As explained under Exterior-Full, Exterior pattern should be Full by definition as it is characterized by the invasion of an external Pernicious Influence, which then fight with the Body's Defensive Qi.

However, according to a person’s preexisting condition, one can further differentiate an Exterior pattern between Full and Empty, but only in relative terms. For the Empty type, the symptom of aversion to cold happens more due to Qi and Blood Deficiency, while for the Full type it is more due to external Evil invasion. It occurs more to the elderly or these with weak constitutions.

The key manifestation difference is that the Empty type evolves slight sweating while the Full type has no sweat,  because the deficient Nutritive Qi fails to hold sweat in place. There are mild or no fever as the Defensive Qi is too weak to react to the Evils' invasion.

There are two types of Exterior-Empty. One is quite similar to the pattern of Greater Yang Attack of Wind, which is the first stage of the Six Stages theory. The aversion to cold is due to the obstruction of the space between the skin and muscles by Wind: this impairs the circulation of Defensive Qi which cannot fulfill its function of warming the muscles.

The other type is due to the Lung and Spleen Qi Deficiency, which then fails to supply Defensive Qi to fight the external Evils.