Most wave and pattern tools just label history. Wave Finder does something different: it scans for patterns before they fully trigger — Elliott Wave impulses, harmonic patterns, and chart formations — and tells you whether a high-probability setup is forming, liftoff-ready, or already confirmed.
Feed it any ticker on any timeframe and it tells you: is a Wave 3 launching? Has a Bullish Butterfly reached its PRZ? Is a Falling Wedge about to break out?
This is a multi-pattern recognition engine, not a textbook EW counter.
It uses Elliott Wave's structural rules as a primary filter, then cross-checks against 8 harmonic and chart confluence patterns — adding a proprietary Clarity Score, Conviction Engine, and
multi-degree confluence layer to surface only high-probability setups. You don't need to know any of these patterns to use it —
the status labels and price targets tell you exactly what to do.
New here?
When you see A-B-C in a result, it simply means price is in a 3-leg counter-trend pullback —
A = first leg down, B = bounce, C = final leg down. The Hunter sits out during A-B-C moves and waits
for the main trend to resume. When you see 0-1-2-3-4-5, that's an impulse — Wave 0 is the origin (starting point), and the Hunter fires on Wave 3.
Wave 3 already cleared the 1.618× target. Count validated. Use the Fibonacci price targets and invalidation level to manage the trade.
⚡ W3 LIFTOFF — prime entry
Wave 3 has broken above Wave 1’s high — it has definitively launched. The 1.618× target is the projected destination. This is the entry signal.
◦ POTENTIAL 1-2 SETUP
Waves 1 and 2 are in place but Wave 3 has not yet broken above Wave 1’s high. Set an alert at the liftoff level. Wait for confirmation before entering.
∿ CORRECTIVE — counter-trend pullback
Price is retracing against the main trend in a 3-leg A-B-C move: A = first leg of the pullback, B = partial bounce, C = final leg completing the correction. No entry signal. Wait for the correction to finish, then watch for a fresh 1-2 impulse setup. The Multi-Degree Confluence card shows where the larger trend points.
Computed from the wave lengths using standard Fibonacci ratios (1.0×, 1.618×, 2.618×). T1 is the minimum expected move; T3 is the full extension if the impulse is strong. The invalidation level is the price that, if closed through, means the current count is wrong — use it as your stop.
Alternative Counts
Pattern
Direction
Probability
What This Is Telling You
plain English
Pattern Confluence
—
▶ Technical Detail (engine explanation)
What a Tradeable Setup Looks Like
⚡ W3 LIFTOFFEntry signal
📍 Clarity Score: 6–7 / 10
📐 Structure: Impulse — Waves 1 & 2 complete, Wave 3 just broke Wave 1 high
🎯 Action: Enter long (or short) at the close of the breakout bar
🛑 Stop: Below Wave 2 low (shown as Invalidation level)
📊 Conviction: Higher vol + RSI confirms strength is real
✔ Backtested at 60% win rate, PF 4.68× over 10 bars. Edge grows with hold time — don't exit too early.
∿ CORRECTIVE / NEUTRALNo trade
📍 Clarity Score: Below 7 — signal suppressed
📐 Structure: A-B-C zigzag, flat, or triangle in progress — counter-trend move
🎯 Action: Do nothing. Watch the Multi-Degree Confluence panel for the larger trend direction.
👀 Watch for: A fresh 1-2 setup forming after the correction ends
⏱ Targets: Hidden — no price targets on corrective structures
The engine showing you this is doing its job — protecting you from low-probability trades disguised as setups.
How It Works — Step by Step
Step 1 — Pivot Detection (no-repaint)
The engine scans price history for significant swing highs and lows. Pivots are only confirmed after a price reversal of 3% or more, preventing the "label-shifting" repaint you see in most EW tools. Intraday thresholds are tighter (0.3–0.8%) to preserve enough structure at shorter bars.
Step 2 — Pattern Classification
Swing points are sorted into two families. Impulse (motive, 0-1-2-3-4-5): 5-wave moves in the direction of the larger trend — this is what the Hunter targets. Wave 0 is the explicit origin (starting pivot) — it anchors the count and is always labeled on the chart so you can see exactly where the engine began counting. Corrective (A-B-C): counter-trend retracements that partially give back an impulse before the trend resumes. The A-B-C label just means "3-leg pullback" — A is the first leg down, B is the bounce, C is the final leg down. The engine identifies which family fits best and returns a confidence score.
