diff --git a/pkg/engine/anchor.go b/pkg/engine/anchor.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..888ba441fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/engine/anchor.go
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"strconv"
+
+	"github.com/nirmata/kyverno/pkg/result"
+)
+
+// CreateAnchorHandler is a factory that create anchor handlers
+func CreateAnchorHandler(anchor string, pattern interface{}, path string) ValidationAnchorHandler {
+	switch {
+	case isConditionAnchor(anchor):
+		return NewConditionAnchorValidationHandler(anchor, pattern, path)
+	case isExistanceAnchor(anchor):
+		return NewExistanceAnchorValidationHandler(anchor, pattern, path)
+	default:
+		return NewNoAnchorValidationHandler(path)
+	}
+}
+
+// ValidationAnchorHandler is an interface that represents
+// a family of anchor handlers for array of maps
+// resourcePart must be an array of dictionaries
+// patternPart must be a dictionary with anchors
+type ValidationAnchorHandler interface {
+	Handle(resourcePart []interface{}, patternPart map[string]interface{}) result.RuleApplicationResult
+}
+
+// NoAnchorValidationHandler just calls validateMap
+// because no anchors were found in the pattern map
+type NoAnchorValidationHandler struct {
+	path string
+}
+
+// NewNoAnchorValidationHandler creates new instance of
+// NoAnchorValidationHandler
+func NewNoAnchorValidationHandler(path string) ValidationAnchorHandler {
+	return &NoAnchorValidationHandler{
+		path: path,
+	}
+}
+
+// Handle performs validation in context of NoAnchorValidationHandler
+func (navh *NoAnchorValidationHandler) Handle(resourcePart []interface{}, patternPart map[string]interface{}) result.RuleApplicationResult {
+	handlingResult := result.NewRuleApplicationResult("")
+
+	for i, resourceElement := range resourcePart {
+		currentPath := navh.path + strconv.Itoa(i) + "/"
+
+		typedResourceElement, ok := resourceElement.(map[string]interface{})
+		if !ok {
+			handlingResult.FailWithMessagef("Pattern and resource have different structures. Path: %s. Expected %T, found %T", currentPath, patternPart, resourceElement)
+			return handlingResult
+		}
+
+		res := validateMap(typedResourceElement, patternPart, currentPath)
+		handlingResult.MergeWith(&res)
+	}
+
+	return handlingResult
+}
+
+// ConditionAnchorValidationHandler performs
+// validation only for array elements that
+// pass condition in the anchor
+// (key): value
+type ConditionAnchorValidationHandler struct {
+	anchor  string
+	pattern interface{}
+	path    string
+}
+
+// NewConditionAnchorValidationHandler creates new instance of
+// NoAnchorValidationHandler
+func NewConditionAnchorValidationHandler(anchor string, pattern interface{}, path string) ValidationAnchorHandler {
+	return &ConditionAnchorValidationHandler{
+		anchor:  anchor,
+		pattern: pattern,
+		path:    path,
+	}
+}
+
+// Handle performs validation in context of ConditionAnchorValidationHandler
+func (cavh *ConditionAnchorValidationHandler) Handle(resourcePart []interface{}, patternPart map[string]interface{}) result.RuleApplicationResult {
+	_, handlingResult := handleConditionCases(resourcePart, patternPart, cavh.anchor, cavh.pattern, cavh.path)
+
+	return handlingResult
+}
+
+// ExistanceAnchorValidationHandler performs
+// validation only for array elements that
+// pass condition in the anchor
+// AND requires an existance of at least one
+// element that passes this condition
+// ^(key): value
+type ExistanceAnchorValidationHandler struct {
+	anchor  string
+	pattern interface{}
+	path    string
+}
+
+// NewExistanceAnchorValidationHandler creates new instance of
+// NoAnchorValidationHandler
+func NewExistanceAnchorValidationHandler(anchor string, pattern interface{}, path string) ValidationAnchorHandler {
+	return &ExistanceAnchorValidationHandler{
+		anchor:  anchor,
+		pattern: pattern,
+		path:    path,
+	}
+}
+
+// Handle performs validation in context of ExistanceAnchorValidationHandler
+func (eavh *ExistanceAnchorValidationHandler) Handle(resourcePart []interface{}, patternPart map[string]interface{}) result.RuleApplicationResult {
+	anchoredEtries, handlingResult := handleConditionCases(resourcePart, patternPart, eavh.anchor, eavh.pattern, eavh.path)
+
+	if 0 == anchoredEtries {
+		handlingResult.FailWithMessagef("Existance anchor %s used, but no suitable entries were found", eavh.anchor)
+	}
+
+	return handlingResult
+}
+
+// check if array element fits the anchor
+func checkForAnchorCondition(anchor string, pattern interface{}, resourceMap map[string]interface{}) bool {
+	anchorKey := removeAnchor(anchor)
+
+	if value, ok := resourceMap[anchorKey]; ok {
+		return ValidateValueWithPattern(value, pattern)
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
+// both () and ^() are checking conditions and have a lot of similar logic
+// the only difference is that ^() requires existace of one element
+// anchoredEtries var counts this occurences.
+func handleConditionCases(resourcePart []interface{}, patternPart map[string]interface{}, anchor string, pattern interface{}, path string) (int, result.RuleApplicationResult) {
+	handlingResult := result.NewRuleApplicationResult("")
+	anchoredEtries := 0
+
+	for i, resourceElement := range resourcePart {
+		currentPath := path + strconv.Itoa(i) + "/"
+
+		typedResourceElement, ok := resourceElement.(map[string]interface{})
+		if !ok {
+			handlingResult.FailWithMessagef("Pattern and resource have different structures. Path: %s. Expected %T, found %T", currentPath, patternPart, resourceElement)
+			break
+		}
+
+		if !checkForAnchorCondition(anchor, pattern, typedResourceElement) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		anchoredEtries++
+		res := validateMap(typedResourceElement, patternPart, currentPath)
+		handlingResult.MergeWith(&res)
+	}
+
+	return anchoredEtries, handlingResult
+}
diff --git a/pkg/engine/overlay.go b/pkg/engine/overlay.go
index 157d7a5f46..f9ece15207 100644
--- a/pkg/engine/overlay.go
+++ b/pkg/engine/overlay.go
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ func applyOverlayToMap(resourceMap, overlayMap map[string]interface{}, path stri
 	for key, value := range overlayMap {
 		// skip anchor element because it has condition, not
 		// the value that must replace resource value
-		if wrappedWithParentheses(key) {
+		if isConditionAnchor(key) {
 			continue
 		}
 
