<p>Magnesium-air batteries (MABs) represent a promising type of metal-air battery, offering advantages such as high energy density, safety and stability, low cost, and portability. They have garnered significant attention in recent years. However, the magnesium anode suffers from significant discrepancies between its actual energy density and discharge voltage and theoretical values due to self-corrosion, negative difference effects during discharge, and the chunking effects, thereby limiting the performance of magnesium-air batteries. Inadequate removal of discharge products from the magnesium anode also impedes effective Mg ion transport, reducing anode efficiency. This paper summarizes and reviews the use of alloyed anodes for magnesium-air batteries. Particular emphasis is placed on the influence of trace element introduction on electrode discharge performance, including corrosion inhibition, grain morphology improvement, product detachment promotion, lumping effect avoidance, and discharge voltage enhancement. The mechanisms by which various microalloying elements (including mono-, bi, and multicomponent alloys) improve magnesium anode discharge and their effects discharge performance are summarized, providing a reference for future research aimed at enhancing MAB anode performance.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>