harmonic patterns, useful tool or retired strategy

[Jake]

harmonic patterns (gartley, butterfly, bat, crab, cypher) had a moment around 2018-2020. since then theyve faded from mainstream trading discussion. you rarely see them mentioned in current trading content.

did they actually work for a while and stop working? or were they always more about marketing than edge? for those whove genuinely traded harmonics: what was your experience and would you still recommend learning them?

[Dean]

traded harmonics seriously 2019-2021. won rate was around 55% with proper rules, R was 1.8. genuine edge for a while. by 2022 i noticed setups completing but no longer leading to profitable moves consistently. either too many traders entered the space or algos started front-running them. moved on. would i recommend learning? for educational completeness yes, as a primary edge in 2026 no.

[Blake]

+1. harmonics had real edge during their popularity peak but the edge decayed. classic 'strategy crowding' problem - when too many traders use the same setup, it gets traded away or hunted. they're not 'wrong' as a concept, just no longer differentiating.

[Cole]

are harmonic patterns related to fibonacci? i see fib levels mentioned with them

[Maverick]

yes. harmonic patterns are essentially specific combinations of fibonacci retracement and extension ratios. for example a 'gartley pattern' has specific fib ratios at each leg (0.618 retracement, 1.272 extension, etc). theyre fib-based geometric patterns, basically. understanding fib is prerequisite to understanding harmonics.

[danielw_]

harmonics worked when retail traders all started using the same patterns and the market obliged for a while. classic reflexivity. once they figured out everyone was watching the same levels, the pattern died. textbook crowding.

[darkhorizon]

i'll defend harmonics partially. on higher timeframes (4H+) with confluence (alignment with major SR or trend direction), they still work for me. the edge is smaller than it was, but its not zero. dismissing entirely is overcorrection.

[midnightzone]

i love harmonic patterns aesthetically even though i dont trade them anymore they made me appreciate market geometry. the broader concept of 'price respecting fib relationships' is still valid even if specific patterns lost edge

[lowkeysam]

edge faded. not gone.