Wolfe Waves are a trading pattern developed by Bill Wolfe. This article provides a comprehensive guide to trading using this chart pattern.
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The Wolfe Waves principle is similar to Newton’s Third Law: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” As Bill Wolfe explained, the balance between forces often reveals a pattern that offers significant profit opportunities to those with a trained eye
Wolfe Waves are not related to Elliott Wave Theory, even though they might look similar at first glance. Unlike Elliott Wave Theory, which is based on specific market wave patterns and phases, Wolfe Waves are purely a chart pattern.
The Wolfe Wave pattern:
✔ works on any market and timeframe;
✔ can be either bullish or bearish;
✔ is effective for both trend-following and trend-reversal trading.
Bill Wolfe initially focused on the “Rising Wedge” pattern. Through his studies, he developed a new pattern that he later showed to a friend who worked as a rocket scientist. It was this friend who suggested naming it the “Wolfe Wave.”
The Wolfe Wave pattern consists of five waves:
A bullish Wolfe Wave pattern occurs when the price drops to a new local low at point 5, indicating a potential upward move. Points 2 and 4 should be higher than points 1 and 3, and by the end of the fifth wave, the price should touch the line connecting points 1 and 4.
Below is an example of a Wolfe Wave, provided by its creator. It is applied to a 30-minute chart of the S&P 500.
ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) – the predicted time when the price is expected to reach its target. It is determined by the intersection of lines drawn through points 2–4 and 1–3–5.
EPA (Estimated Price at Arrival) – the predicted price level where the price is expected to arrive. It is used as a target for taking profit. To find the EPA, draw a target line through points 1–4, then determine the price level at the time of the ETA.
The bearish Wolfe Wave pattern is the mirror image of the bullish pattern.
Below is an original example of a bearish Wolfe Wave as demonstrated by its creator.
In simple terms, a bearish Wolfe Wave occurs when points 2 and 4 are lower than points 1 and 3, and the price moves from point 5 toward the target line, which connects points 1 and 4.
While there are third-party platforms that offer automated Wolfe Wave detection, we cannot guarantee their accuracy. As an alternative, we suggest using the ATAS ZigZag indicator along with range charts (to reduce noise). These tools will not do all the work for you, but they can help identify the key extrema that may lead to the formation of a Wolfe Wave pattern.
Example. A bullish Wolfe Wave pattern on an oil futures chart.
The first point of the pattern (1) forms at a test of the ledge level’s breakout (on the left). Point 5 signals the entry for a long position.
In this example, the price reached the EPA level earlier than the expected ETA.
It is important to note that using the Wolfe Wave pattern does not eliminate the need to conduct your own market analysis and seek additional confirmations to minimize risk.
Trading Wolfe Waves involves the following basic steps:
Pattern identification. Use the criteria described above to spot a Wolfe Wave. Make sure the pattern is fully formed and the price is in the process of completing the fifth wave.
Entry. Entering a trade at point 5 may involve certain nuances (details are provided in the examples below).
Stop-loss. Bill Wolfe did not offer strict guidelines for setting stop-losses, emphasizing the importance of “knowing yourself.” If you are unsure of how to manage risk in a worst-case scenario, a protective stop order is essential.
Example. How to calculate a stop-loss level. If you buy a stock at $100 with a target price of $105, a reasonable stop-loss can be set by dividing the distance to the target by 2 or 3. In this case, a stop-loss around $97.75-$98.33 would be appropriate. You might also consider placing the stop-loss below (for a bullish pattern) or above (for a bearish pattern) the reversal formation on a range chart at point 5.
Exit. The price target is usually determined using the line connecting points 1 and 4. Sometimes traders might choose more conservative targets based on nearby support and resistance levels.
Bill Wolfe also advised considering “emergency” exits if unexpected events start impacting the price.
The creator of the Wolfe Wave pattern emphasized the importance of trading volumes as a key factor in validating the pattern.
On the original chart from the author, vertical volume spikes are highlighted to confirm the bullish Wolfe Wave pattern at both the entry and exit points.
Analyzing trading volumes can indeed enhance the effectiveness of almost any trading pattern. The examples below will use footprint charts to display transaction data from market buyers and sellers at each price level.
The example below demonstrates how the Wolfe Wave pattern can be used to trade cryptocurrencies, specifically for entering a short position when an uptrend reverses into a downtrend.
In this example, the price of Litecoin was rising steadily until it surpassed the $66 mark. Then, the Wolfe Wave pattern began to form.
In this example, point 5 formed just above the 1–3 line. This is known as the “Sweet Zone.” If you draw a line to the right from point 1 (shown in green) parallel to the 1–4 line, the area between this line and the line from points 1 to 3 is called the Sweet Zone. It is considered that setups in this zone offer the best risk-to-reward ratio.
