With the VIX around 18 and a triangle pattern forming on the SPX chart, should traders remain in the 0.70 Conservative tier or increase the credit target?

At VixShield, we adhere strictly to the SPX Mastery methodology developed by Russell Clark, which centers on 1DTE SPX Iron Condors placed after the 3:09 PM CST cascade with signals firing at 3:10 PM CST. With the current VIX at 17.95, well below 20 and sitting under its five-day moving average of 18.58, VIX Risk Scaling keeps all three tiers available: Conservative targeting 0.70 credit, Balanced at 1.15, and Aggressive at 1.60. The Conservative tier maintains its approximately 90 percent win rate, equating to roughly 18 winning days out of 20 trading days, making it the default choice in regimes showing any technical uncertainty. A triangle forming on the SPX chart near the 7138.80 close introduces potential for a breakout in either direction, which our RSAi engine evaluates alongside EDR readings. Currently, with EDR around 1.16 percent as seen in recent signals, the system favors precise strike selection that matches market-offered premium without stretching for higher credits. We do not bump the credit target simply because of chart patterns. Instead, we let RSAi dynamically adjust wings in real time, starting from EDR blended with VIX9D and historical volatility, then layering skew analysis to hit exact credit levels. This prevents overreaching in a contango regime where theta decay works strongly in our favor. Our ALVH hedge remains fully layered across short, medium, and long VIX calls in the 4/4/2 ratio per 10-contract base unit, cutting potential drawdowns by 35 to 40 percent during spikes at an annual cost of only 1 to 2 percent of account value. The Set and Forget approach means no stop losses and no intraday management. If a position moves against us, the Theta Time Shift mechanism rolls the threatened condor forward to 1-7 DTE when EDR exceeds 0.94 percent or VIX surpasses 16, capturing vega expansion, then rolls back on a VWAP pullback below 0.94 percent EDR to harvest additional theta. This temporal martingale has recovered 88 percent of losses in long-term backtests without adding capital. Position sizing stays at a maximum of 10 percent of account balance per trade, preserving capital through defined risk at entry. In this environment, we stay disciplined in the Conservative 0.70 tier to align with the high-probability edge rather than chase the 1.15 or 1.60 targets that require calmer, more predictable ranges. All trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. For deeper implementation details on the Unlimited Cash System, EDR indicator, and live signal examples, we invite you to explore the SPX Mastery resources and VixShield membership at vixshield.com.