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Triangle Pattern Types: Symmetrical, Ascending, and Descending

In the triangle pattern overview
we treated the triangle mainly as a zone of energy compression.

In this article we go one level deeper and focus on the three main types:

  • Symmetrical Triangle
  • Ascending Triangle
  • Descending Triangle

We will look at them in terms of structure, context, and breakout behavior.

The diagram below compares the three types in their simplest form:

  • Left: Symmetrical – both highs and lows converge
  • Middle: Ascending – flat ceiling, rising lows
  • Right: Descending – flat floor, falling highs

More important than the names is asking:

“Which side is gradually losing power?”
“In which direction is pressure building up?”

1. Symmetrical Triangle

1-1. Structure: Both sides converge

A symmetrical triangle is defined by:

  • Highs that are slightly lower each time (lower highs)
  • Lows that are slightly higher each time (higher lows)
  • Upper and lower boundaries with roughly similar slopes

In other words, neither side is clearly winning yet –
the market is pushing both buyers and sellers into a tighter range.

From the swing-vs-correction viewpoint,

  • symmetrical triangles often form as a consolidation after a strong swing,
  • where several smaller swings are packed into one “decision zone.”

1-2. Context: Often a continuation of the prior trend

In many markets, a symmetrical triangle:

  • appears in the middle of an existing trend, and
  • statistically breaks out more often in the direction of that trend.

So if a symmetrical triangle forms in an uptrend, you might expect:

  • a higher chance of bullish continuation, if
    it is not already at the very late stage of that trend.

Near a major resistance, especially after a long run-up,
a symmetrical triangle can also become the last consolidation before a reversal.
Location matters.

1-3. Breakouts and failures

When reading a symmetrical triangle breakout, ask:

  1. Does the breakout candle close clearly outside the boundary?
  2. Does volume expand on that breakout?
    (See volume.)
  3. Does price stay outside, or does it quickly snap back inside?

If price:

  • breaks out,
  • fails to get far from the boundary on a closing basis, and
  • then snaps back through the triangle on higher volume,

you may be looking at a failure pattern as described in
failure:
a symmetrical triangle failure that launches a move in the opposite direction.

2. Ascending Triangle

2-1. Structure: Flat top, rising lows

An ascending triangle is characterised by:

  • A relatively flat resistance line on top
  • Higher lows stepping up underneath

This implies:

  • Sellers are active at roughly the same price zone, but
  • buyers are willing to pay more on each dip.

So pressure is building upwards, even though resistance still holds.

2-2. Context: Common bullish continuation pattern

Ascending triangles often show up:

  • in the middle of an uptrend, and
  • just under key resistance identified from
    s-r.

When you see:

  • repeated tests of the same resistance,
  • rising lows squeezing price higher, and
  • gently contracting volume inside the pattern,

you may be looking at a candidate for bullish continuation.

2-3. Breakout trading ideas

A common way to structure trades around an ascending triangle is:

  1. Confirm the breakout

    • Look for a candle that closes clearly above the resistance line.
    • Check if volume is noticeably above average on that break.

  2. Wait for a retest

    • Rather than chasing the first candle,
      see if the former resistance gets retested as support.
    • Use that area to look for tighter entry triggers on lower timeframes.

  3. Define stop and targets

    • Stop:
      Below the retest low and the triangle’s lower boundary.
    • Targets:
      • The height of the triangle projected from the breakout point, and
      • nearby higher-timeframe resistance zones.

For more detailed breakout/fakeout tactics,
see breakout-fakeout and
risk-management.

3. Descending Triangle

3-1. Structure: Flat floor, falling highs

A descending triangle is the mirror image of the ascending triangle:

  • A relatively flat support line at the bottom
  • Lower highs stepping down from above

This suggests:

  • Buyers are still defending a certain price area, but
  • sellers are becoming more aggressive at lower and lower levels.

Supply is building on top of a fragile support.

3-2. Context: Continuation or breakdown of support

Descending triangles are often found:

  • midway through a downtrend, or
  • around the bottom of a trading range.

If the flat support aligns with a level that
has been tested many times in s-r, then:

  • A decisive break below can trigger
    stops + new short positions at the same time,
    resulting in a strong leg lower.

On the other hand:

  • If several breakdown attempts fail and
  • price eventually breaks out above the descending trendline,

it may signal that the downtrend is losing strength.

3-3. Breakdowns and fake breaks

A very common pattern in descending triangles:

  • Price dips just below support,
  • quickly moves back into the range, and
  • then pushes higher, often sharply.

If:

  • the initial breakdown happens on only modest volume, but
  • the snap-back carries more volume,

it may be a failed breakdown / short-covering rally scenario –
again, a topic we expand on in
failure.

4. Triangles, Timeframes, and Volume Together

Although we’ve separated the three types, in live markets it helps to
view them through three lenses at the same time:

  1. Timeframe

    • A triangle on a 5-minute chart might just be a wick on the daily.
    • Many traders first locate the bigger triangle on the 4h or daily,
      then refine entries on lower timeframes.

  2. Trend and swing position

    • Using swing-vs-correction,
      ask whether the triangle sits in the early, middle, or late stage of the move.
    • The same pattern near the start of a new trend
      and near the end of an exhausted trend can mean very different things.

  3. Volume profile

    • Inside the triangle, volume often drifts lower.
    • On genuine breakouts, volume tends to expand in the direction of the move.
    • When volume is heavier on the move back through the pattern
      than on the breakout itself, you may be looking at a failure.

5. Practical Checklist and What to Read Next

Whenever you see any of the three triangle types, run through this checklist:

  1. What is the dominant higher-timeframe trend?

    • On the daily / 4h, are we trending up, trending down, or ranging?
    • See timeframes.

  2. Where in the current swing is the triangle?

  3. Which type is it?

    • Symmetrical, ascending, or descending?
    • Is pressure building up or down?

  4. What do the breakout close and volume look like?

    • Does the breakout candle close cleanly outside the pattern?
    • Is volume expanding or not?

  5. What is your invalidation level?

    • At what price do you say,
      “this triangle idea is wrong and I should be out”?

Once you are comfortable with the three triangle types,
the natural next step is to look at failure patterns and traps:

  • Breakouts that quickly reverse back inside
  • Support/resistance breaks that fail and reverse hard

These are covered in more detail in
failure,
where we treat failures not as accidents,
but as tradable patterns with their own structure.