Step 3 — Three Golden Rule Gates
R1: Wave 3 can never be the shortest motive wave. R2: Wave 2 can't retrace more than 100% of Wave 1. R3: Wave 4 can't overlap Wave 1 price territory (in non-diagonals). Any violation immediately rejects the count. No exceptions.
Step 4 — Clarity Score (0–10)
The Clarity Score measures how developed and valid the count is: +4 Wave 3 reached 1.618× — this is the biggest single gate. +3 All Golden Rules passed. +2 Fibonacci confluence at the current price level. +1 Balance & Proportion quality. Signals only fire above 7/10.
Step 5 — W3 Liftoff vs Confirmed
Two tradeable statuses exist. W3 Liftoff: Wave 3 just broke above Wave 1's high — the impulse has definitively launched. Confirmed: Wave 3 has subsequently reached 1.618× Wave 1. Backtest data shows Liftoff is strongest on the very next bar; Confirmed structures compound their edge over 5–10 bars.
Conviction Engine — Volume × Momentum
At any Liftoff or Confirmed status, a secondary Conviction Score (0–10) is computed from the breakout candle: volume as a ratio of the 20-bar average (weight 40%) and RSI above 50 (weight 60%). A score ≥ 8 = HIGH conviction. This helps distinguish genuine breakouts from low-volume noise.
Multi-Degree Confluence
The engine also silently runs on multiple timeframes and reports whether Monthly, Weekly, and Daily (or 4h/1h/15m for intraday) agree on direction. When all frames align, the setup gets a 2× conviction multiplier. A Liftoff on daily inside a Confirmed weekly Wave 3 is the highest-quality setup the engine can produce.
Invalidation Level & Trade Management
Every count includes a hard invalidation price: the level that, if closed through, means the count is wrong. Stop your position there — not at an arbitrary percent. Fibonacci targets T1 (conservative), T2 (moderate), and T3 (aggressive) are computed from ATR and wave-length ratios for each timeframe.
Pattern Library
Every pattern Wave Finder recognizes — what it means, how to trade it, and real backtest stats from walk-forward testing. Click any card to expand.
⚡Simple Impulse (5-Wave)Motive▶
The core Elliott Wave pattern: five waves in the direction of the trend (1-2-3-4-5). Waves 1, 3, 5 push in the trend direction; waves 2 and 4 are counter-trend pullbacks. Wave 3 is almost always the longest and fastest leg — that's the entry. Wave Finder fires W3_LIFTOFF the moment Wave 3 breaks above Wave 1's high, and CONFIRMED once Wave 3 reaches the 1.618× extension.
Backtest Win Rate
60%
CONFIRMED status, 10-bar hold
Profit Factor
4.68×
Walk-forward across NQ/ES/GC/Forex daily
Wave 3 can never be the shortest motive wave (Rule 1)
Wave 2 cannot retrace more than 100% of Wave 1 (Rule 2)
A special version of the 5-wave impulse where Wave 3 (most commonly) extends well beyond the 1.618× target — sometimes reaching 2.618× or even 4.236×. These produce the explosive trend days that catch most traders off-guard. Wave Finder detects the extension early by tracking how far price travels beyond the standard 1.618× level.
Extension Target
2.618×
Typical Wave 3 extension level (T3 target)
Frequency
~35%
Of confirmed impulse patterns extend beyond 1.618×
Extension almost always occurs in Wave 3 (occasionally Wave 5)
Target T2 (1.618×) becomes T1; retarget to 2.618× and 4.236×
Trail stop aggressively once 1.618× hit — don't give it all back
⚠️Failure Fifth (Truncation)Motive▶
A 5-wave sequence where Wave 5 fails to exceed Wave 3's high (bullish) or low (bearish). Truncations signal exhaustion — the trend tried to push further but couldn't. They are often followed by very sharp reversals because the traders who bought Wave 5's "new high" get caught in a fast unwind when Wave 5 fails to hold.
Reversal Probability
High
Sharp counter-trend move typically follows completion
Warning Signal
W5 < W3 high
Wave 5 close below Wave 3 high confirms truncation
Do NOT enter long on what looks like a breakout — it may be Wave 5 truncating
When Wave Finder labels this pattern: treat as a trend-exhaustion warning
Watch for a sharp A-B-C correction immediately following completion
📐Termination & Leading DiagonalMotive▶
Diagonal patterns look like wedges — waves overlap, moves are choppy, and progress is slow. A Termination Diagonal appears as Wave 5 and signals the very end of a trend (reversal imminent). A Leading Diagonal appears as Wave 1 and signals the very start of a new trend (setup, not entry). Both are low-clarity patterns; Wave Finder scores them lower and will not trigger CONFIRMED on a diagonal.
