<p>The nonlinear deformation failure of structural plane rocks under high geo-stress is inseparable from the discontinuous fatigue damage. To explore the failure mechanism of structural plane rocks bearing continuous and discontinuous multi-level cyclic loads, the experimental study was carried out on the mechanical behavior characteristics of the inclined and horizontal structural plane rocks. The results show that the shear deformation failure of the inclined and the horizontal structural plane rocks is eventually due to the structural plane occurrence and rock strength, respectively. After multi-level and cyclic loads, the pre-peak stress-strain curve of the two structural plane rocks presents a “micro-step” growth trend. However, the post-peak stress-strain curve of the inclined structural plane rock demonstrates a stepwise falling phenomenon. In contrast, the post-peak stress-strain curve of the horizontal structural plane rocks has a more sudden falling phenomenon. Besides, the rock’s elastic modulus increases with the increase of cyclic load number, and there is a positive correlation between the dilatancy stress and the peak strength. What’s more, according to the evolution law of rock deformation energy, the dissipation energy of rocks is a U-shaped variation trend, and the elastic energy is nearly linear development. The difference in deformation energy of two kinds of rocks indicates the influence of static load and structural plane characteristics, which also demonstrates the creep effect of static load can undoubtedly accelerate rocks’ deformation failure.</p>