Swing Failure Pattern (SFP)

Apr 18, 2024

Static chart image
Volume Based
Liquidity
Patterns
Works on the following platforms:
tradingviewSymbolTradingView
For free use on the TradingView platform
ninjatraderNinjaTrader
For free use on the NinjaTrader platform
metatrader4MetaTrader 4
For free use on the MetaTrader 4 platform
metatrader5MetaTrader 5
For free use on the MetaTrader 5 platform
thinkorswimThinkorswim
For free use on the Thinkorswim platform

The Swing Failure Pattern indicator is an exceptional tool designed to highlight Swing Failure Patterns (SFP) on your trading chart. This unique pattern emerges when significant market participants drive liquidity, making it a potential signal for trend reversals. The indicator also features a Confirmation level for validating trend reversals and enables users to filter out SFPs based on a set Volume % Threshold.

How to Use the Swing Failure Pattern Indicator?

indicator image

Swing Failure Patterns occur when a candle wick breaks above or below a recent swing level, only to close back within the previous level. This phenomenon often takes place due to significant market players who engineer liquidity to entice other traders. Spotting SFPs can help traders identify potential shifts in market trends.

indicator image

In the chart, SFPs are highlighted using labels and accentuated wick lines, which traders can disable if they wish.

indicator image

Increasing the "Swings" period won't change the SFP but may reduce the frequency of their detection.

Understanding the Confirmation Level

The confirmation level acts as a checkpoint for verifying trend reversals after an SFP. For a bullish SFP, it's the highest point between the previous swing and the SFP, whereas for a bearish SFP, it's the lowest point. If the price breaks this level, it serves as a confirmation of a trend reversal.

indicator image

A triangle icon will appear whenever the price closes beyond the confirmation level, giving traders visual confirmation.

indicator image

Traders with a contrarian mindset might use the SFP as an entry point while using the confirmation level to set profit targets or stop losses. Below is a scenario illustrating this approach:

indicator image

Managing Volume with Volume % Threshold

The Volume % Threshold setting lets traders filter SFPs by assessing the cumulative volume outside the swing level against the total candle volume:

  • Volume outside swing < Threshold: Ensures the volume outside the swing is less than a set percentage of total candle volume, preventing excessive liquidity generation.
  • Volume outside swing > Threshold: Ensures the volume outside the swing exceeds a set percentage, requiring significant liquidity events.
  • None: No additional filter is applied.

indicator image

As shown above, if the volume above the swing level exceeds the threshold, the SFP will not be highlighted. Adjusting the setting to "Volume outside swing > Threshold" will reverse this condition.

indicator image

Volume outside the Swing level is calculated using intrabar - Lower TimeFrame (LTF) data. When the Volume % Threshold filter is in play, a vertical line will denote the maximum period where intra-bars are available.

indicator image

Technical Details

Understanding LTF Settings

When the 'Auto' option is activated in settings, the LTF is selected as the nearest lower timeframe based on the current TF. For users without the Premium plan, the minimum TF is locked to 1 minute to avoid errors. For example, if the current TF is Daily:

  • At 500: LTF is 3 minutes
  • At 1500 (default): LTF is 1 minute
  • At 5000: LTF would be 30 seconds (1 minute if Premium is off)

The LTF can be viewed at the upper-right corner of the interface.

Configuration Settings

Here’s a breakdown of the settings you can tweak for optimal usage:

  • Swings: Period length for swing detection. Longer periods provide for long-term swing levels.
  • Bullish SFP: Toggle this to either show or hide bullish Swing Failure Patterns.
  • Bearish SFP: Toggle this to either show or hide bearish Swing Failure Patterns.

Validating with Volume

To validate volume, use the following options:

  • Volume outside swing < Threshold: Ensures volume is below a set percentage.
  • Volume outside swing > Threshold: Ensures volume is above a set percentage.
  • None: No validation check is applied.

Set your Volume % Threshold according to total candle volume requirements.

  • Auto + multiple: Adjusts the initially set LTF for precision.
  • LTF: Select your preferred LTF setting.
  • Premium: Turn on if your TradingView subscription is Premium or higher for more features.

Dashboard Options

  • Show Dashboard: Toggle the display for the applied Lower Timeframe (LTF).
  • Location: Set where the dashboard appears.
  • Size: Adjust the size of the dashboard to preference.

Style Customizations

  • Swing Lines: Customize these lines as per your trading style.
  • Confirmation Lines: Adjust settings for better clarity.
  • Swing Failure Wick: Personalize color based on preference.
  • Swing Failure Label: Labels can be customized for better visibility.
  • Lines / Labels: Select color configurations for lines and labels.
  • SFP Wicks: Customize your swing failure wick line colors.

FAQ

How do I access the Swing Failure Pattern indicator?

You can get access on the LuxAlgo Library for charting platforms like TradingView, MetaTrader (MT4/MT5), and NinjaTrader for free.

What is the Swing Failure Pattern indicator used for?

It is designed to highlight Swing Failure Patterns, which can be an indication of potential trend reversals due to liquidity generation by market participants.

Can I customize the settings in the Swing Failure Pattern indicator?

Yes, various settings like Swing period, Volume % Threshold, and others can be customized to suit different trading strategies.

Trading is risky and many will lose money in connection with trading activities. All content on this site is not intended to, and should not be, construed as financial advice. Decisions to buy, sell, hold or trade in securities, commodities and other markets involve risk and are best made based on the advice of qualified financial professionals. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Hypothetical or Simulated performance results have certain limitations. Unlike an actual performance record, simulated results do not represent actual trading. Also, since the trades have not been executed, the results may have under-or-over compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, including, but not limited to, lack of liquidity. Simulated trading programs in general are designed with the benefit of hindsight, and are based on historical information. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profit or losses similar to those shown.

Testimonials appearing on this website may not be representative of other clients or customers and is not a guarantee of future performance or success.

As a provider of technical analysis tools for charting platforms, we do not have access to the personal trading accounts or brokerage statements of our customers. As a result, we have no reason to believe our customers perform better or worse than traders as a whole based on any content or tool we provide.

Charts used on this site are by TradingView in which the majority of our tools are built on. TradingView® is a registered trademark of TradingView, Inc. www.TradingView.com. TradingView® has no affiliation with the owner, developer, or provider of the Services described herein.

This does not represent our full Disclaimer. Please read our full disclaimer.

© 2025 LuxAlgo Global, LLC.