ICT Suspension Block (2025) — New PD Array Suspended Between Volume Imbalances + Examples

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In September 2025, Michael Huddleston (the ICT) introduced a brand-new Array PD named the ICT Suspension Block.

This PD array is named the suspension block because it is suspended between two volume imbalances — one on the upside and the other on the downside.

It is fundamentally a candlestick that has a wick overlapping its body on the left side, so there is no chance of a fair value gap formation. But it has a volume imbalance on the top and a volume imbalance on the bottom — and that combination acts like an FVG would as a support or resistance level.

In this guide I walk you through the suspension block — the volume-imbalance prerequisite, the bullish and bearish setups, the entry sequence with MSS confirmation, the common mistakes and the FAQ.

You can continue reading the whole article or jump to the section you are most interested in.

What is an ICT Volume Imbalance?

An ICT Volume Imbalance is a price inefficiency that occurs when buy and sell orders fail to match efficiently, creating a body-to-body gap between consecutive candles.

Bullish Volume Imbalance:

The second candle opens above the prior candle’s close, forming a body gap.

Bearish Volume Imbalance:

The second candle opens below the prior candle’s close, forming a body gap.

Wick overlap is acceptable — what defines the imbalance is the body separation.

These zones highlight areas of inefficient price delivery, which the market often revisits to restore balance.

You can see the example of ICT Volume Imbalance in the picture below.

What is the ICT Suspension Block?

The ICT Suspension Block is a single candlestick that has a volume imbalance at the top and a volume imbalance at the bottom — so it is suspended between two volume imbalances.

Its body should be completely overlapped by a wick on the left side, so there is no chance of a Fair Value Gap formation.

This candlestick’s body along with the two volume imbalances will act just like the FVG — as support or resistance for the price.

You can see the example of the ICT Suspension Block in the picture below.

How to Trade the ICT Suspension Block

The suspension block can be used as a Array PD to look for trade entries or execute orders.

It acts as a level of support or resistance just like other ICT PD arrays.

To understand the trading strategy of the ICT Suspension Block, I will divide it into two types.

(I) Bullish Suspension Block

A bullish suspension block is a bullish candlestick that has a volume imbalance at the top and another volume imbalance at the bottom, but its body is completely overlapped by the wick on the left side.

A bullish suspension block can be traded in a bullish market when price taps the discount area of the higher timeframe and you see a confirmation such as a Pergeseran Struktur Pasar.

After the MSS, wait for price to retrace back to the suspension block and take support at it.

You can execute a buy trade at the bullish suspension block with a stop loss below the suspension block candle — or below the recent low, depending on your risk management.

You can see the example of a bullish suspension block in the picture below.

(II) Bearish Suspension Block

A bearish suspension block is identified by a bearish candlestick that has a volume imbalance at the top and another volume imbalance at the bottom, while its body is completely overlapped by the wick of the candle on its left side.

A bearish suspension block can be traded in a bearish market when price reaches the premium area of a higher timeframe and you observe a confirmation such as an MSS.

After the MSS, wait for price to retrace back to the bearish suspension block and find resistance at that level.

You can execute a sell trade at the bearish suspension block, placing your stop loss above the suspension block candle — or above the recent swing high, depending on your risk management approach.

You can see an example of a bearish suspension block in the image below.

Step-by-Step ICT Suspension Block Trade Flow

This is the exact sequence I run when trading a suspension block.

1. Set the higher-timeframe bias. Daily and H4 — bullish or bearish.
2. Mark the higher-timeframe premium and discount zones. 50% level of the swing.
3. Wait for price to tap the bias-aligned zone. Bullish bias — price taps discount. Bearish bias — price taps premium.
4. Drop to the lower timeframe. 5-minute or 1-minute for the trigger.
5. Wait for the MSS. A clean Market Structure Shift in the bias direction at the higher-timeframe zone.
6. Identify the suspension block candle. A candle whose body is fully overlapped by the prior candle’s wick on the left, with a volume imbalance above and below the body.
7. Verify the volume imbalances. Body-to-body gap between the suspension candle and the candles immediately before and after it (wick overlap is acceptable; body separation is required).
8. Wait for the retest. Price must retrace back to the suspension block candle on the next leg.
9. Enter at the suspension block. Buy at a bullish suspension block, sell at a bearish suspension block.
10. Set the stop. Below the low of the suspension block candle (or the recent low) for longs; above the high (or the recent swing high) for shorts.
11. Take profit at the next draw on liquidity. Old high/low, relative equal level or higher-timeframe FVG.

