What it is
The Bat Pattern is a harmonic retracement pattern discovered by Scott Carney. It completes at the 88.6% retracement of XA — deeper than the Gartley's 78.6% — making it the deepest retracement harmonic that stays within the XA range.
The Bat offers the tightest risk:reward of all harmonics because D completes very close to X, meaning your stop (beyond X) is extremely tight relative to the potential reversal.
In a bullish Bat, price makes a deep 88.6% retracement of the XA upmove before reversing. The pattern essentially says: "this is the last possible level before a full retracement" — making it a final stand for buyers.
The psychology
The Bat tests the absolute limits of a retracement. At 88.6% of XA, price has given back almost everything — holders are in maximum pain, and most have given up.
This extreme retracement shakes out every weak hand. Only committed holders remain. The 88.6% level — mathematically the square root of 78.6% — acts as the final line of defense before a full retracement to X.
When the reversal occurs from 88.6%, it's often sharp. The combination of exhausted selling, cleared stops, and a precise Fibonacci level creates a springboard effect. Shorts covering at the extreme add fuel.
Identification
- 01XA leg — Clear impulse defining the range
- 02AB retracement — 38.2–50% of XA (shallower than Gartley)
- 03BC retracement — 38.2–88.6% of AB
- 04D completes at 88.6% of XA — The defining ratio
- 01CD = 161.8–261.8% of BC — Extended CD leg into D
- 02D is very close to X — Tight stop opportunity
- 03Reversal candle at 88.6% — Pin bar, hammer, engulfing
- 04Divergence on momentum indicator — RSI or MACD
- 01D exceeds X — Pattern invalidated (consider Butterfly/Crab)
- 02AB exceeds 50% of XA — More likely a Gartley
- 03D is at 78.6% — That's a Gartley, not a Bat
- 04No reaction at 88.6% — Price continuing through
Execution framework
Enter at 88.6% of XA with reversal confirmation. Limit orders work well given the precise level.
Below X (bullish) or above X (bearish). This is the tightest stop of any harmonic — just beyond D to X.
T1: 38.2% of AD. T2: 61.8% of AD. T3: Point A. The tight stop means even modest targets give excellent R:R.
Best R:R of all harmonics — often 1:3 to 1:5 due to the tight stop.
Context matters
The Bat is the harmonic trader's favorite because of its risk:reward profile. The tight stop at X combined with the deep reversal potential makes it statistically attractive.
- 01Precise 88.6% completion
- 02Clear reversal candle at D
- 03D is within pips/ticks of X (tight stop)
- 04Structure or Fibonacci cluster at 88.6%
- 01D overshoots to 90%+ of XA without reversing
- 02AB retracement doesn't match required 38.2–50%
- 03No momentum divergence at D
- 04Strong trend driving through the level
The Bat's edge is pure math: your stop is tiny (D to X) but your target is large (D back to A). Even a 50% win rate is highly profitable with this R:R.
Compare the full pattern set
Use the library to compare similar structures before deciding what the chart is actually building.