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Price Delivery Theory

ICT Venom Trading Model — Complete Guide

ICT Venom model explained — the NYSE open sweep-and-reverse strategy. The Venom Box (08:00–09:30 EST), the 09:30 liquidity strike, BPR entry, CISD confirmation, bullish vs bearish setups, and the 5-step trade flow.

The Venom model was introduced by ICT in April 2025 as the most precisely timed variant of the NY AM session AMD, optimised for the specific institutional dynamics of the first 5–15 minutes after the NYSE official open. It builds directly on the 2022 model, the AMD cycle, and the silver bullet.

Key takeaways

Venom model = NYSE open sweep-and-reverse on NQ/ES/YM. Venom Box (08:00–09:30 pre-market range) → 09:30 sweep → MSS + BPR → CISD → entry → opposite boundary.
The Venom Box HIGH = BSL target (bearish sweep). LOW = SSL target (bullish sweep). Mark at 09:15. Minimum 20 NQ points width.
BPR (Balanced Price Range) = overlap zone between two FVGs from sequential displacement candles. BPR CE = primary limit entry price.
CISD confirms the delivery state has changed from sweep direction to reversal direction. Fourth confirmation layer after sweep + MSS + BPR.
09:30 sweep is OBSERVE ONLY. Entering during the sweep = getting poisoned. Wait for MSS + BPR + CISD. Exit ALL by 11:00 EST.

What is the ICT Venom model?

Definition

The ICT Venom trading model is an intraday NYSE open strategy for US index futures (NQ, ES, YM). Price sweeps the high or low of the 90-minute pre-market range (the Venom Box) at or immediately after 09:30 EST, collects the clustered retail stop orders, uses the opposing flow to fill institutional positions, and reverses sharply in the true AMD direction. Entry from the BPR or FVG zone after MSS displacement. Primary target: opposite boundary of the Venom Box.

The Venom Box — 08:00–09:30 EST pre-market range

BULLISH VENOM — COMPLETE SEQUENCE5M NQ

The complete bullish Venom. Venom Box forms 08:00–09:15 (pre-market candles). At 09:30: sweep candles drive below the Box low (SSL collected — observe only). MSS displacement + BPR zone identified. Entry at BPR CE. Distribution candles deliver to the Venom Box HIGH (opposite boundary). Stop below sweep extreme. Exit by 11:00 EST.

The 09:30 Venom sweep — the institutional liquidity strike

The Venom sweep is the sharp price move at or immediately after 09:30 EST that extends through one boundary of the Venom Box. For a bullish Venom: NQ drops below the Box low within the first 5–15 minutes — simultaneously triggering retail sell-stops and breakout shorts (the “poison”). The triggered sells become the institutional buy fills. Three signals distinguish the Venom sweep from a genuine breakout: (1) the daily bias is opposite to the sweep direction, (2) the sweep penetrates 10–40 NQ points then immediately reverses (genuine breakdowns continue with expanding momentum), (3) the MSS displacement candle forms within 5–15 minutes.

Bullish vs bearish Venom

BULLISH vs BEARISH VENOMNQ

Perfect mirror. Bullish: 09:30 sweeps below Box low (SSL, observe only), distribution to Box high. Bearish: 09:30 sweeps above Box high (BSL, observe only), distribution to Box low. The daily bias determines which variant to expect.

BPR — the Venom model’s entry precision tool

BPR IDENTIFICATION1M NQ

BPR = two overlapping FVGs. First displacement creates FVG1 (C1 high to C3 low). Brief consolidation. Second displacement creates FVG2. The overlap between FVG1 and FVG2 is the BPR — two institutional displacement events pointing to the same entry zone. BPR CE is the primary Venom limit entry.

The 5-step Venom trade flow

1. Pre-session bias (before 08:00 EST)

Run the complete daily/weekly bias analysis. Bullish bias = watch for bullish Venom (Box LOW sweep). Bearish bias = bearish Venom (Box HIGH sweep).

2. Mark the Venom Box (08:00–09:15 EST)

NQ 5M chart. At 09:15: mark Box HIGH (highest wick 08:00–09:14) and Box LOW (lowest wick). Set alerts at both. Minimum 20 NQ points width.

3. Observe the sweep (09:30–09:45 EST) — DO NOT ENTER

Watch for the 09:30 move to break one boundary. Note sweep magnitude (10–40 NQ pts), speed (1–3 candles), and reversal behaviour. Record the sweep extreme.

