What it looks like
Five swing points X, A, B, C, D. AB pulls back only 38 to 50% of XA. BC moves back towards A without passing it. CD then drives deep, so D sits at 88.6% of XA, close to X but not beyond it. Bullish: XA rises and D is a low. Bearish: XA falls and D is a high.
What it means
The swings have reached the point where the Bat says the move should end, known as point D. It is a forecast made from proportions, not a sign that price has turned. Harmonic traders believe moves often stall at these Fibonacci proportions because many orders and profit targets gather there. Point D gives a precise place to act and a tight place to be proved wrong, which is the appeal of the pattern.
Bullish and bearish versions
How to trade it
- 1
Label X, A, B, C and D and check the ratios fit the Bat.
- 2
Confirmation (optional but common): a candle that turns at D, such as a close back up from D for the bullish version.
- 3
Entry: buy near D for the bullish version, sell near D for the bearish.
- 4
Stop: just beyond D. Example on gold (bullish): X 3,950, A 4,050, B 4,005 (45%), C 4,030, D 3,961 (88.6%). Buy near 3,962 with a stop at 3,954, an 8 point risk. The last leg is 69 points, so targets are about 3,987 (38%) and 4,004 (62%).
- 5
Targets: 38% and then 62% of the last leg (C to D), measured back from D.
A close beyond D: below D for the bullish version, above D for the bearish version.
Where it works best
On 1 hour to daily charts of gold, indices and major forex pairs where swings are clear and orderly.
WickSpeak finds bullish and bearish Bat patterns automatically, measures the ratios for you and names the pattern on the candles that made it. The note says what it is, how to trade it near D and that a close beyond D proves it wrong. In Playbook you can use it as a condition in a play, alone or alongside other patterns and indicators (any of the 146 patterns can be a condition), and backtest it on past candles with your own costs.
Common mistakes
- Mixing it up with the Gartley; the shallow B and deep 88.6% D are what make a Bat.
- Setting the stop beyond X by habit, which is far wider than the pattern needs.
- Buying at D in a strong trend without waiting for any candle to turn.
Related patterns
Questions traders ask
What are the Bat pattern ratios?
B retraces 38 to 50% of XA and D completes at 88.6% of XA. D stays inside X.
Where do you enter a Bat pattern?
Near point D, at the 88.6% level. Many traders wait for a candle to turn at D before buying or selling.
What are the Bat pattern targets?
The usual targets are 38% and 62% of the last leg, C to D, measured back from D.
Are harmonic patterns reliable?
A harmonic pattern is a forecast made from proportions, not a sign that price has turned. That is why many traders wait for a candle to turn at D before entering. We do not quote win rates; backtest the pattern on your own market first.