What is the descending triangle pattern?
The descending triangle is a bearish continuation pattern. A flat floor with lower highs pressing down onto it. Rallies die earlier each time.
How does the descending triangle form?
Lower highs press down toward a flat floor. Rallies fade earlier each time while the lows hold level.
How do you confirm a descending triangle?
The floor looks solid right up until it isn't. What tells you it is weakening is the shrinking distance each bounce covers.
When does the descending triangle fail?
A well-known floor attracts buyers as much as sellers; these break upward often enough that the shape alone decides nothing.
No chart pattern works every time. The examples on this page were chosen because they show the pattern clearly, and in real markets patterns fail often.
Practice on real charts
3 real examples of the descending triangle, cut off where the pattern completed. Make your call, then see what happened.
The shaded area is a descending triangle. Where did price go next?
