# GET /api/mcp/data/max-pain/{ticker}

> What strike is max pain for SPY this expiration, and does it matter?

Returns the strike where option holders lose the most at expiration, the total pain there, the distance from spot and a magnet-strength label, with the pain at every strike.

- **Family:** Gamma exposure (https://apexvol.com/developers/gamma-exposure-api)
- **Plan:** Basic and above. Every call needs `Authorization: Bearer avmcp_<token>`; tokens are issued to paid and trial accounts under Account, then API Access.
- **Units:** Strikes and distance in dollars; distance_pct in percent; total_pain in dollars.
- **Basis:** Sum of intrinsic value across open interest at each candidate settlement price.
- **MCP tools:** `get_max_pain`
- **Background:** https://apexvol.com/learn/max-pain-theory

## Parameters

| Name | In | Default | Range | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `ticker` (required) | path |  | any covered symbol | The underlying, upper case. Use /search to check coverage. |
| `expiration` | query | nearest | YYYY-MM-DD, a listed expiration | Which expiration to use. Defaults to the nearest one. |

## Request

```bash
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer avmcp_YOUR_TOKEN" \
     "https://apexvol.com/api/mcp/data/max-pain/SPY"
```

## Response (captured 2026-09-08)

Real response, lists cut to the rows nearest the money. The envelope is `{"success": true, "data": ...}`.

```json
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "all_strikes": [
      {
        "strike": 769.0,
        "total_pain": 21794400.0
      },
      {
        "strike": 770.0,
        "total_pain": 21842200.0
      },
      {
        "strike": 771.0,
        "total_pain": 22844400.0
      }
    ],
    "distance_from_spot": -1.25,
    "distance_pct": -0.1623,
    "expiration": "2026-09-08",
    "likely_direction": "NEUTRAL",
    "magnet_strength": "WEAK",
    "max_pain_strike": 769.0,
    "max_pain_value": 21794400.0,
    "stock_price": 770.25,
    "success": true,
    "ticker": "SPY",
    "timestamp": "2026-09-08T08:07:20.699304"
  }
}
```

## Fields

- `max_pain_strike, max_pain_value`: The strike and the pain there.
- `distance_from_spot, distance_pct`: How far spot is from it.
- `magnet_strength, likely_direction`: Whether the pull is meaningful.
- `all_strikes[].strike, total_pain`: The distribution.

## Errors

- `401`: no or revoked token
- `429`: Retry-After seconds
- `424`: data feed unavailable, retry
- Full list: https://apexvol.com/developers/errors

## Ask it in an MCP client

- What is max pain for SPY this Friday?
- Is NVDA trading above or below max pain?
- How strong is the max pain magnet on AAPL this week?

Conventions for units, bases and timestamps: https://apexvol.com/developers/conventions