Lithium　metal　anode　of　lithium　batteries,　including　lithium-ion　batteries,　has　been　considered　the　anode　for　next-generation　batteries　with　desired　high　energy　densities　due　to　its　high　theoretical　specific　capacity　(3860　mA　h　g−1)　and　low　standards　electrode　potential　(−3.04　V　vs.　SHE).　However,　the　highly　reactive　nature　of　metallic　lithium　and　its　direct　contact　with　the　electrolyte　could　lead　to　severe　chemical　reactions,　leading　to　the　continuous　consumption　of　the　electrolyte　and　a　reduction　in　the　cycle　life　and　Coulombic　efficiency.　In　addition,　the　solid　electrolyte　interface　formed　during　battery　cycling　is　mainly　inorganic,　which　is　too　fragile　to　withstand　the　extreme　volume　change　during　the　plating　and　stripping　of　lithium.　The　uneven　flux　of　lithium　ions　could　lead　to　excessive　lithium　deposition　at　local　points,　resulting　in　needle-like　lithium　dendrites,　which　could　pierce　the　separator　and　cause　short　circuits,　battery　failure,　and　safety　issues.　In　the　last　five　years,　tremendous　efforts　have　been　dedicated　to　addressing　these　issues,　and　the　most　successful　improvements　have　been　related　to　lithiophilicity　optimizations.　Thus,　this　paper　comprehensively　reviewed　the　lithiophilicity　regulation　in　lithium　metal　anode　modifications　and　highlighted　the　vital　effect　of　lithiophilicity.　The　remaining　challenges　faced　by　the　lithiophilicity　optimization　for　lithium　metal　anodes　are　discussed　with　the　proposed　research　directions　for　overcoming　the　technical　challenges　in　this　subject.　©　2022　Science　Press　and　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences