Fantasy Trading League

Official Strategy Guide: How to Win

1. Understanding the Game

The Goal

Accumulate the most POINTS over the season - not just the highest V$ portfolio value.

This is crucial to understand. Unlike real trading where only returns matter, Fantasy Trading League rewards smart gameplay through multiple point sources.

Why Points, Not Just Returns?

Real Trading Fantasy Trading League
Only profit matters Multiple ways to score
No bonus for dividend timing +3 points for dividend captures
No reward for stability Stability bonus available
No power play multiplier 3x points on your best pick
No recovery bonus Bonus for holding through dips

Key Insight

A player with 8% returns can beat a player with 12% returns if they played the game smarter!

2. The Points System Explained

2.1 Price Performance Points

How Gains Translate to Points

Weekly Gain Stocks Crypto ETFs
+0.1% to +1% 1 pt 1 pt 1 pt
+1% to +3% 2 pts 2 pts 2 pts
+3% to +5% 4 pts 3 pts 3 pts
+5% to +10% 7 pts 5 pts 5 pts
+10% to +20% 12 pts 8 pts 8 pts
+20%+ 20 pts 12 pts 12 pts

Why Different Rates?

Stocks earn MORE points per percentage than crypto because crypto moves are easier to achieve.

How Losses Translate to Points

Weekly Loss Stocks Crypto ETFs
-0.1% to -1% 0 pts 0 pts 0 pts
-1% to -3% -1 pt 0 pts -1 pt
-3% to -5% -2 pts -1 pt -2 pts
-5% to -10% -4 pts -2 pts -3 pts
-10% to -20% -7 pts -4 pts -5 pts
-20%+ -12 pts -6 pts -8 pts

Key Insight

Small losses (-0.1% to -1%) cost ZERO points. Don't panic over tiny dips!

2.2 Bonus Points

Holding Points

+1 point per active instrument that traded during the week

With 10 active instruments = +7 free points every week!

Dividend Points

+3 points when a stock you hold pays a dividend

Check the dividend calendar every Monday!

Stability Bonus

+3 points for stocks/ETFs that finished positive with max 3% drawdown

Crypto NOT eligible (too volatile)

Recovery Bonus

+4 to +8 points for holding through dips

Rewards "diamond hands" mentality!

Top Performer Bonus

#1 asset: +5 pts | #2: +3 pts | #3: +1 pt

If you hold what everyone wishes they held!

Streak Bonuses

3 green weeks: +5 pts | 5 green weeks: +15 pts

Consistency is rewarded!

2.3 Power Play Multiplier

Your Power Play earns DOUBLE points - both positive AND negative!

Power Play's Week Base Points With 2x Multiplier
+8% gain 7 pts 14 pts
+3% gain 4 pts 8 pts
Flat (0%) 1 pt 2 pts
-5% loss -4 pts -8 pts
-12% loss -7 pts -14 pts

2.4 Penalties

Penalty Points Lost
Extra trade (beyond free) -10 pts each
Single-day drop >15% -3 pts
Asset delisted -10 pts
Missed rebalancing deadline -2 pts

Warning!

The -10 point trade penalty is brutal. Plan your trades carefully!

3. Portfolio Building Strategies

Strategy A: "The Dividend Hunter"

Goal: Collect steady +3 bonus points from dividends

Portfolio Mix:

  • 5-6 dividend-paying stocks
  • 1-2 dividend ETFs
  • 1 crypto (minimum required)
  • 1 stable commodity (Gold)

Best For: Conservative players who want consistent points

Low Risk Consistent

Strategy B: "The Stability Seeker"

Goal: Maximize stability bonuses (+3 pts) with boring picks

Portfolio Mix:

  • 6 blue-chip stocks (low volatility)
  • 1 Gold (hedge)
  • 1 ETF (SPY or QQQ)
  • 2 large-cap crypto (BTC, ETH only)

Best For: Risk-averse players protecting a lead

Low Risk Lower Ceiling

Strategy C: "The Crypto Maximizer"

Goal: Use crypto volatility for massive power play points

Portfolio Mix:

  • 3 crypto (max allowed) - including volatile altcoin
  • 4 stable stocks (offset crypto risk)
  • 1 Gold (hedge)
  • 2 ETFs

Best For: Aggressive players willing to take risks

High Risk High Reward

Strategy D: "The Balanced Approach"

Goal: Diversify across all point sources

Portfolio Mix:

  • 3 dividend stocks
  • 2 growth stocks
  • 2 crypto (1 large cap, 1 mid cap)
  • 1 commodity
  • 2 ETFs

Best For: Most players - default strategy when uncertain

Medium Risk Recommended

4. Power Play Selection Mastery

The Power Play Decision Framework

Conviction Level Power Play Strategy
Very High (80%+) Power Play it, consider Triple Power Play chip
High (60-80%) Safe to power play
Medium (40-60%) Consider safer alternative
Low (<40%) Don't power play

The Dividend Power Play Trick

One of the safest power plays:

  1. Check dividend calendar on Monday
  2. Find stock going ex-dividend this week
  3. Make it your power play
  4. Guaranteed +3 pts x 3 = +6 pts minimum!