Signal Type
Warning
Termination = reversal; Leading = new trend starting
Clarity Score
Suppressed
Diagonals do not clear the 7.0 threshold for entry signals
Waves overlap in diagonals — this is normal and expected
Termination Diagonal: prepare for sharp reversal, not extension
Leading Diagonal in Wave 1: watch for Wave 2 pullback then normal Wave 3 entry
〽️Zigzag (A-B-C)Corrective▶
The sharpest and most common corrective pattern. Three waves: A (first counter-trend leg), B (partial retracement back), C (final leg that often matches or exceeds A in length). Zigzags are steep and fast — B-waves are typically short, and the C-wave often creates a "panic" feel. The engine sits out during zigzags; the signal fires when the correction ends and a new impulse starts.
B-wave Retrace
38–78%
Of Wave A length (deeper is rarer)
C-wave Target
1.0–1.618× A
A-wave equality is the most common C termination
No entry during A-B-C — wait for the correction to finish
B-wave rallies feel like "the trend is resuming" — they are not
After C completes, watch for a fresh Wave 1 + Wave 2 setup forming
↔️Flat & Expanded FlatCorrective▶
A sideways A-B-C correction where B retraces most of A (regular flat) or even exceeds the Wave A origin (expanded flat — a false breakout). Expanded Flats are dangerous: price pokes above the prior high, triggering stop-runs, before the C-wave drops sharply below the A-wave low. The engine flags these early using Fibonacci B-wave ratios.
Expanded Flat B
>100% of A
B-wave exceeds prior high = false breakout warning
C-wave Target
1.0–1.618× A
Expanded Flat C often reaches 1.618× A (painful drop)
Expanded Flat B-wave exceeding prior high = trap — do not chase the breakout
C-wave is usually the most damaging leg — sharp and fast
After C: price often snaps back quickly as the correction ends
🔺Triangle (Contracting & Expanding)Corrective▶
Five overlapping waves (A-B-C-D-E) that form converging (contracting) or diverging (expanding) trendlines. Triangles are powerfully predictive continuation patterns — they appear as Wave 4 or Wave B, and the breakout that follows almost always moves sharply in the direction of the prior trend, equal in distance to the widest part of the triangle.
Expanding triangle: lines diverge — less common, more volatile post-break
Once E-wave is complete, the thrust that follows is very fast — have your entry ready
🔗Double & Triple ThreeCorrective▶
Complex sideways corrections made of two or three A-B-C sequences linked by connector waves (X-waves). The market moves sideways for an extended period, grinding out both bulls and bears. These are exhausting to hold through but often end with sharp decisive moves once the final leg completes.
Duration
Extended
Can persist for weeks/months on daily charts
Resolution
Sharp
Large-range move typically follows completion
Pattern shown as W-X-Y (double) or W-X-Y-X-Z (triple) in the wave notation
Do not anticipate the end — wait for Wave Finder to detect a new impulse forming
X-waves can look like valid impulses — they are not; they are just connectors
🦋Bullish Butterfly Most StudiedHarmonic▶
A 5-point reversal pattern (X-A-B-C-D) where the D-point extends beyond the X origin — creating a "butterfly" shape. The Potential Reversal Zone (PRZ) at D is where price is expected to reverse sharply. The defining ratio is D = 1.272× or 1.618× of the XA move. This is one of the highest-probability harmonic setups when all ratios align.
Backtest Win Rate
40–44%
EURUSD/USDJPY daily, walk-forward
Key Ratios
B=0.786 XA
D=1.272 or 1.618 XA; C=0.38–0.886 AB
Entry at D-point PRZ — never before price reaches the PRZ
Stop: below D by ATR × 1.0 (small stop, tight pattern)
Target T1: A-point; T2: 0.618× AD retracement; T3: B-point
🦀Bullish Crab Best R:RHarmonic▶
The most extreme harmonic pattern — D extends to 1.618× beyond X, creating a very deep reversal zone. Because the stop is tight (just below the 1.618× level) and the target is the full AB move back, the Crab offers the best raw risk/reward of all harmonics when it works. The tradeoff: it fires less frequently and requires precise ratio alignment.
