Famous Harmonic Patterns Names & Fibonacci ratios — reference sheet

Every classic harmonic pattern is built from 5 swing points labelled X-A-B-C-D. Four ratios describe it — this sheet documents the "ideal zone" accepted by most scanners/indicators, and matches the FxMath Scanner's built-in tables.

#Pattern structure & ratio conventions

RatioDefinitionMeaning
XABAB / XARetracement of leg XA by leg AB
ABCBC / ABRetracement of leg AB by leg BC
BCDCD / BCExtension of leg BC by leg CD
XADCD / XAHow far D projects relative to the whole XA leg

Ranges are the ideal zones; a tolerance (accuracy) around each range is normally applied — the Scanner's Pattern_Accuracy does exactly this.

flowchart LR X((X)) --> A((A)) A --> B((B)) B --> C((C)) C --> D((D)) X -. "XA leg (baseline)" .-> D

#Quick-reference table

PatternXABABCBCDXADIn Scanner
Gartley0.6180.382–0.8861.128–2.2360.618–0.786✔ (Gartley)
Bat0.382–0.50.382–0.8861.618–2.6180.886✔ (Bat)
Alt Bat0.3820.382–0.8861.618–2.6181.13✔ (Bat)
Butterfly0.7860.382–0.8861.618–2.6181.27✔ (Butterfly)
Crab0.382–0.6180.382–0.8862.24–3.6181.618✔ (Crab)
Deep Crab0.8860.382–0.8862.24–3.6181.618✔ (Crab)
Cypher0.382–0.6181.13–1.4141.272–2.00.786✔ (Cypher)
Shark 11.13–1.6181.618–2.240.886–1.130.886–1.13✔ (Shark)
Shark 21.13–1.6181.618–2.241.618–2.240.886–1.13✔ (Shark)
AB=CD—0.382–0.7861.13–2.240.618–0.786✔ (ABCD)
Three Drives1.13–1.6180.618–0.7861.27–1.618——
5-01.13–1.6181.618–2.240.5 (of XC)——
Deep Cypher0.6181.13–1.6181.618–2.6180.886✔ (Cypher)
Wolfe WaveGeometric channel pattern — no ratio table (see below)disabled

#1 · Gartley (classic / Max Gartley)

H.M. Gartley · Larry Pesavento

XAB0.618(0.382–0.618 allowed)
ABC0.382–0.886
BCD1.128–2.236ideal 1.272 / 1.618
XAD0.618–0.786ideal 0.786

The most famous pattern. D completes at the 0.786 retracement of XA. Trade at the 0.786 zone; PRZ = 0.786 XA.

#2 · Bat

Scott M. Carney

XAB0.382–0.5ideal 0.382
ABC0.382–0.886
BCD1.618–2.618
XAD0.886

D completes deep at the 0.886 retracement of XA. A very reliable zone.

#3 · Alt Bat ("Alternate Bat")

Scott M. Carney

XAB0.382
ABC0.382–0.886
BCD1.618–2.618
XAD1.13

D extends beyond X by 1.13 of XA — a "beyond X" pattern.

#4 · Butterfly

Bryce Gilmore / Scott M. Carney

XAB0.786
ABC0.382–0.886
BCD1.618–2.618ideal 1.618 / 2.0 / 2.618
XAD1.27

D extends beyond X by 1.27 of XA. Classic "extension" pattern.

#5 · Crab

Scott M. Carney

XAB0.382–0.618
ABC0.382–0.886
BCD2.24–3.618
XAD1.618

Extreme deep pattern; D at 1.618 XA. The most aggressive target.

#6 · Deep Crab

Scott M. Carney

XAB0.886
ABC0.382–0.886
BCD2.24–3.618ideal 2.618 / 3.618
XAD1.618

Like Crab, but B retraces extremely deep (0.886 XA).

