Uncovering the Pros and Cons of Bat Pattern in MT4 with Code Implementation

What is Bat Pattern and How it can be formed?

The Bat pattern is a popular chart pattern used in forex trading. It's a harmonic pattern that traders use to identify potential trend reversals in the market.

Bat Pattern analysis for gold
Bat Pattern Analysis for XAUUSD


The Bat pattern consists of five points labeled X, A, B, C, and D. It's formed when the following conditions are met:

Point X is the starting point of the pattern and represents a significant high or low in price.

Point A is the next point in the pattern and represents a retracement from point X to point A. It's usually a 38.2% or 50% retracement of the XA leg.

Point B is the next point in the pattern and represents a retracement from point A to point B. It's usually a 38.2% or 50% retracement of the AB leg.

Point C is the next point in the pattern and represents a retracement from point B to point C. It's usually a 38.2% or 88.6% retracement of the BC leg.

Point D is the final point in the pattern and represents a retracement from point X to point D. It's usually a 88.6% retracement of the XA leg.

When all these conditions are met, traders consider it a Bat pattern. This pattern suggests that the market is likely to reverse its direction from the point D and start a new trend in the opposite direction.

Traders often use the Bat pattern in conjunction with other technical analysis tools, such as trend lines, moving averages, and oscillators, to confirm the potential reversal and enter trades with favorable risk-to-reward ratios.

Pros and Cons of  Bat Pattern

Like any other trading strategy, the Bat pattern has its own set of pros and cons. Here are some of the key advantages and disadvantages of using the Bat pattern in forex trading:

Pros

  1. Provides a clear entry and exit point: The Bat pattern provides traders with a clear entry and exit point in the market. This can help traders to manage risk and reward more effectively.
  2. Offers a high probability of success: When all the conditions of the Bat pattern are met, it offers a high probability of success. Traders who are able to identify this pattern can make profitable trades.
  3. Works well with other technical analysis tools: The Bat pattern can be used in conjunction with other technical analysis tools, such as trend lines, moving averages, and oscillators, to confirm potential reversals and enter trades with favorable risk-to-reward ratios.

Cons

  1. Subjectivity: Harmonic patterns, including the Bat pattern, can be subjective and are not always reliable. Traders may disagree on whether a pattern has formed, which can lead to missed opportunities or false signals.
  2. Requires experience and skill: Detecting harmonic patterns, including the Bat pattern, requires experience and skill. Traders must be able to identify the pattern's points accurately and make decisions quickly in a fast-moving market.
  3. Risk of false signals: Like any technical analysis tool, the Bat pattern is not foolproof and can produce false signals. Traders must use it in conjunction with other technical analysis tools to confirm potential reversals and manage risk appropriately.

Overall, the Bat pattern is a useful technical analysis tool for traders who are experienced and skilled in identifying and trading harmonic patterns. However, like any trading strategy, it's important to use it in conjunction with other tools and to manage risk appropriately.

Bat Pattern for MT4 (MQL4 Code)

// Define input variables

extern int     BatSize        = 200;   // Bat pattern size in bars

extern double  BatBodyPercent = 0.618; // Body percentage of XA leg

extern double  BatBDPercent   = 0.382; // B point retracement of XA leg

extern double  BatCDPercent   = 0.886; // C point retracement of XA leg

extern double  BatABCDPercent = 0.382; // AB=CD retracement of XA leg


// Define function to check if Bat pattern exists

bool IsBatPattern()

{

   double XA = MathAbs(iHigh(NULL, 0, 1) - iLow(NULL, 0, 1));  // Calculate XA leg

   double BC = MathAbs(iHigh(NULL, 0, 2) - iLow(NULL, 0, 2));  // Calculate BC leg

   double AB = XA * BatABCDPercent;                            // Calculate AB retracement

   double CD = XA * BatCDPercent;                              // Calculate CD retracement

   double BD = XA * BatBDPercent;                              // Calculate BD retracement

   double XAbody = MathAbs(iClose(NULL, 0, 1) - iOpen(NULL, 0, 1));  // Calculate XA body size


   // Check if pattern conditions are met

   if (XA > BatSize * Point)                      // Check XA leg length

      if (XAbody > XA * BatBodyPercent)           // Check XA body size

         if (BC < BD && BC > BD - XA * 0.886)     // Check BC retracement

            if (iHigh(NULL, 0, 3) > iHigh(NULL, 0, 1))  // Check C point high

               if (iLow(NULL, 0, 3) < iLow(NULL, 0, 1))   // Check C point low

                  if (iHigh(NULL, 0, 4) > iHigh(NULL, 0, 2))  // Check D point high

                     if (iLow(NULL, 0, 4) < iLow(NULL, 0, 2))   // Check D point low

                        if (MathAbs(iHigh(NULL, 0, 4) - iHigh(NULL, 0, 3)) < CD * Point)  // Check CD length

