What Are Mitigation Blocks? Definition & Strategy

Understanding where institutional traders have left unfilled orders can provide insights into potential price reversals. Mitigation blocks represent specific zones on price charts where price movements stopped and reversed, offering traders a framework for anticipating future market behaviour.

Within the Smart Money Concept framework, these areas serve as possible reference points for entry and exit strategies. This article examines mitigation in trading, their distinguishing characteristics compared to breaker blocks, and practical applications in trading strategy development.

Takeaways

A mitigation block is a price action concept identifying specific price zones where previous price movements halted and reversed. They mark potential areas for future market turns within Smart Money trading frameworks.
A bullish mitigation block forms during downtrends when price creates a higher low without breaking the previous low, often showing increased buying volume. Conversely, a bearish mitigation block develops in uptrends with a lower high formation and heightened selling pressure at resistance.
Mitigation blocks are often compared to breaker blocks, but there are significant differences between the two. Mitigation blocks form after failure swings where price doesn't surpass the previous extreme, while breaker blocks occur when price creates a new high/low before reversing and breaking structure—indicating liquidity may have been taken.
Traders use mitigation blocks in trading by placing limit orders within validated zones, often after a new peak or trough confirms the block, while combining analysis with higher timeframe context for refined entries.

Definition and Function of a Mitigation Block

A mitigation block refers to a specific zone on a chart that indicates where previous movements have stalled and reversed, marking it as a potential area for future market turns. This concept within the Smart Money framework is popular among traders looking for strategic entry and exit points.

The idea behind these areas is rooted in the dynamics of supply and demand. When a currency pair reaches a level where buyers or sellers have previously entered the market in force, causing a reversal, it suggests a potential repeat of such actions when the price returns to the area.

Characteristics and How Traders Identify a Mitigation Block

Mitigation blocks can be bullish or bearish, each with distinct characteristics:

Bearish Mitigation Block: This type forms during an uptrend and is identified by a significant peak followed by a decline and a failed attempt to reach or surpass the previous high, creating a lower high. When prices drop below the previous low, the price zone above the low becomes mitigation. It may be characterised by an increase in selling volume as the price approaches the level, signalling resistance and a potential downward reversal.
Bullish Mitigation Block: Conversely, a bullish type is established during a downtrend. It is characterised by a significant trough, followed by a rise to form a higher low, and a failure to drop below the previous low. As the price moves up, the zone below the high marks mitigation one. This area often shows an increase in buying volume as the price approaches, indicating support and a potential upward reversal.

To have a go at identifying your own blocks, you can head over to FXOpen’s TickTrader platform to access a world of currency pairs and over 1,200 charting tools.

Mitigation Block vs Breaker Block

Mitigation and breaker blocks are both significant in identifying potential trend reversals in trading, but they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. A mitigation block forms after a failure swing, which occurs when the market attempts but fails to surpass a previous peak in an uptrend or a previous trough in a downtrend. The pattern indicates a loss of momentum and a potential reversal as the price fails to sustain its previous direction.

On the other hand, a breaker block is characterised by the formation of a new high or low before the market structure is broken, indicating that liquidity has been taken. This means that although the trend initially looked set to continue, it quickly reverses and breaks structure.

In effect, a breaker appears when the market takes liquidity beyond a swing point before reversing the trend. A mitigation appears when the price doesn’t move beyond the trend’s most recent high or low, instead plotting a lower high or higher low before reversing the trend.

Application of Mitigation Blocks in Trading

Areas of mitigation in trading can be important tools for identifying potential trend reversals and entry points. When they align with a trader's analysis that anticipates a reversal at a certain level, it can serve as a robust confirmation for entry.

Traders can utilise these zones by placing a limit order within the area once it is considered valid. Validation occurs after a new peak or trough is established following the initial failure swing that forms the mitigation area.

If a liquidity void or fair-value gap is present, the trader may look for such a gap to be filled before their limit order is triggered, potentially offering a tighter entry. Stop losses might be placed beyond the failure swing or the most extreme point.

Furthermore, if a mitigation block is identified on a higher timeframe, traders can refine their entry by switching to a lower timeframe. This approach is supposed to allow for a tighter entry point and potentially more effective risk management, as it offers more granular insight into the momentum around the area.

Common Mistakes and Limitations in Mitigation Blocks

While these blocks are valuable for trading, they come with potential pitfalls and limitations that traders should know.

Overreliance: Relying solely on mitigation blocks without corroborating with other trading indicators can lead to misjudged entries and exits.
Ignoring Context: Using these zones without considering the broader market conditions may result in trading against a prevailing strong trend.
Misinterpretation: Incorrect identification can lead to erroneous trading decisions, especially for less experienced traders.
False Signals: Mitigation blocks can sometimes appear to signal a reversal but instead lead to a continuation of the trend, trapping traders in unfavourable positions.

The Bottom Line

Mitigation blocks remain a valuable tool for traders seeking to understand institutional behaviour. By highlighting areas where unfilled orders may influence future price action, they can support traders in decision-making. However, like any market concept, mitigation blocks should not be viewed in isolation. Traders combine them with broader market structure analysis, liquidity concepts, and strict risk-control practices.

If you are looking to apply these concepts in a practical trading environment, you can consider opening an FXOpen account to put theory into practice across dozens of currency pairs complemented by robust tools and insights.

FAQs

What Is a Mitigation Block?

A mitigation block is a price zone that identifies potential reversal points. It signals where a currency pair has previously stalled, indicating strong buying or selling pressure, suggesting similar reactions in future encounters with these levels.

How Do Traders Identify a Mitigation Block?

Mitigation blocks are identified by analysing charts for areas where previous highs or lows were not surpassed, leading to a reversal. Traders look for a sequence of movements, including a swing high or low followed by a retracement that fails to exceed the previous swing.

What Is the Difference Between a Breaker Block and a Mitigation Block?

While both indicate potential reversals, a breaker block forms when the price makes a new high or low before reversing, suggesting a temporary continuation of the trend. In contrast, a mitigation block forms without creating a new extreme, indicating a direct loss of momentum and an immediate potential for reversal.