Low　Coulombic　efficiency,　low-capacity　retention,　and　short　cycle　life　are　the　primary　challenges　faced　by　various　metal-ion　batteries　due　to　the　loss　of　corresponding　active　metal.　Practically,　these　issues　can　be　significantly　ameliorated　by　compensating　for　the　loss　of　active　metals　using　pre-metallization　techniques.　Herein,　the　state-of-the-art　development　in　various　pr-emetallization　techniques　is　summarized.　First,　the　origin　of　pre-metallization　is　elaborated　and　the　Coulombic　efficiency　of　different　battery　materials　is　compared.　Second,　different　pre-metallization　strategies,　including　direct　physical　contact,　chemical　strategies,　electrochemical　method,　overmetallized　approach,　and　the　use　of　electrode　additives　are　summarized.　Third,　the　impact　of　pre-metallization　on　batteries,　along　with　its　role　in　improving　Coulombic　efficiency　is　discussed.　Fourth,　the　various　characterization　techniques　required　for　mechanistic　studies　in　this　field　are　outlined,　from　laboratory-level　experiments　to　large　scientific　device.　Finally,　the　current　challenges　and　future　opportunities　of　pre-metallization　technology　in　improving　Coulombic　efficiency　and　cycle　stability　for　various　metal-ion　batteries　are　discussed.　In　particular,　the　positive　influence　of　pre-metallization　reagents　is　emphasized　in　the　anode-free　battery　systems.　It　is　envisioned　that　this　review　will　inspire　the　development　of　high-performance　energy　storage　systems　via　the　effective　pre-metallization　technologies.　©　2023　Wiley-VCH　GmbH.