> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://faction.trade/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to trade

> Place your first long or short trade on Faction Trade in five steps.

This guide walks you through placing a trade from start to finish. If you have not connected your wallet yet, start with the [getting started guide](/getting-started/connect-wallet).

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select an asset">
    Use the **asset selector** at the top of the trade page to pick the market you want to trade. You will see the current mark price, 24-hour change, volume, and funding rate for each asset.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose your direction">
    In the trade panel on the right, toggle between:

    * **Long** (green) — you profit when the price goes up
    * **Short** (red) — you profit when the price goes down
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick an order type">
    Select how you want your order to execute:

    * **Market** — executes immediately at the best available price
    * **Limit** — executes only when the price reaches your specified level
    * **Stop** — triggers a market order when the price hits your threshold

    See [order types](/trading/order-types) for a detailed breakdown.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set your size and leverage">
    Enter your position size in USDC or in the asset's native denomination (toggle between them with the switch button). Adjust your **leverage** using the leverage button — this multiplies your exposure from 1x up to 20x.

    See [leverage and margin](/trading/leverage-margin) for details on how this works.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and submit">
    Before submitting, review the order summary at the bottom of the trade panel:

    * **Liquidation price** — the price at which your position gets force-closed
    * **Order value** — total notional value of the position
    * **Margin required** — how much collateral is locked
    * **Estimated fees** — trading fees for the order

    Click the submit button to place your order.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## After your order fills

Once your order executes, the position appears in the **Positions** tab at the bottom of the trade page. From there you can:

* Monitor your unrealized PnL in real time
* Add or edit [take profit and stop loss](/trading/tp-sl) levels
* Close or reverse your position

<Tip>
  Start with market orders at low leverage (2-3x) while you learn the interface. You can always increase leverage later as you get more comfortable.
</Tip>