Chapter 1 · Foundation
Getting Started
Your orientation to BlackOut — membership, navigation, the daily workflow, and how every desk shares the same dealer-intelligence pipeline.
Platform overview
BlackOut is a professional SPX and 0DTE options intelligence platform built around dealer positioning — gamma exposure, institutional flow, and structural market mechanics — not retail sentiment.
Every surface is part of one pipeline. Raw chain and flow data is computed into GEX surfaces, scored by the play engine, and distributed across desks that cross-reference the same levels in real time.
This academy follows a textbook sequence: start here, then read each tool chapter in order. Every chapter links to live routes in the app and to related guides.
At a glance
Primary instrument
SPX / 0DTE
PM-settled index options
Intelligence stack
GEX + Flow + AI
Shared across all desks
Cadence
Real-time RTH
WebSocket + scheduled crons
How data flows
Understanding the pipeline explains why a GEX wall in Thermal is the same wall on SPX Slayer and in Largo answers.
Account setup
Membership is provisioned automatically after checkout. No API keys required on your side.
- 1
Subscribe
Complete checkout on the Upgrade page. Premium access activates when payment confirms.
- 2
Sign in
Use the same email as your subscription. Authentication is handled by Clerk — social login supported.
- 3
Verify access
Open SPX Slayer (/dashboard) or HELIX (/flows). Live data confirms entitlements are active.
- 4
Bookmark Learn
Return to /learn anytime. Chapters are ordered for a linear read or jump to any tool guide.
Suggested daily workflow
Each phase uses a specific desk. Cross-link chapters as you progress through the day.
Read the Evening Edition. Set bias and key GEX levels before the open.
Open SPX Slayer as your primary desk. Monitor walls, flip, and engine verdicts.
Run HELIX alongside the desk. Confirm or challenge direction with institutional prints.
Query Largo for structured reads on live GEX and flow — not generic commentary.
Check 0DTE Command on /nighthawk for fresh always-on scanner finds.
Tool map
Every chapter below includes a Panel reference section — a field guide to each live UI region, its refresh cadence, and how to consume it during RTH. Read overview and layout first, then panels, then workflow.
Terms and metrics used across the platform.
Platform principles
Do
- Layer tools — Night Hawk for bias, Slayer for execution, HELIX for confirmation, Thermal for structure.
- Cross-reference GEX walls across desks before sizing at a level.
- Use Largo for hard questions about live data, not for reassurance.
Don't
- Don't treat any single desk as the full picture.
- Don't trade against a SCANNING engine state by guessing the next verdict.
- Don't assume GEX walls are static — they reprice with open interest.
- Don't ignore timestamps on live data during fast markets.
- Don't confuse educational content with personalized advice.
Continue reading
FAQ
How current is GEX data?
Recomputed from the live chain during RTH. Timestamps appear on SPX Slayer and Thermal. Off-hours reflects the latest snapshot.
Does BlackOut support non-SPX underlyings?
The core engine is SPX / 0DTE-first. HELIX may show related tickers for situational awareness, and 0DTE Command (on Night Hawk) scans the broader market for single-name 0DTE setups.
Where do I manage billing?
Account (/account) and Upgrade (/upgrade). Membership syncs to your Clerk profile automatically.
Ready for the open?
When RTH begins, open SPX Slayer and follow Chapter 2 for the full desk workflow.