, and one shot at a payout with no cap. No evaluation, no phases, no progression. You either hit the target and meet the rules, or you don't.

The clock starts when you open your first trade.

Parameter	SUPERNOVA	HYPERNOVA
Trading Window	24 hours	4 hours
Profit Target	3%	2%
Daily Drawdown	2%	2%
Nonstop Dynamic Risk Shield™	3% Trailing	3% Trailing
Max Single Trade Loss	1%	1%
Best Trade Rule	15%	15%
Minimum Trades	7	7
Payout Cap	None	None
Profit Split	99%	99%
Leverage	1:100	1:100
Funded up to	$500,000	$200,000

Both programs use the Nonstop Dynamic Risk Shield™, which is different from the standard version. It never locks at your initial balance. It never freezes. It always follows your equity upward. This makes large equity swings riskier than in other programs.

SUPERNOVA is for traders who want a full day to execute their strategy. HYPERNOVA is for traders who can read the market fast and don't need 24 hours to prove it.

Breakout Challenges: Control & Rebirth

Breakout programs are not funding programs. They do not lead to a funded account. They are performance-only simulations with a fixed research incentive for completing all three phases.

Both run on a $1,000,000 simulated demo account. All profit targets and risk limits are calculated from this balance. The reward is not a profit split. It is a fixed research incentive paid only after full completion of all 3 phases and passing all audits.

Both Control and Rebirth share identical phase rules:

Parameter	Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Profit Target	4%	3%	2%
Nonstop Dynamic Risk Shield™	3%	2%	1%
Daily Drawdown	2%	1%	0.5%
Max Single Trade Loss	2%	1%	0.5%
Min Trading Days	3	5	10
Best Trade Rule	15%	15%	15%
Max Consecutive Losing Days	3	3	3

Time Limit: Unlimited. Leverage: Up to 1:100. News Trading: Allowed. Weekend Holding: Allowed.

Both Breakout programs use the Nonstop Dynamic Risk Shield™, which never locks and always trails your equity high-water mark upward.

A minimum trading day counts only when closed profit reaches at least 1% of the initial balance. The Max Consecutive Losing Days rule means your account is breached if you have 3 consecutive trading days ending in a loss.

What's different between Control and Rebirth?

	Control	Rebirth
Fixed Research Incentive	$10,000	$100,000
Payout Structure	One-time payment	$10,000 upfront + remainder over 12 months
Account Size (simulated)	$1,000,000	$1,000,000

Control is a single payout. Rebirth is paid according to a payout calendar: $10,000 upon completion, with the remaining $90,000 distributed over a 12-month period.

Neither program includes a funded account, scaling, profit split, or ongoing payouts.

Individual Program Highlights

Ash — Half-Step Challenge

The lightest entry into our evaluation ecosystem. A single-phase challenge with the lowest profit target of any Upcomers program. Perfect as an easy on-ramp for traders who want to get used to our rules with a very achievable first goal.

News Trading: Allowed. Weekend Holding: Allowed. Funded up to: $1,000,000.

Thunderbolt — 1-Phase Challenge

Our fastest and most dynamic program. One phase, one target. Get funded in as little as two days. Ideal for traders who prefer aggressive trading strategies and want to skip the multi-phase evaluation process.