XAU mean reversion fails on trend days, during macro repricing, when traders average into losers, and when stops are set too tight for current gold volatility.
On a trend day distance from VWAP measures strength, not exhaustion, and gold can hold three to four ATR from its anchor for hours while making new extremes.
The controlling rules are one planned entry per idea, no unplanned averaging, and an end to reversion trading after two failed attempts by price to return to the session anchor.