#7 · Cypher

Scott M. Carney

XAB0.382–0.618
ABC1.13–1.414BC extends beyond A, not a retracement
BCD1.272–2.0
XAD0.786

The B–C leg overshoots point A; completes at 0.786 XA. Modern favourite.

#8 · Deep Cypher (variant)

XAB0.618
ABC1.13–1.618
BCD1.618–2.618
XAD0.886

#9 · Shark 1 / Shark 2

Scott M. Carney

RatioShark 1Shark 2
XAB1.13–1.6181.13–1.618AB extends beyond X
ABC1.618–2.241.618–2.24BC extends beyond A
BCD0.886–1.131.618–2.24Shark 2 has a deeper C–D leg
XAD0.886–1.130.886–1.13D lands near the origin of XA

#10 · AB=CD (basic 4-point structure)

ABC0.382 / 0.5 / 0.618 / 0.707 / 0.786B retraces AB
BCD1.13 / 1.27 / 1.618 / 2.0 / 2.24CD = AB when 1.0 (the "equal leg" rule)
XAD0.618–0.786when framed as XABCD

CD mirrors AB in length. The building block of all XABCD patterns.

#11 · Three Drives

Robert Prechter / Carney variant — 6 points X-A-B-C-D-E (or 1-2-3-4-5)

1st drive1.13–1.618extension of XA
2nd drive1.27–1.618extension of AB
3rd drive1.27–1.618extension of BC
Retracements0.618–0.786between drives

Exhaustion pattern; completion at the 3rd drive.

#12 · 5-0 Pattern ("Five-Zero")

Scott M. Carney

XAB1.13–1.618
ABC1.618–2.24
BCD0.5 of leg XCD retraces 50% of the X–C move
XAD0.0D is at the 50% retrace of XC, often beyond X

D is found by taking 50% of the X–C leg, not by CD/BC.

#Wolfe Waves (geometric — NOT Fibonacci-ratio based)

Bill Wolfe

RuleDescription
Structure5 swing points 1-2-3-4-5 on the ZigZag pivot list. Points 1,3,5 are the same pivot type (all highs for a bullish Wolfe, all lows for a bearish one); 2,4 the opposite type.
Channel linesLine A through points 1–3, Line B through 2–4. Both must slope in the same direction and form a converging/parallel channel toward the future.
Equal-time ruleTime(1-2) ≈ Time(2-3) ≈ Time(3-4) ≈ Time(4-5). Scanners typically allow ±40–50% tolerance (Wolfe_Time_Tolerance = 0.45).
EntryPoint 5 is the trigger, normally printing near Line B inside the channel. Trade the direction of the channel breakout: bullish → BUY at 5, bearish → SELL at 5.
TargetThe extension of the 1–4 line projected forward. Partial profits at the 2–4 line extension, full target at 1–4.
StopBeyond point 5, outside the channel, usually with a small buffer.

Scanner rule set (as implemented in the FxMath code)

  1. 5 alternating pivots: 1,3,5 same type; 2,4 opposite.
  2. Slope(1-3) and Slope(2-4) have the same sign and are not flat.
  3. Roughly equal time spacing (tolerance Wolfe_Time_Tolerance).
  4. Point 5 is the most recent confirmed pivot.
  5. Point 5 must be on the correct side of Line B (beyond it) for a valid breakout.
  6. Targets = 1–4 line projection at 3 forward time offsets (TP1/TP2/TP3).
⚠️ Temporarily disabled in the EAs The WolfeScan() detector exists in both Scanner and Helper but is switched off by default (Wolfe_Pattern_Enable = false and commented call sites). Re-enable per the instructions in Scanner limitations.

#Sources / references

ℹ️ Note Ratio conventions can vary slightly between implementations. This sheet uses the XABCD convention XAB/ABC/BCD/XAD that matches the FxMath Scanner's built-in tables (pattern(k) in the EA). Wolfe Waves are geometric (non-ratio) and implemented as a separate detector.
FxMath Harmonic Hunter — Pattern reference · v1.0 · Generated 2026-08-30