diff --git a/src/prompts.rs b/src/prompts.rs
index 680ca87..6625a5b 100644
--- a/src/prompts.rs
+++ b/src/prompts.rs
@@ -500,10 +500,17 @@ pub fn initial_prompt(instruments: &[String], candle_intervals: &[String], prior
         None => String::new(),
     };
     let starting_instruction = if prior_summary.is_some() {
-        "Based on the prior results above: if the best strategy has promising metrics, \
-refine it. If all prior results were poor (0 trades or deeply negative Sharpe), try a \
-clearly different indicator family or candle interval than what was already attempted. \
-Do NOT repeat approaches that consistently produced 0 trades."
+        "Based on the prior results above:\n\
+- A strategy is \"promising\" if avg_sharpe >= 0.5 AND it traded >= 10 times per instrument. \
+If the best prior strategy meets both thresholds, refine it (tighten entry conditions, \
+adjust the exit, or tune the interval).\n\
+- If no prior strategy reaches avg_sharpe >= 0.5, do NOT repeat the same indicator family. \
+Scan the best-strategies list: if they all use the same core indicator (e.g. all use \
+Bollinger Bands, or all use EMA crossovers, or all use RSI threshold), your FIRST strategy \
+MUST use a completely different indicator family — for example: MACD crossover, ATR \
+breakout, volume spike, donchian channel breakout, or stochastic oscillator. Only after \
+that novelty attempt may you refine prior work.\n\
+- Never repeat an approach that produced 0 trades or fewer than 5 trades per instrument."
     } else {
         "Start with a multi-timeframe trend-following approach with proper risk management \
 (stop-loss, time exit, and ATR-based position sizing)."