3-candle pattern · bullish bias
Morning Star candlestick pattern
A morning star is a three-candle bullish reversal: a large red candle, a small candle that gaps or sits lower, and a large green candle that closes well into the first candle's body.
How to identify it
- A prior decline and a large red candle.
- A small-bodied candle that trades below the first candle's body.
- A large green candle that closes above the midpoint of the first candle's body.
Where it matters: Appears after a decline, near a low.
What it means
Selling, then indecision, then strong buying: a common sequence at the end of a decline.
What confirms it
The third candle is part of the pattern's own confirmation; a further higher close adds to it.
What invalidates it
A close below the low of the middle candle.
Common mistakes
- Reporting a morning star that completed many candles ago. It only matters near current price.
- Accepting a weak third candle that closes low in the first candle's body.
Frequently asked questions
Is the morning star bullish?
Yes, it is a bullish reversal pattern after a decline.
Does the middle candle need a gap?
In many markets, especially 24-hour ones like forex and crypto, gaps are rare. A small middle candle trading below the first body is usually accepted.
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Educational content only, not financial advice. Chart patterns describe probabilities, not certainties, and every pattern can fail. See our disclaimer.