Comparison
Gravestone Doji vs Shooting Star
Both have a long upper wick and little or no lower wick, and both are read as bearish after an advance. A shooting star has a small body near the bottom of the range. A gravestone doji has no real body: it rallied, then closed back at or near the open and the low.
Gravestone Doji
bearish bias
A gravestone doji opens and closes at or near the session low, with a long upper wick. Buyers pushed price higher but sellers erased all of it by the close.
Shooting Star
bearish bias
A shooting star has a small body near the bottom of its range and a long upper wick, appearing after an advance. Buyers pushed price higher but sellers drove it back down before the close.
Side by side
| Aspect | Gravestone Doji | Shooting Star |
|---|---|---|
| Body | None, open and close at the low | Small, near the bottom |
| Bias after an advance | Bearish | Bearish |
| After a decline | Much weaker, can resemble an inverted hammer | Called an inverted hammer instead |
| Confirmation | A next candle closing below the gravestone's low | A next candle closing below the shooting star's body |
How to tell them apart on a chart
- Check for a visible body.
- Both carry more weight at resistance than in open space.
- Wait for the next candle.
Gravestone Doji: confirmation and invalidation
Confirms: A next candle closing below the gravestone's low.
Invalidated: A close above the gravestone's high.
Shooting Star: confirmation and invalidation
Confirms: A next candle that closes below the shooting star's body.
Invalidated: A close above the shooting star's high.
Frequently asked questions
Is a gravestone doji always bearish?
No. It is a warning after an advance. Without a following lower close it is only a sign of hesitation.
What invalidates both?
A close above the candle's high.
Full guides
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Educational content only, not financial advice. Chart patterns describe probabilities, not certainties, and every pattern can fail. See our disclaimer.