Bearish Candlestick Patterns
Bearish candlestick patterns highlight areas where selling pressure is taking control, often following an uptrend or failed breakout. These include classic one- and multi-bar formations that reflect weakness in price action, hesitation at resistance, or an early shift in sentiment. Detected using regular session price data, these patterns help identify potential tops, reversal signals, or breakdown confirmation. MarketAlpha tracks both current and prior signals to support timing and downside risk assessment.
Bearish Engulfing
A strong bearish reversal pattern. A large bearish (red) candlestick completely engulfs the real body of the prior smaller bullish (green) candlestick. It typically forms after an upward move and signals a potential shift from buying to selling pressure.
Most reliable when it appears after an extended uptrend and is followed by downside follow-through.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Bearish Engulfing, Bearish Engulfing -1D
Bearish Evening Doji Star
A potential trend reversal down. A strong bullish candlestick is followed by a doji that gaps up, then a bearish candlestick that gaps down and pushes back into the first candle.
Most meaningful after a rally when the third candle closes deeply into the first candle’s body.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Bearish Evening Doji Star, Bearish Evening Doji Star -1D
Bearish Harami
Pause in the uptrend, possible bearish reversal. A small candlestick forms inside the body of the prior larger bullish candlestick.
Often used as an early warning signal when it forms near resistance or after a strong run-up.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Bearish Harami, Bearish Harami -1D
Dark Cloud Cover
Bearish reversal sign. A bearish candlestick follows a bullish candlestick, opening above the previous day's high and closing below its midpoint but still above the previous day’s open.
Most effective when it forms after an uptrend and the close lands clearly below the midpoint of the prior candle.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Dark Cloud Cover, Dark Cloud Cover -1D
Hanging Man
Potential bearish reversal after an uptrend. A small body near the top of the range and a long lower shadow. The long wick implies intraday selling pressure despite a small net change.
Often treated as a warning candle that becomes more actionable if the next session confirms weakness.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Hanging Man, Hanging Man -1D
Shooting Star
Potential bearish reversal after an uptrend. A small body near the bottom of the range and a long upper shadow.
Most useful near resistance or after a sharp intraday push higher that gets rejected into the close.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Shooting Star, Shooting Star -1D
Three Outside Down Pattern
Strong bearish reversal. A bullish candlestick is followed by a bearish engulfing candlestick, then another bearish candlestick that confirms with a lower close.
Most reliable when the third candle closes below the engulfing candle’s close, confirming control by sellers.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Three Outside Down Pattern, Three Outside Down Pattern -1D
Three Inside Down Pattern
Potential bearish reversal. A bullish candlestick is followed by a smaller bearish candlestick inside its body, then another bearish candlestick that confirms with a lower close.
Most useful after an uptrend when the third candle confirms by closing below the second candle’s close.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Three Inside Down Pattern, Three Inside Down Pattern -1D
Black Closing Marubozu
Strong bearish signal. A long red body and no lower shadow (close near the low).
Often used to confirm breakdowns when it prints after a support failure or failed rebound.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Black Closing Marubozu, Black Closing Marubozu -1D
Black Marubozu
Strong bearish signal. A long red body and no shadows.
Often used as momentum confirmation when you want clean downside continuation with little intraday retracement.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Black Marubozu, Black Marubozu -1D
Black Opening Marubozu
Strong bearish signal. A long red body and no upper shadow (open near the high).
Most meaningful when it appears after a failed rally attempt or into overhead resistance.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Black Opening Marubozu, Black Opening Marubozu -1D
Three Black Crows
Strong bearish signal. Three consecutive long bearish candlesticks with lower closes.
Often used as confirmation of a trend shift when it follows a topping process or a failed breakout.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Three Black Crows, Three Black Crows -1D
Long Upper Shadow
Potential bearish signal with strong selling pressure. A long upper shadow relative to the body, with the upper shadow clearly dominating the lower shadow. Often indicates a rejection of higher prices.
Most useful near resistance or after a strong intraday spike that fades into the close.
Regular CloseCompact Name:
Long Upper Shadow, Long Upper Shadow -1D