The requirement of drilling operations on the anti-collapse and bonding reinforced wall performance of drilling fluid was increasing as the drilling formation conditions became increasingly complex. Plugging anti-sloughing drilling fluid additives could plug the primary pore throat and micro cracks in the formation，block the water channel，improve the sealing performance of drilling fluid，prevent free water intrusion into formation，reduce the collapse pressure of the formation and strengthen the wall. Asphalt drilling fluid additive，silicate agent，polyglycol agent and other conventional plugging and anti- sloughing drilling fluid additives were briefly introduced in this article. The recent research and application at home and abroad of aluminium-based anti-sloughing drilling fluid additive，nano anti-sloughing drilling fluid additive and biomimetic wellbore strengthener were mainly described. The development suggestions of anti-sloughing agents were also proposed.