                           if (MathAbs(iLow(NULL, 0, 2) - iLow(NULL, 0, 1)) < AB * Point)  // Check AB retracement

                              return true;  // Bat pattern detected


   return false;  // Bat pattern not detected

}


void PlotBatPattern()

{

   double XA = MathAbs(iHigh(NULL, 0, 1) - iLow(NULL, 0, 1));  // Calculate XA leg

   double AB = XA * BatABCDPercent;                            // Calculate AB retracement

   double CD = XA * BatCDPercent;                              // Calculate CD retracement

   double BD = XA * BatBDPercent;                              // Calculate BD retracement


   // Plot Bat pattern

   ObjectCreate("BatPattern", OBJ_PATTERN, 0, iTime(NULL, 0, 3), iHigh(NULL, 0, 3), iTime(NULL, 0, 4), iLow(NULL, 0, 4));

   ObjectSet("BatPattern", OBJPROP_STYLE, PS_DASHDOT);

   ObjectSet("BatPattern", OBJPROP_COLOR, clrMagenta);

   ObjectSet("BatPattern", OBJPROP_BACK, true);

   ObjectSet("BatPattern", OBJPROP_RAY, false);

   ObjectSet("BatPattern", OBJPROP_ZORDER, 0);

   ObjectSet("BatPattern", OBJPROP_SELECTABLE, false);

   ObjectSet("BatPattern", OBJPROP_HIDDEN, false);


   // Plot Bat pattern labels

   ObjectCreate("BatPatternLabel", OBJ_LABEL, 0, 0, 0, 0);

   ObjectSetText("BatPatternLabel", "Bat Pattern", 8, "Arial", clrMagenta);

   ObjectSet("BatPatternLabel", OBJPROP_CORNER, 0);

   ObjectSet("BatPatternLabel", OBJPROP_XDISTANCE, 10);

   ObjectSet("BatPatternLabel", OBJPROP_YDISTANCE, 20);

   ObjectSet("BatPatternLabel", OBJPROP_BACK, true);

   ObjectSet("BatPatternLabel", OBJPROP_COLOR, clrWhite);

   ObjectSet("BatPatternLabel", OBJPROP_SELECTABLE, false);

   ObjectSet("BatPatternLabel", OBJPROP_HIDDEN, false);

}


 detecting a bullish Bat pattern in MetaTrader 4 using MQL4:

// Define constants for Bat pattern

#define BatABCDPercent 0.382

#define BatCDPercent 1.618

#define BatBDPercent 0.886

// Define function to detect Bat pattern

bool IsBullishBatPattern()

{

   double XA = MathAbs(iHigh(NULL, 0, 1) - iLow(NULL, 0, 1));  // Calculate XA leg

   double AB = XA * BatABCDPercent;                            // Calculate AB retracement

   double CD = XA * BatCDPercent;                              // Calculate CD retracement

   double BD = XA * BatBDPercent;                              // Calculate BD retracement

   

   // Check if the Bat pattern's conditions are met

   if (iLow(NULL, 0, 1) > iLow(NULL, 0, 2) &&              // Point B is higher than point X

       iHigh(NULL, 0, 1) < iHigh(NULL, 0, 2) &&            // Point C is lower than point A

       iLow(NULL, 0, 2) > iHigh(NULL, 0, 3) &&             // Point C is lower than point B

       iHigh(NULL, 0, 3) < iLow(NULL, 0, 1) + AB &&        // Point D is between point B and point X

       iHigh(NULL, 0, 3) >= iLow(NULL, 0, 1) + BD &&       // Point D is at or below point X

       iHigh(NULL, 0, 3) <= iHigh(NULL, 0, 1) + CD)        // Point D is within the CD range of XA

   {

      return true;  // Bat pattern detected

   }

   else

   {

      return false;  // Bat pattern not detected

   }

}

This code defines constants for the Bat pattern's ABCD, CD, and BD retracement percentages. It also defines a function called IsBullishBatPattern() that checks whether the conditions for a bullish Bat pattern are met based on the high and low prices of the previous four bars.

If the conditions are met, the function returns true to indicate that a Bat pattern has been detected. Otherwise, it returns false.

Note that this code only checks for a bullish Bat pattern. To detect a bearish Bat pattern, you would need to modify the code accordingly. Also, keep in mind that harmonic patterns, including the Bat pattern, can be subjective and are not always reliable, so it's important to use them in conjunction with other technical analysis tools and to manage risk appropriately.

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