Why I mark key levels on a line chart before opening candles

[Shadow Trader]

Candlestick charts show every wick, and wicks are where the confusion begins. A line chart that connects closing prices strips away much of that noise and highlights where price was actually accepted. I start my analysis on a line chart of the higher timeframe, marking major swing highs and lows based on closes. That gives me a cleaner view of the structure that matters. Then I switch to candlesticks and refine the levels by adding the wick extremes where liquidity would sit. This two step process helps avoid over marking, because the line chart naturally shows only the significant turning points. It also keeps me honest about the close based rule for breaks of structure. If a level looks significant on the line chart, it likely is, and if it only appears on the candlestick chart because of a single wick, I treat it as a secondary reference. Try it for a week on your pair. You may find that your charts become much cleaner and your decisions faster.

[FXS HongKong Scalper]

A line chart first is a good way to reduce clutter. It shows where price closed, which is often more important than where it spiked. I use the same approach on the daily chart to mark key levels, then refine them on lower timeframes with candlesticks.