Power Play Selection by Week Type

Week Type Recommendation
Normal Week Power Play highest-conviction growth pick OR dividend stock
Volatile Week Power Play stable blue chip OR Gold
Earnings Season Power Play stocks with expected strong earnings OR avoid earnings entirely
Crypto Pump Expected Power Play BTC or ETH (altcoin only if very confident)

5. Chip Timing Strategies

Chip Rules

1. All chips must be activated before Sunday 00:00 UTC

2. Only ONE chip per week - no combining chips!

Chip Effect Uses/Season Best Timing
Wildcard Unlimited free transfers 2 After major portfolio mistakes
Free Hit Unlimited transfers (reverts next week) 1 One-off opportunity weeks
Bench Boost All 10 instruments score 1 When entire squad is strong
Triple Power Play Power Play scores 3x 1 Maximum conviction pick
Stop-Loss Shield One asset's losses don't count 1 Protecting risky pick
Leverage Boost One asset scores 2x 1 High conviction non-power play

Don't Waste Your Wildcard!

  • Not just because you had a -5 point week
  • Not to chase last week's winners
  • Not when your daily free trade will do
  • Not in Week 1 (you just built your team!)

6. Weekly Routine for Success

Monday: Analysis Day

  • Review last week's scores
  • Check dividend calendar
  • Scan news headlines
  • Check banked trades
  • Set preliminary power play

Tuesday-Wednesday: Monitor

  • Any breaking news?
  • Power Play choice still valid?
  • Use daily free trade?
  • Bank trade if nothing to change

Thursday: Pre-Deadline Prep

  • Final news check
  • Confirm power play selection
  • Confirm bench order
  • 24 hours until deadline!

Friday: Deadline Day

  • Final portfolio review
  • Lock in power play
  • Set bench order
  • SUBMIT before 18:00 UTC!

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake: Using Extra Trades

That trade needs to generate +10 points just to break even. A +3% gain = 4 pts = STILL -6 pts net after penalty!

Only use extra trades if saving more than 10 points of loss.

Mistake: Chasing Last Week's Winners

Last week's NVDA +15%? Doesn't mean it'll repeat. You're buying high, selling something that might rise, and using a trade.

Winners rotate. Don't chase.

Mistake: Panic Selling After One Bad Day

BTC dropped 8% on Monday? It might recover by Friday (Diamond Hands bonus!). Weekly scoring, not daily.

Wait until Thursday to decide.

Mistake: Forgetting to Set Power Play

Game assigns random/default power play. Your best pick only scores 1x.

Always confirm power play before deadline!

8. Advanced Strategies

The Differential Strategy

Pick assets that few others own to climb the leaderboard.

Popular pick (80% ownership): You get 7 pts, but so does everyone else - you don't move up.

Differential pick (5% ownership): You get 7 pts, 95% don't have it - you move UP!

When to Use: When outside top 100 and need to climb.

The Template Strategy

Follow top managers but add differentials.

  1. Look at top 10 players' portfolios
  2. Note common picks (the "template")
  3. Build similar portfolio (70% same)
  4. Add 2-3 differentials (30% unique)

Chip Combination Strategy

Combo 1: Triple Power Play + Dividend Week = +9 pts guaranteed minimum

Combo 2: Bench Boost + Multiple Dividends = 50+ pts possible

Combo 3: Free Hit + Volatile Event = Low risk experimentation

9. Quick Reference Card

Points Cheat Sheet

Source Points
+5-10% gain (stocks) +7 pts
+5-10% gain (crypto) +5 pts
Dividend capture +3 pts
Stability bonus +3 pts
Recovery bonus +4 to +8 pts
Top performer #1 +5 pts
Holding (per active) +1 pt
Extra trade -10 pts
Power Play multiplier 2x
Triple Power Play 3x

Power Play Quick Rules

  1. High conviction? Power Play it
  2. Dividend this week? Consider power playing
  3. Uncertain? Pick stable option
  4. Very confident? Consider Triple Power Play