Elliott Wave Patterns Explained
Every wave count is assembled from a handful of patterns. Here they are at a glance.
Updated August 2026 · 2 min read
Motive patterns
- Impulse — the standard five-wave move. Clean, directional, wave 3 never the shortest.
- Diagonal — a wedge-shaped five-wave move with overlapping waves, found at the start or the end of a trend.
Corrective patterns
- Zigzag — sharp A-B-C, deep retracement, trend likely to resume.
- Flat — sideways A-B-C, B returns near the start of A.
- Triangle — five contracting legs, typically the last pause before the final move.
- Combination — two corrections joined by an X wave when the market drifts.
Spot them on real charts
Patterns look obvious in a textbook diagram and messy in the market. The WaveMaster exercise library walks you through real chart examples of each pattern until you recognise them at a glance.