diff --git a/pkg/engine/utils.go b/pkg/engine/utils.go
index ceae2aff37..51b4d6ddd0 100644
--- a/pkg/engine/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/engine/utils.go
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func getAnchorsFromMap(anchorsMap map[string]interface{}) map[string]interface{}
 	result := make(map[string]interface{})
 
 	for key, value := range anchorsMap {
-		if wrappedWithParentheses(key) {
+		if isConditionAnchor(key) || isExistanceAnchor(key) {
 			result[key] = value
 		}
 	}
@@ -121,6 +121,16 @@ func getAnchorsFromMap(anchorsMap map[string]interface{}) map[string]interface{}
 	return result
 }
 
+func getAnchorFromMap(anchorsMap map[string]interface{}) (string, interface{}) {
+	for key, value := range anchorsMap {
+		if isConditionAnchor(key) || isExistanceAnchor(key) {
+			return key, value
+		}
+	}
+
+	return "", nil
+}
+
 func findKind(kinds []string, kindGVK string) bool {
 	for _, kind := range kinds {
 		if kind == kindGVK {
@@ -130,7 +140,7 @@ func findKind(kinds []string, kindGVK string) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func wrappedWithParentheses(str string) bool {
+func isConditionAnchor(str string) bool {
 	if len(str) < 2 {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -138,6 +148,17 @@ func wrappedWithParentheses(str string) bool {
 	return (str[0] == '(' && str[len(str)-1] == ')')
 }
 
+func isExistanceAnchor(str string) bool {
+	left := "^("
+	right := ")"
+
+	if len(str) < len(left)+len(right) {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	return (str[:len(left)] == left && str[len(str)-len(right):] == right)
+}
+
 // Checks if array object matches anchors. If not - skip - return true
 func skipArrayObject(object, anchors map[string]interface{}) bool {
 	for key, pattern := range anchors {
@@ -158,10 +179,14 @@ func skipArrayObject(object, anchors map[string]interface{}) bool {
 
 // removeAnchor remove special characters around anchored key
 func removeAnchor(key string) string {
-	if wrappedWithParentheses(key) {
+	if isConditionAnchor(key) {
 		return key[1 : len(key)-1]
 	}
 
+	if isExistanceAnchor(key) {
+		return key[2 : len(key)-1]
+	}
+
 	// TODO: Add logic for other anchors here
 
