> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.valhallaindicator.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.valhallaindicator.com/smc-indicator/quick-start.md).

# Quick Start

Get Valhalla SMC on your chart and running in under two minutes.

#### <mark style="color:cyan;">Step 1: Add the Indicator</mark>

Open TradingView, click **Indicators** at the top of your chart, search for **Valhalla SMC**, and add it to your chart. You'll immediately see structure lines, the trend band, and the dashboard.

#### <mark style="color:cyan;">Step 2: Choose Your Signal Mode</mark>

Open Settings → **Signals** → **Signals Mode**. Pick the mode that matches your style:

| Mode                 | Best For                                                      |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `CHOCH Entry`        | Reversal traders, signals fire on structure shifts            |
| `Continuation Entry` | Trend-followers, signals fire on pullbacks to the band        |
| `Both`               | See all setups, CHOCH entries + continuation entries together |

#### <mark style="color:cyan;">Step 3: Set Your Time Horizon</mark>

The **Time Horizon** setting (under Market Structure) is the most important setting in the SMC Indicator, it controls how many bars the algorithm uses to analyze previous price action.&#x20;

Lower values (5–8) react faster with more frequent CHOCH structure events:

<figure><img src="/files/7fKG83iYJQhYiJ2mAI4A" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Higher values (12–40+) produce cleaner, more significant structure. The default of **10** is a solid middle ground:

<figure><img src="/files/ChPcwvwSfZUzGiKe3FRs" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %} <mark style="color:cyan;">**TIP**</mark>

If you want to receive a higher amount of pullback signals, we recommend setting the Time Horizon setting to a higher value.
{% endhint %}

#### <mark style="color:cyan;">Step 4: Configure Targets</mark>

Under **Bull / Bear Signals and Continuation Signals**, you can choose between `Smart` targets (structure-anchored TP1/TP2/TP3) or `Fixed R Multiples`.

Smart mode is recommended, it automatically finds structural swing targets, opposing order blocks, and HTF liquidity pools.

Smart mode sources each TP level from a different structural element, creating a three-tier target system anchored to real market levels rather than arbitrary R multiples.

#### <mark style="color:cyan;">Smart Mode Structural Targets:</mark>

<table><thead><tr><th>Target</th><th width="180">Source (CHOCH)</th><th>Source (Continuation)</th><th>Logic</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>TP1</td><td>Nearest structural swing</td><td>Pullback-origin swing</td><td>The closest swing high (for longs) or swing low (for shorts) above/below entry that price hasn't reached yet</td></tr><tr><td>TP2</td><td>Nearest opposing order block</td><td>Nearest opposing order block</td><td>The closest unmitigated OB in the opposing direction, the first "wall" side of the OB zone</td></tr><tr><td>TP3</td><td>HTF liquidity pool</td><td>HTF liquidity pool</td><td>The nearest active (unpurged) HTF session high/low beyond the trade's existing targets</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### <mark style="color:cyan;">Missing Levels</mark>

Smart mode skips any level that doesn't have a valid structural target. If no opposing swing exists above entry, TP1 simply won't be drawn. If all three sources are missing, the indicator falls back to fixed R multiples.&#x20;

Labels indicate the source: `TP1 Swing`, `TP2 OB`, `TP3 Liq`.

{% hint style="info" %}
It's Important to note that each TP Target in Smart Mode is Independent from each other, meaning in some cases the TP3 could appear before the TP2 and so on.
{% endhint %}

#### <mark style="color:cyan;">Fixed R Mode</mark>

When Target Mode is set to `Fixed R Multiples`, all three targets are computed as simple multiples of the risk (distance from entry to SL). Defaults: TP1 = 0.5R, TP2 = 1R, TP3 = 1.5R. These are fully configurable in settings.

{% hint style="info" %} <mark style="color:cyan;">**TIP**</mark>

Start with the defaults and observe 20–30 signals before tweaking. The grade filter (`Minimum Grade to Show Signal`) is one of the most impactful settings, setting it to `B` removes the lowest-conviction setups.
{% endhint %}