The Venom model (ICT Venom) is an advanced strategy in the ICT style, built upon three critical concepts of Liquidity, Time, and Price.
This model is specifically designed for intraday trading on US stock indices such as US100, US30, and US500 and operates based on the Liquidity Sweep + Reversal pattern.
In other words, after an initial liquidity grab, the price moves back in its original direction.
Venom focuses on identifying Market Structure, Market Shift Signals (MSS/CISD), and Fair Value Gaps (FVG). With this combination, entry and exit points can be identified accurately and timely.
What is the Venom Strategy?
The Venom model is centered around price action during the New York session and its interaction with initial market liquidity.
Venom emphasizes the time window between 08:00 and 09:30 AM New York time, defining the initial range.
After the official market opens, the price typically breaks one side of this range to gatherliquidity.
If the structure is confirmed, a strong reversal in the main market direction occurs. The core ICT-based structures used in the Venom strategy include:
- Liquidity Sweep
- Fair Value Gap (FVG)
- Market Structure Shift (MSS)
- Change in State Delivery (CISD)
Time & Structural Logic Behind Venom (ICT)
The ICT Venom model is designed around a 90-minute window before the official New York opens.
This range, known as the Initial Balance Range, captures early price fluctuations and accumulates the market's initial liquidity.
Detecting false breakouts only allows trade entries when the price is within a valid liquidity zone and aligns with the market structure.
Types of Venom Model in ICT
The Venom model is executed in two primary structures, both based on the initial liquidity range break and swift price reversal. However, the movement direction and entry structure vary.
ICT Venom Bullish Model
In the bullish Venom model, the initial price range between 08:00 and 09:30 AM New York time is defined, marking the session's high and low.
After the market opens officially, if the price falsely breaks the lower boundary, it's a sign of liquidity collection on the sell side.
If followed by a market structure shift with patterns like MSS or CISD, a reversal is likely.
A suitable entry point occurs when the price returns to a demand zone or PD array. For risk management, the stop-loss is placed slightly below the false break low, with targets first at the top of the initial range and then at the day/week high.
Venom Strategy Example in a Bullish Market
Based on the US500 price chart, the initial price range between 08:00 and 09:30 AM New York time is marked.
After the market opens at 09:30, the price falsely dips below the range low, indicating liquidity absorption on the sell side.
Then, with the appearance of MSS and Change in the State of Delivery, a trade entry is planned.
As seen on the chart, once the price hits the FVG zone, a long position is taken. The stop-loss is slightly below the false low, and the take-profit is set at the daily high.
ICT Venom Bearish Model
In bearish Venom strategy, the 90-minute range between 08:00 and 09:30 AM New York time is defined, setting the high and low of that window.
After the official New York opens at 09:30, if the price moves above this range and then quickly reverses, it signals liquidity collection on the buy side.
If MSS or CISD signals appear, a bearish move is likely. An entry point forms when the price retraces to a supply zone or higher PD arrays.
In this case, stop-loss should be placed just above the liquidity range high, with targets at the range low and lower support levels.
Venom Strategy Example in a Bearish Market
Based on the US100 (NASDAQ) price chart, the range from 08:00 to 09:30 AM New York time is defined as the initial price range.
After the official session opens at 09:30, the price temporarily exceeds the range high, signaling liquidity collection on the buy side.
Upon detecting MSS and reversal confirmations, a short entry is considered. Once the price corrects into the FVG zone, the trade is executed.
Stop-loss is set slightly above the high, and targets are placed at the daily low or lower support levels.
Conclusion
The Venom model (ICT Venom) is a strategy based on institutional liquidity, aligning smart money entry timing with market structure to identify fake breakouts and capture valid moves.
Its focus lies in filtering true trends from false moves and analyzing key market players' behavior. Effective implementation requires technical analysis of key levels like equal highs/lows and order blocks, paired with precise timing.
This strategy serves not just as an entry method but also as a market liquidity flow analysis model during the New York session.