 	return key
diff --git a/pkg/engine/utils_test.go b/pkg/engine/utils_test.go
index bf0bce425e..b5b638bee8 100644
--- a/pkg/engine/utils_test.go
+++ b/pkg/engine/utils_test.go
@@ -331,3 +331,66 @@ func TestResourceMeetsDescription_MatchLabelsAndMatchExpressions(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assert.Assert(t, false == ResourceMeetsDescription(rawResource, resourceDescription, groupVersionKind))
 }
+
+func TestWrappedWithParentheses_StringIsWrappedWithParentheses(t *testing.T) {
+	str := "(something)"
+	assert.Assert(t, isConditionAnchor(str))
+}
+
+func TestWrappedWithParentheses_StringHasOnlyParentheses(t *testing.T) {
+	str := "()"
+	assert.Assert(t, isConditionAnchor(str))
+}
+
+func TestWrappedWithParentheses_StringHasNoParentheses(t *testing.T) {
+	str := "something"
+	assert.Assert(t, !isConditionAnchor(str))
+}
+
+func TestWrappedWithParentheses_StringHasLeftParentheses(t *testing.T) {
+	str := "(something"
+	assert.Assert(t, !isConditionAnchor(str))
+}
+
+func TestWrappedWithParentheses_StringHasRightParentheses(t *testing.T) {
+	str := "something)"
+	assert.Assert(t, !isConditionAnchor(str))
+}
+
+func TestWrappedWithParentheses_StringParenthesesInside(t *testing.T) {
+	str := "so)m(et(hin)g"
+	assert.Assert(t, !isConditionAnchor(str))
+}
+
+func TestWrappedWithParentheses_Empty(t *testing.T) {
+	str := ""
+	assert.Assert(t, !isConditionAnchor(str))
+}
+
+func TestIsExistanceAnchor_Yes(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Assert(t, isExistanceAnchor("^(abc)"))
+}
+
+func TestIsExistanceAnchor_NoRightBracket(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Assert(t, !isExistanceAnchor("^(abc"))
+}
+
+func TestIsExistanceAnchor_OnlyHat(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Assert(t, !isExistanceAnchor("^abc"))
+}
+
+func TestIsExistanceAnchor_ConditionAnchor(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Assert(t, !isExistanceAnchor("(abc)"))
+}
+
+func TestRemoveAnchor_ConditionAnchor(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Equal(t, removeAnchor("(abc)"), "abc")
+}
+
+func TestRemoveAnchor_ExistanceAnchor(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Equal(t, removeAnchor("^(abc)"), "abc")
+}
+
+func TestRemoveAnchor_EmptyExistanceAnchor(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Equal(t, removeAnchor("^()"), "")
+}
diff --git a/pkg/engine/validation.go b/pkg/engine/validation.go
index d76c12e418..f273c71984 100644
--- a/pkg/engine/validation.go
+++ b/pkg/engine/validation.go
@@ -143,24 +143,9 @@ func validateArray(resourceArray, patternArray []interface{}, path string) resul
 // validateArrayOfMaps gets anchors from pattern array map element, applies anchors logic
 // and then validates each map due to the pattern
 func validateArrayOfMaps(resourceMapArray []interface{}, patternMap map[string]interface{}, path string) result.RuleApplicationResult {
-	res := result.NewRuleApplicationResult("")
-	anchors := getAnchorsFromMap(patternMap)
+	anchor, pattern := getAnchorFromMap(patternMap)
+	delete(patternMap, anchor)
 
-	for i, resourceElement := range resourceMapArray {
-		currentPath := path + strconv.Itoa(i) + "/"
-		typedResourceElement, ok := resourceElement.(map[string]interface{})
-		if !ok {
-			res.FailWithMessagef("Pattern and resource have different structures. Path: %s. Expected %T, found %T", currentPath, patternMap, resourceElement)
-			return res
-		}
-
-		if skipArrayObject(typedResourceElement, anchors) {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		mapValidationResult := validateMap(typedResourceElement, patternMap, currentPath)
-		res.MergeWith(&mapValidationResult)
-	}
-
-	return res
+	handler := CreateAnchorHandler(anchor, pattern, path)
+	return handler.Handle(resourceMapArray, patternMap)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/engine/validation_test.go b/pkg/engine/validation_test.go
index b3f6e61bd3..127e736565 100644
--- a/pkg/engine/validation_test.go
+++ b/pkg/engine/validation_test.go
@@ -9,41 +9,6 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 )
 
-func TestWrappedWithParentheses_StringIsWrappedWithParentheses(t *testing.T) {
-	str := "(something)"
-	assert.Assert(t, wrappedWithParentheses(str))
-}
-
-func TestWrappedWithParentheses_StringHasOnlyParentheses(t *testing.T) {
-	str := "()"
-	assert.Assert(t, wrappedWithParentheses(str))
-}
-
-func TestWrappedWithParentheses_StringHasNoParentheses(t *testing.T) {
-	str := "something"
-	assert.Assert(t, !wrappedWithParentheses(str))
-}
-
-func TestWrappedWithParentheses_StringHasLeftParentheses(t *testing.T) {
-	str := "(something"
-	assert.Assert(t, !wrappedWithParentheses(str))
-}
-
-func TestWrappedWithParentheses_StringHasRightParentheses(t *testing.T) {
-	str := "something)"
-	assert.Assert(t, !wrappedWithParentheses(str))
-}
-
-func TestWrappedWithParentheses_StringParenthesesInside(t *testing.T) {
-	str := "so)m(et(hin)g"
-	assert.Assert(t, !wrappedWithParentheses(str))
-}
-
-func TestWrappedWithParentheses_Empty(t *testing.T) {
-	str := ""
-	assert.Assert(t, !wrappedWithParentheses(str))
-}
-
 func TestValidateString_AsteriskTest(t *testing.T) {
 	pattern := "*"
 	value := "anything"