Reversal Patterns
7 patterns
Head and Shoulders
BearishModerate
Inverse Head and Shoulders
BullishModerate
Double Top
BearishCommon
Double Bottom
BullishCommon
Triple Top
BearishRare
Triple Bottom
BullishRare
Rounding Bottom
BullishRare
Continuation Patterns
9 patterns
Ascending Triangle
BullishCommon
Descending Triangle
BearishCommon
Symmetrical Triangle
NeutralCommon
Bull Flag
BullishCommon
Bear Flag
BearishCommon
Bullish Pennant
BullishModerate
Bearish Pennant
BearishModerate
Rising Wedge
BearishModerate
Falling Wedge
BullishModerate
Reversal vs. Continuation
Reversal Patterns
Signal that the current trend is losing strength and price is likely to change direction. Head and shoulders, double tops/bottoms, and triple tops/bottoms fall into this category — they form at trend extremes, not in the middle of a move.
Continuation Patterns
Signal a temporary pause in the existing trend before it resumes in the same direction. Triangles, flags, pennants, and wedges fall into this category — they're brief consolidations, not reversals, so context matters more than the shape alone.
Volume Confirms the Break
Almost every chart pattern relies on the same confirmation rule: volume should contract during the pattern's formation and expand sharply on the breakout or breakdown. A pattern that breaks on low volume is far more likely to fail or reverse.
Looking for single-candle signals instead of multi-bar structures? See the Candlestick Pattern Guide for hammers, dojis, engulfing patterns, and more.