4. MSS + BPR + CISD (09:30–09:55 EST)

After the sweep extreme: MSS displacement candle forms. Identify FVG(s). Check for BPR (two overlapping FVGs). Confirm CISD. Place limit entry at BPR CE (or FVG CE). Stop: 2–3 NQ pts below sweep extreme.

5. Manage (09:55–11:00 EST)

50% partial at Box CE (T1). Move stop to BE. Trail remaining on 5M BOS toward Box opposite boundary (T2). Exit ALL at 11:00 EST. No exceptions.

Venom model vs silver bullet (Model 2)

Venom model

Fastest — sweep within 5 min of 09:30

Box: 08:00–09:30 (90 min). Entry tool: BPR + CISD. Entry window: 09:30–09:55. Targets opposite Box boundary. For decisive NYSE open sweeps. US index futures only.

Silver bullet (Model 2)

Broader — 09:50–10:10 window

Range: 07:00–09:30 (2.5 hrs). Entry tool: FVG CE + SMT. Window: 09:50–10:10. Targets PDH. For slower Judas development. Indices + forex.

In practice: watch for the Venom sequence first at 09:30. If the sweep is fast and decisive, execute the Venom. If the sweep is slow and develops over 09:30–09:50, transition to the silver bullet entry from the FVG CE at 09:50–10:10.

Common mistakes

Entering during the 09:30 Venom sweep

The sweep IS the poison. Entering with the 09:30 breakout = becoming the retail counterparty whose stops fill the institutional position. Wait for MSS + BPR + CISD.

Trading the Venom when Box width is under 20 NQ points

A compressed Box lacks sufficient BSL/SSL accumulation. The sweep and reversal mechanics require minimum 20 NQ points of range to produce a clean BPR entry zone.

Not confirming the daily bias before 09:30

The Venom model requires pre-session bias analysis. A bearish bias day with a bearish sweep (Box low swept) is a continuation — NOT a Venom reversal. Bias determines which boundary to watch.

Holding past 11:00 EST

The Venom model’s delivery window closes at 11:00 EST. Holding beyond = a different model. Exit ALL at 11:00. No exceptions.

FAQ — ICT Venom model

What is the Venom model? +

NYSE open sweep-and-reverse on NQ/ES/YM. Venom Box (08:00–09:30) swept at 09:30, reverses to opposite boundary. Entry from BPR/FVG after MSS + CISD. The most compressed NY AM AMD.

What is the Venom Box? +

08:00–09:30 EST pre-market range. HIGH = BSL target for bearish sweep. LOW = SSL target for bullish sweep. Mark at 09:15. Minimum 20 NQ points.

Venom vs silver bullet? +

Venom = fastest (sweep within 5 min, BPR by 09:55). Silver bullet = broader (09:50–10:10 after gradual Judas). Venom for decisive opens. SB for slower development.

Entry tool? +

BPR = overlap of two FVGs from sequential displacements. BPR CE = primary limit entry. If no BPR: standard FVG CE. CISD confirms the delivery state change.

Conclusion — the NYSE open crystallised

The Venom model is the most precisely timed expression of the NYSE open AMD. The Venom Box creates the trap. The 09:30 sweep executes it. The BPR identifies the institutional order concentration. The CISD confirms the delivery state change. The entry from the BPR CE captures the reversal from the retail stop-out. The poison has been administered to the breakout trader; the Venom model positions its user to collect that order flow rather than provide it.

The companion guides: Entry Model 2 covers the broader NYSE open session; silver bullet strategy covers the 09:50 macro window; BPR guide covers the entry tool; CISD guide covers the delivery state confirmation; and MSS guide covers the displacement that creates the BPR. Or join the mentorship for structured guidance on Venom Box marking, BPR identification, and the 5-step trade flow.

Lio

Founder & ICT trading educator, LiquiditySweeps.com

Lio has traded ICT and Smart Money Concepts on forex majors and US indices since 2021 and built LiquiditySweeps.com to teach the framework the way it should be learned: in sequence, on real charts, with free live tools instead of paid indicators.

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Quick check

It is 09:31 EST on a bullish bias day. NQ has just dropped 30 points below the Venom Box low. What should you do?

✓ Correct. The Venom sweep is OBSERVE ONLY. The sharp move below the Venom Box low at 09:30 is Phase 2 manipulation — it collects SSL to fill the institutional long. Wait for the MSS displacement + BPR/FVG zone + CISD confirmation, THEN enter from the BPR CE targeting the Venom Box opposite boundary.