<p>A large-scale shaking table test was carried out on two slopes with different degrees of weathering and multiwave velocity layers to distinguish how the surface weathering layer affects the seismic response of rock slopes. The surface wave impedance ratio of a highly weathered slope (HWS) is 2.51, whereas that of a lowly weathered slope (LWS) is 1.83. The acceleration response, resonance frequency, directional resonance and failure mode of the two slopes are compared. The dynamic response of the two slopes has obvious elevation effects and surface effects. The overall acceleration response of the HWS is greater than that of the LWS, which is the direct reason why the ultimate failure of the HWS is more severe than that of the LWS. As the amplitude increases, the acceleration amplification factor in the vertical direction (AAF_Z) of the HWS gradually becomes larger than the acceleration amplification factor in the horizontal direction (AAF_X). The two slopes have similar high-frequency bands and low-frequency bands. The highly weathered HWS surface is more sensitive to high-frequency responses. The directional resonance of a slope is more affected by cracks and topography than the slope structure is. The failure modes of the two multivelocity layer slopes are shallow landslides. The findings of this study provide a new understanding of the weathering layer of rock slopes and a reference for the seismic fortification of earthquake landslides.</p>