ICT Decoded · Mitigation Blocks
What Is a Mitigation Block in ICT Trading?
By Steve H — reads every firm’s official rulebook, checks prices and codes daily, and maintains the Enigma Score · Methodology · Editorial policy · Last updated October 31, 2026
ICT concepts were created and are taught by Michael J. Huddleston, The Inner Circle Trader (X · YouTube). This lesson is FundedEnigma’s own summary, not affiliated with or endorsed by ICT.
In short: An ICT mitigation block is a breaker's shape without the sweep: the second swing stops short of the first, so no stops are taken, then price breaks the short-term swing between them. The block is the last opposite-close candles in that second swing, framed with bodies. It ranks below a breaker.
How to Spot a Mitigation Block (And Why It's Not a Breaker) | ICT Explained · 6:21 · published October 31, 2026 · part of the ICT Concepts Decoded playlist
Watch the video
The full video is embedded above this article: How to Spot a Mitigation Block (And Why It's Not a Breaker) | ICT Explained. This page is the written version, with every chart walked through step by step. Jump to any part of the video:
Key facts: mitigation blocks at a glance
| Term | What it is | How it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Bullish mitigation block | A W: low, high, higher low that never reaches the first low's sell stops, then a break up through the high; the last down-close candle(s) in the second low | A zone price may come back down into |
| Bearish mitigation block | An M: high, low, lower high that falls short of the buy stops, then a break down through the low; the last up-close candle(s) in the second high | A zone price may come back up into |
| Versus a breaker | A breaker's second leg takes the stops beyond the first extreme; a mitigation block's second leg stops short | A breaker ranks above a mitigation block |
| Framing | Bodies: highest open or close to lowest; wicks for reference | The block's two edges |
| Mean threshold | The 50% of the bodies | The middle of the block |
| Minimum size | A body zone of at least 2 ticks and 0.1 x the average candle range | Smaller is a line, not a zone |
| Retired | A body close beyond the far side | The block is done |
Last verified 2026-10-31. All charts below are real historical CME NQ futures data, shown in New York time.
Here is the idea on one chart. On September 22, 2026, NQ made a low at 11:41. The next dip, at 12:29, stopped 3.5 points above it, so no stops were taken. At 12:48 price broke above the high between the two lows, and the down-close candle in the second low became a mitigation block. At 13:40 price dipped back into it and held.
How does a mitigation block work?
A mitigation block has the same shape as a breaker, with one thing missing: no liquidity is taken. Price fails to reach its last extreme, then breaks the short-term swing.
- Bullish: a W. A low, a high, then a higher low that never reaches the sell stops under the first one. When price breaks up through the high, the last down-close candles in that second low are the block.
- Why it matters: traders who sold into that second low are now on the wrong side. When price comes back, they use the return to get out near where they got in. That is the mitigation.
Bullish vs bearish mitigation block
The bearish version is an M: a high, a low, then a lower high that falls short of the buy stops, then a break down through the low. The last up-close candles in that second high are the block.
Mitigation block vs breaker block: what is the difference?
A breaker's second leg runs beyond the first extreme and takes the stops there; a mitigation block's second leg stops short. Because no stops were run, the mitigation block is the weaker cousin. When you weigh the two, rank the breaker above it.
How do you mark a mitigation block?
Frame it the same way as an order block or a breaker: bodies, from the highest open or close in those candles to the lowest. Then mark its 50%.
- Keep the wicks for reference only. The block's edges are the bodies.
- The mean threshold is the 50% of the bodies.
- Keep a minimum size. A body zone under 2 ticks, or under a tenth of the average candle range, is a line, not a zone.
How do you spot a mitigation block?
Three checks: the second swing stops short of the first, price breaks the short-term swing between them, and there is an opposite-close candle in that second swing to frame.
- No stops taken. The second low holds above the first low (or the second high below the first high). See liquidity.
- The break. Price trades through the short-term swing between the two; the clearest version closes through it. See market structure.
- The candles. The last down-close candles in the second low (or up-close candles in the second high). Consecutive ones blend into one block.
When is a mitigation block invalid?
When a candle body closes beyond its far side: below the bottom of a bullish block, or above the top of a bearish one. Wicks into the block are normal.