Best Markets for the ICT Suspension Block

The suspension block works on every market that the ICT methodology is applied to.

• NQ (NASDAQ futures) dan ES (S&P 500 futures) — fast 1-minute and 5-minute price action makes the body-to-body volume imbalances very visible on US indices.
• GBP/USD dan EUR/USD — major forex pairs deliver clean suspension-block setups on London-killzone retracements into NY-AM premium and discount zones.
• XAU/USD (Gold) — large-body gold candles around US 08:30 ET news routinely produce suspension blocks with two clear volume imbalances.

For traders in the United States who follow the CFTC FIFO and no-hedge rules, NQ and ES on the 1-minute and 5-minute charts are the most natural fit for suspension-block setups. The 09:50 NY-AM macro window often produces the suspension candle whose retest delivers an intraday entry inside the same session — making the setup especially time-efficient.

Common Mistakes Trading the Suspension Block

These are the recurring mistakes I see when traders first start trading suspension blocks.

1. Confusing volume imbalance with FVG. A volume imbalance is body-to-body (wicks can overlap). An FVG is wick-to-wick (a clean gap between the wicks of the 1st and 3rd candle). The suspension block requires volume imbalances, not FVGs.
2. Trading suspension blocks without the wick-overlap condition. The suspension block specifically requires the body to be fully overlapped by the prior candle’s wick on the left. Without this, the setup is just a candle with two adjacent volume imbalances — not a true suspension block.
3. No MSS confirmation. The suspension-block retest alone is not the entry. The lower-timeframe Market Structure Shift in the bias direction is the trigger.
4. Ignoring premium/discount context. Bullish suspension blocks are traded only when price has tapped the higher-timeframe discount. Bearish suspension blocks only when price has tapped the higher-timeframe premium.
5. Stop too tight. Stops parked at the body of the suspension block can get hunted on the wick. Either use the candle low/high with a buffer, or use the recent swing low/high for additional safety.
6. Treating every body-overlapped candle as a suspension block. The candle must have BOTH a volume imbalance above AND a volume imbalance below. Without both, it is not a suspension block — it is just a wick-overlapped candle.

FAQs about the ICT Suspension Block

Brief answers to the questions readers ask most often about the suspension block.

What is the ICT suspension block?

The ICT suspension block is a single candlestick suspended between two volume imbalances — one above the body and one below the body — with the candle’s body fully overlapped by the prior candle’s wick on the left side. It was introduced by Michael Huddleston in September 2025 as a new PD array.

Why is it called a suspension block?

Because the candle is “suspended” between two volume imbalances — one above and one below. The combination acts as a support or resistance zone, similar to a fair value gap.

What is the difference between a suspension block and an FVG?

A fair value gap is a wick-to-wick gap between the 1st and 3rd candle of a 3-candle formation. A suspension block is a candle with body-to-body volume imbalances above and below — but no wick gap. The wick of the prior candle fully overlaps the suspension candle’s body on the left.

What is a volume imbalance?

A volume imbalance is a body-to-body gap between two consecutive candles — the second candle opens above (bullish VI) or below (bearish VI) the prior candle’s close. Wicks can overlap; the body separation is what defines the imbalance.

How do I identify a bullish suspension block?

Look for a bullish candle whose body is fully overlapped by the prior candle’s wick on the left, with a volume imbalance above the body and another volume imbalance below the body.

How do I identify a bearish suspension block?

Look for a bearish candle whose body is fully overlapped by the prior candle’s wick on the left, with a volume imbalance above the body and another volume imbalance below the body.

Where do I enter a suspension block trade?

After price taps the higher-timeframe premium (bearish) or discount (bullish), wait for an MSS on a lower timeframe, then enter on the retest of the suspension block candle.

Where is the stop loss?

Below the low of the suspension block candle (or the recent low) for longs. Above the high (or the recent swing high) for shorts.

Where is the take profit?

The next draw-on-liquidity in the trade direction — typically a relative equal high/low, the prior session high/low or an unfilled higher-timeframe FVG.

When was the suspension block introduced?

Michael Huddleston introduced the ICT Suspension Block in September 2025 as a brand-new PD array inside the broader ICT methodology.

Does the suspension block work on indices and gold?

Yes — NQ, ES and XAU/USD produce textbook suspension-block setups, especially during the New York AM session and around US economic releases.