RSI Divergence Cheat Sheet: Your Complete Guide to Identifying Trading Signals

Want to master one of the most reliable indicators in technical analysis? Understanding how to spot divergence patterns is a game-changer for traders. This comprehensive divergence cheat sheet breaks down the four key types—combining price action with RSI analysis to help you recognize potential reversals and trend continuations before they happen.

Understanding Regular Divergence: When Reversals Are Possible

Regular divergence occurs when price and RSI move in opposite directions, often signaling that a trend is about to reverse. Think of this as a warning light on your dashboard.

Regular Bullish Divergence appears during downtrends. While the price continues making lower lows, the RSI is actually climbing—showing higher lows. This mismatch suggests upward momentum is building underneath the surface, and an upside reversal could be coming.

Regular Bearish Divergence is the mirror image. It emerges during uptrends when price keeps hitting higher highs, but the RSI starts printing lower highs. This weakening momentum often precedes a downside reversal.

Hidden Divergence: The Secret to Catching Continuations

Hidden divergence works differently. Instead of predicting reversals, it signals that your current trend will likely continue—especially after a pullback or correction.

Hidden Bullish Divergence shows up when price prints higher lows (continuing an uptrend), yet RSI prints lower lows. This suggests the uptrend has staying power and will likely resume strength after the pullback.

Hidden Bearish Divergence is the inverse. Price makes lower highs (continuing a downtrend) while RSI makes higher highs. This points to trend continuation downward despite temporary momentum spikes.

Quick Reference: How to Spot Each Divergence Type

Putting It Into Practice

Recognizing divergence patterns gives you an edge, but remember—no single indicator is foolproof. Use this divergence cheat sheet as part of a larger trading strategy, combining it with support/resistance levels, volume analysis, and price confirmation. The traders who master divergence identification often catch moves earlier than the crowd, but always confirm signals with additional technical factors before entering trades.