- Fresh: price has not come back to it.
- Tested: price trades into its near edge.
- Mean threshold: price reaches the 50% and has worked through its middle.
- Retired: a body closes beyond the far side.
What do mitigation blocks look like on real charts?
A bullish block that price dipped into and held, and a bearish block that price returned to twice without a body close back inside from 10:00, both on the 15-minute chart.
Example 1: a bullish mitigation block, NQ 15-minute, September 22, 2026
- At 11:41 price makes a low at 30,885.75. It bounces to a short-term high of 30,935.75 at 12:08.
- Then the dip. The 12:15 candle closes down, and at 12:29 the low is 30,889.25: 3.5 points above the first low. The sell stops under it stay untouched that session.
- At 12:48 price trades above the 12:08 high, and the 12:45 candle closes above it, at 30,940.75. The 12:15 candle is now a bullish mitigation block: its body runs from 30,891.75 to 30,924.75, with the mean threshold at 30,908.25.
- At 13:40 price dips back to 30,921.75: just inside the top of the block, well above its middle. It holds.
- Through the 16:00 close no 15-minute body closes below the block, and at 15:53 price reaches 31,065.50.
Example 2: a bearish mitigation block, NQ 15-minute, March 27, 2026
- At 07:55 price makes a high at 23,690.00. By 09:10 it is down at 23,574.00.
- The 09:15 candle closes up, and at 09:30 the rally tops at 23,664.00: 26 points short of the first high, so the buy stops above it stay untouched.
- At 09:34 price trades below the 09:10 low, and the 09:45 candle closes well under it, at 23,478.75. The 09:15 candle is now a bearish mitigation block, from 23,589.50 to 23,654.25, with the mean threshold at 23,621.875.
- Price snaps straight back into the block at 09:48, up to 23,647.25, past its middle. Then it falls to 23,440.00 at 10:46. At 11:37 a second pullback reaches 23,610.50, short of the middle.
- From 10:00 through the 16:00 close no 15-minute body closes back inside the block, and at 15:52 price is down at 23,269.00.
How do you use mitigation blocks in your own charting?
Treat a mitigation block as the weaker cousin of a breaker: a zone to watch, framed by its bodies and judged by the closes.
- Say which block. Name the timeframe, both body edges and the mean threshold.
- Check what was not taken. No stops were run at the second swing; if they were, call it a breaker instead.
- Rank it below a breaker. When both appear, the breaker counts for more.
- Watch the closes. Wicks into it are normal; a body close beyond the far side ends it.
More concepts in the series are on the ICT Concepts Decoded hub. If you trade futures with a prop firm, you can look up a firm's rules on the challenges page or set two firms side by side on the compare page.
Frequently asked questions
Does a mitigation block need a liquidity sweep?
No. That is the difference from a breaker: the second swing stops short of the first, so no stops are taken.
Is a mitigation block stronger than a breaker block?
No. Because no stops were run, it is the weaker of the two; rank the breaker above it.
Do you mark a mitigation block with bodies or wicks?
On this page, with bodies: from the highest open or close in the candles to the lowest. The wicks stay on the chart for reference only.
What if several candles make up the second swing?
Consecutive opposite-close candles in that swing blend into one block, framed from the highest body edge to the lowest.
Which timeframe should I use for mitigation blocks?
The timeframe you are reading. The examples here use 15-minute blocks; say the timeframe whenever you name one.
How do you trade a mitigation block?
This page does not give trade signals. It shows how to recognise a mitigation block, frame it and follow its life by the closes.
Sources
- Concept: mitigation blocks and the mean threshold as taught by ICT (The Inner Circle Trader, Michael J. Huddleston), who originated these terms. The explanation, examples and charts on this page are our own.
- Data: every chart is real historical CME Nasdaq-100 E-mini (NQ) futures data, shown in New York time.
- Video: How to Spot a Mitigation Block (And Why It's Not a Breaker) | ICT Explained, FundedEnigma.
Last verified: 2026-10-31. Written by Steve H.
Disclaimer: This page is for education only and is not financial advice. Trading futures involves substantial risk of loss. Past price behaviour does not guarantee future results.
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