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Triangle Pattern

By Smart Wave Analysis Research TeamUpdated How we analyzeIntermediate

A triangle is a sideways correction of five overlapping waves labelled A-B-C-D-E, each made of three waves. Triangles appear just before the final move of a larger pattern, so they are most common in wave 4, wave B and the last part of complex corrections.

Structure

A triangle subdivides 3-3-3-3-3. Its waves move between two trend lines: one connecting the ends of waves A and C, and one connecting the ends of waves B and D. Wave E often stops short of the A-C line.

Contracting triangle diagram labelled A B C D E with converging lines and a thrust
Triangles appear before the final move. The thrust often travels about the widest part of the triangle.

Types of triangles

  • Contracting: the trend lines converge. This is by far the most common. It can be symmetrical, ascending or descending.
  • Barrier: one trend line is nearly flat, like a ceiling or floor.
  • Expanding: the trend lines diverge. This form is rare.

Where triangles appear

Triangles come before the final move in a pattern. You will find them in:

  • Wave 4 of an impulse, just before wave 5.
  • Wave B of a zigzag, just before wave C.
  • The last part (Y or Z) of a double or triple three.

Triangles do not appear in wave 2 of an impulse.

Barrier triangle diagram with a flat upper line and rising lower line
A barrier triangle has one horizontal boundary, like a ceiling or floor.

The thrust after a triangle

When a triangle ends, the market moves out of it with a fast move called the thrust. In a wave 4 triangle, the thrust is wave 5. A useful guide is that the thrust often travels about the widest part of the triangle, measured from the start of wave A.

Impulse diagram with a triangle in the wave 4 position before a final wave 5
A triangle in wave 4 points to one more push: wave 5.

Trading tips

  • Avoid trading inside a triangle. The waves overlap and are hard to time.
  • Wait for the break of the B-D line after wave E ends.
  • Remember the thrust is a final move. Plan to take profit, not to hold for a long new trend.

Frequently asked questions

How many waves does a triangle have?

Five waves, labelled A, B, C, D and E, each made of three smaller waves.

Where do triangles appear?

In wave 4, wave B and the last part of complex corrections, just before the final move.

What is a triangle thrust?

The fast move out of a triangle when it ends, often about the width of the triangle's widest part.

Sources and further reading

Educational content only. Nothing on this page is financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell. Trading involves risk and you can lose money. Elliott Wave counts are probabilities, not certainties. Read our full disclaimer and affiliate disclosure.