I think options are a must. Options work like insurance or leverage. With options you get to pick the risk/reward from very safe to very explosive.

I go bearish as the VIX slopes down, go bullish when it slopes up. Also, I watch RSI, StockRSI, MACD, Stochastics, 20-, 50-, 100- and 200- MAs, minute, 5 min, hourly, daily. For a day trade, if it is going bearish, follow until price goes up crossing the 20-min MA, or until price crosses the 50-min MA. In particular, I find opening gaps to be the most challenging and most profitable.