Understanding ICT Reclaimed Order Blocks: How Institutions Control Market Moves

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Do you want to master the ICT Reclaimed Order Block to enhance your trading precision and understand how institutional traders manipulate the market?

Reclaimed Order Blocks (ROBs) are one of the most powerful concepts in ICT (Inner Circle Trader) methodology — deeply rooted in the Market Maker Model (MMBM & MMSM). Understanding this theory can significantly improve your grasp of smart money concepts (SMC) and price behavior.

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🧠 What is an ICT Reclaimed Order Block?

A Reclaimed Order Block is a specific zone on the chart where institutional traders or smart money previously accumulated large buy or sell orders.

Initially, these areas show minor displacement (a small reaction or move in price), indicating institutional activity. Later, when price revisits this area, the same block is reclaimed — turning into a strong support or resistance zone.

This reclamation reveals where liquidity was engineered and institutional positions were built. When reclaimed, these zones often act as the foundation for the next strong directional move.

📈 Understanding Market Curves: Buy Side & Sell Side

According to ICT’s market structure model, the market moves like a curve — it has two primary sides:

Buy Side of the Curve: Where price seeks liquidity above previous highs.
Sell Side of the Curve: Where price seeks liquidity below previous lows.

Institutions accumulate buy orders on the sell side and sell orders on the buy side — allowing them to build positions before driving price in the opposite direction.

🧩 Reclaimed Blocks in the ICT Market Maker Models

To fully understand Reclaimed Order Blocks, you must know the two ICT Market Maker Models:

1. Market Maker Buy Model (MMBM)

The market first moves down to the sell side of the curve to collect liquidity.
Institutions accumulate buy positions during this phase.
These zones often form Bullish Reclaimed Order Blocks — the foundation for the next upward move.

2. Market Maker Sell Model (MMSM)

The market first moves up to the buy side of the curve to collect liquidity.
Institutions accumulate sell positions here.
These zones create Bearish Reclaimed Order Blocks — the launching point for a downward move.

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💎 ICT Bullish Reclaimed Order Block Explained

A Bullish Reclaimed Order Block is the last down-close candle (bearish candle) before a minor upward displacement occurs.

How it works:

It appears on the sell side of the curve during a bullish market structure.
Smart money begins accumulating buy positions while retail traders are still selling.
When price shifts momentum upward, it reclaims the previous order block, which then acts as support.
The reclaimed zone becomes a launching pad for the next bullish leg.

Example Behavior:

Price moves down to sweep liquidity below a previous low.
Institutions execute buy orders within the old bearish candle zone.
Price reverses, displacing upward and reclaiming that area.
On the retest, price respects the reclaimed order block — confirming smart money accumulation.

🔻 ICT Bearish Reclaimed Order Block Explained

A Bearish Reclaimed Order Block is the last up-close candle (bullish candle) before a minor downward displacement occurs.

How it works:

It appears on the buy side of the curve during a bearish market structure.
Institutional traders start accumulating sell orders as retail traders chase buying breakouts.
When price shifts downward, it reclaims the bullish candle area, which now acts as resistance.
This reclaimed zone becomes the launchpad for the bearish move.

Example Behavior:

Price moves up to sweep liquidity above a previous high.
Smart money executes large sell orders in that bullish candle.
Price declines sharply, confirming displacement.
When revisited, the reclaimed zone acts as resistance, pushing price lower.

⚙️ How to Identify a Valid Reclaimed Order Block

Before taking trades, ensure these confirmations are in place:

✅ Clear Market Structure — Identify if price is in a buy or sell model phase.
✅ Liquidity Sweep — Look for stops taken above/below previous highs/lows.
✅ Minor Displacement — A short, sharp move that shows market reaction.
✅ Retest & Reaction — Price must return and react to the reclaimed block.
✅ Higher Timeframe Alignment — Confirm with PD Arrays (Premium/Discount Arrays).

💡 Practical Example Summary

Type	Found On	Candle Type	Institutional Action	Later Role
Bullish Reclaimed OB	Sell Side of Curve	Last Down-Close	Accumulating Buys	Support
Bearish Reclaimed OB	Buy Side of Curve	Last Up-Close	Accumulating Sells	Resistance

⚠️ Does Every ICT Reclaimed OB Work?

No — not every reclaimed block is tradable.

Always wait for:

Confluence with liquidity sweeps
Higher timeframe PD array confirmation
Lower timeframe entry confirmation

And never risk more than 1% of your trading capital per setup.

🧭 Final Thoughts

The ICT Reclaimed Order Block is a cornerstone concept in understanding how institutions engineer liquidity and manipulate price.
It bridges the gap between order flow, liquidity theory, and directional bias — allowing traders to align with smart money behavior rather than retail traps.

However, no strategy guarantees success. Markets are dynamic, and risk management should always be your priority.

💬 “Market moves lower to move higher, and higher to move lower.” — ICT

By mastering the concept of Reclaimed Order Blocks, you’ll gain powerful insights into institutional footprints and learn to trade in harmony with the true drivers of price.

Understanding ICT Reclaimed Order Blocks: How Institutions Control Market Moves

ByFxpips Gainer Team

🧠 What is an ICT Reclaimed Order Block?

📈 Understanding Market Curves: Buy Side & Sell Side

🧩 Reclaimed Blocks in the ICT Market Maker Models

1. Market Maker Buy Model (MMBM)

2. Market Maker Sell Model (MMSM)

💎 ICT Bullish Reclaimed Order Block Explained

🔻 ICT Bearish Reclaimed Order Block Explained

⚙️ How to Identify a Valid Reclaimed Order Block

💡 Practical Example Summary

⚠️ Does Every ICT Reclaimed OB Work?

🧭 Final Thoughts

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