Win Rate
47.7%
USDJPY daily, avg R/R +0.228
D Extension
1.618× XA
Deepest extension of any harmonic pattern
B retraces only 38.2–61.8% of XA (shallow compared to Butterfly)
Stop must be tight — just below the 1.618× XA level
If price closes decisively through D-stop: count is invalid, exit immediately
🎯Bullish GartleyHarmonic▶
The original harmonic pattern — a 5-point retracement within an uptrend where D lands at 78.6% of XA. The Gartley is a pullback-entry pattern: you're buying into a corrective move before the prior trend resumes. The precise 78.6% B-retrace and 78.6% XA D-point alignment give it strong confluency when all ratios are met.
Win Rate
28.9%
NQ 1-hour, avg R/R +0.473 — high reward offsets lower hit rate
D-point Level
61.8–78.6% XA
Must stay within the defined range or pattern invalid
Works best in trending markets — buying the dip within an established uptrend
B must retrace 61.8% of XA (tighter tolerance than other harmonics)
Target T1: C-point; T2: A-point; invalidation: below X
🔄AB=CDHarmonic▶
The simplest harmonic: two equal legs (AB and CD). When the CD leg equals the AB leg in length (and often time), price frequently reverses. AB=CD is more of a support/resistance confirmation tool than a standalone trade; it's most valuable when it aligns with other patterns (Elliott Wave PRZ, Fibonacci levels, or a Gartley/Butterfly D-point).
Win Rate
26.3%
Standalone; expectancy -0.219 without confluence
Confluence Value
High
Strong confirmation signal when overlapping with other setups
Do not trade in isolation — use as confluence confirmation only
1.272× and 1.618× CD extensions are also valid (extended AB=CD)
Time symmetry (CD = AB duration) increases reliability
📉Falling Wedge Most ReliableChart Formation▶
Converging downward trendlines with each successive high and low lower than the last — but the highs falling faster than the lows. This compression is bullish: sellers are losing momentum. The breakout above the upper trendline typically comes with an explosive move. The Falling Wedge is the only confluence pattern in Wave Finder with a consistently positive expectancy across backtests.
Expectancy
+0.010 R
Only pattern with positive expectancy — Most Reliable
Win Rate / Signal Count
~24%
Stop rate only 0.5% — losses are small when wrong
Entry: breakout close above upper trendline (confirmed bar)
Target: measured move = height of the widest point of the wedge
False breakouts: wait for a full bar close above the line, not just a spike through
📐Ascending TriangleChart Formation▶
Flat resistance at the top with rising lows — price is coiling under a ceiling. Each bounce off the rising lows shows buyers getting more aggressive, eventually exhausting the sellers at resistance. When the flat resistance breaks, the move is typically sharp. The Ascending Triangle has the highest signal count in the backtest database — it fires frequently on all instruments.
Signal Frequency
Highest
39,954 signals across all instruments/timeframes
Stop Rate
Low
Below average stop rate on NQ/ES futures
Flat top + rising lows = buyers gaining control under resistance
Target: width of the triangle added to the breakout point
Volume should expand on the breakout bar — contraction is a warning
☕Cup & HandleChart Formation▶
A rounded bottom (the cup) followed by a small pullback (the handle) before price breaks out above the cup's rim. The cup represents a lengthy base-building process; the handle is a brief final shakeout before the breakout. Cup & Handle setups are most reliable on weekly/monthly charts where the cup is deep and well-formed.
Cup must be rounded (U-shape), not V-shaped — V-cups have lower win rates
Handle should retrace no more than 50% of the cup depth
Volume should contract during handle, expand sharply on breakout
🚩Bullish FlagChart Formation▶
A sharp up-move (the flagpole) followed by a tight, parallel downward consolidation (the flag). The flag is a brief pause — a last-chance entry before the trend continues. Bullish Flags are most reliable when the flagpole is very sharp and vertical, and when the flag is tight (small pullback). The measured move target equals the height of the flagpole.
Reliability
Low standalone
Fires rarely; lowest reliability of chart formations
Best Setup
Sharp flagpole
Vertical flagpole + tight consolidation = highest probability
Flag consolidation should form on lower volume than the flagpole
Target: flagpole length added to the flag breakout level
Steep flags (>45° decline) often resolve to the downside — watch slope
Disclaimer: Wave Finder counts are probabilistic interpretations of historical price data.
A CONFIRMED or W3 LIFTOFF status means the mathematical conditions are satisfied — it does not guarantee future price movement.
Backtested profit factors are derived from historical walk-forward testing across multiple instruments and timeframes;
they reflect past patterns, not future results. Live signal performance has not yet been independently audited.
Sample sizes for individual status buckets (especially CONFIRMED, n=35) are modest — interpret them directionally, not as precise estimates.
Always use the published invalidation level as your stop reference. Position size accordingly. This is not financial advice.