The footprint chart on the right shows how the reversal at point 5 happened. Entering a short position here means trading against the trend, or “catching a falling knife,” but:
At the peak, the bright green clusters (6) indicate trapped buyers or signs that stop-losses for sellers were triggered. As a result, the price closed at lows due to pressure from new sellers (7).
Ultimately, the price fell well below the target line.
Trading with the Wolfe Wave pattern while following the trend involves the following approach:
The idea is that the correction will end at point 5, and the trend will then continue in its original direction.
Example on the hourly chart of S&P 500 futures.
On the left, there is a visible downtrend, with the price making an attempt to rise, forming the Wolfe Wave pattern with points 1–2–3–4–5.
On the right, the footprint chart reveals a reversal: buyers get trapped at the top, and sellers effectively drive the price back down.
Based on Wolfe Wave logic, the price reached both take-profit targets (depending on which low you use to draw the target line).
From a cluster analysis perspective, the scenario suggests that inexperienced traders thought the downtrend had turned into an uptrend. However, their positions quickly went into the red.
The Wolfe Wave pattern can be combined with various approaches and technical analysis tools, such as:
However, trading Wolfe Waves with volume indicators seems to be particularly promising.
Example. The Wolfe Wave pattern (1-2-3-4-5) on the daily chart of S&P 500 futures.
Upon spotting the pattern and noting that the price closed above the maximum level (6) on the profile, the trader could use this information to open long positions, targeting the level indicated by the line drawn through points 1 and 4.
✔ High risk-to-reward ratio.
✔ Can be combined with other methods, such as support and resistance levels or footprint patterns.
✔ Applicable across various markets and timeframes.
✔ Clear entry and exit rules.
✘ Rarity. Finding a Wolfe Wave pattern in historical data can take considerable time.
✘ Subjectivity: accurate pattern recognition requires experience.
✘ Risk of false signals. Wolfe Wave often involves trading against the trend, which carries higher risk.
Wolfe Waves are a five-wave price pattern used to predict market reversals. The creator of this pattern highlighted that it reflects the market’s natural tendency toward equilibrium.
To spot a valid Wolfe Wave, certain criteria must be met, such as the correct alignment of waves and the crossing of key price levels. When identifying the entry point 5, it is crucial to watch for the price as it nears the line connecting points 1 and 3. It is also helpful to confirm the formation of points 2 and 4 and analyze volume data for a more informed trading decision.
Linda Raschke, in her book, was impressed to note that Bill Wolfe’s son, Brian, was successfully trading stock indices using the Wolfe Wave pattern as a teenager. She did not detail the extent of his success, but since Wolfe Waves are a visually identified pattern, collecting reliable statistics can be challenging. This challenge stems from the complexity of describing the pattern in a format suitable for trading algorithms.
Weiss Waves and Wolfe Waves are both methods of technical analysis, but they differ in their formations and principles. Wolfe Waves are based on a five-wave pattern that signals potential trend reversals, while Weiss Waves offer a more complex approach that involves analyzing the volume at each wave. You can learn more about Weiss Waves in a separate article.
Is trading Wolfe Waves or another chart pattern worth it? How many setups can you expect, and what is the potential profit? To get answers to these questions, use the ATAS Market Replay simulator for traders.
This feature of the ATAS platform uses historical data to recreate real-time trading conditions. It is easy, financially safe, and highly effective for learning.
To try the simulator, download the ATAS platform for free, install, and launch it, and then:
The example below shows a significant selling volume at the market’s peak (6), highlighted by the DOM Levels indicator. Through training, you might find that volume analysis offers a more significant competitive edge than the Wolfe Wave pattern.
When practicing trading patterns in the Market Replay simulator, you can:
ATAS enables you to load tick-by-tick data from cryptocurrency, stock, and futures markets, providing a comprehensive basis for analyzing price and volume interactions. This helps refine your trading strategy by identifying key patterns.
Wolfe Waves are a chart pattern that the creator links to physics principles. When the price moves in one direction, it might be followed by an impulse pushing it the other way. Bill Wolfe learned to identify such points using his eponymous five-wave pattern, which resembles a narrowing wedge.
In practice, while Wolfe Waves can offer a strong reward-to-risk ratio, identifying them can be tricky due to the subjective nature of pattern recognition. To improve your trading with Wolfe Waves and other patterns, professional volume analysis tools can be very helpful.
Download ATAS. It is free. Once you install the platform, you will automatically get the free START plan, which includes cryptocurrency trading and basic features. You can use this plan for as long as you like before deciding to upgrade to a more advanced plan for additional ATAS tools. You can also activate the Free Trial at any time, giving you 14 days of full access to all the platform’s features. This trial allows you to explore the benefits of higher-tier plans and make a well-informed purchasing decision.
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Information in this article cannot be perceived as a call for investing or buying/selling of any asset on the exchange. All situations, discussed in the article, are provided with the purpose of getting acquainted with the functionality and advantages of the ATAS platform.
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