Abstract:This paper systematically reviews the creep properties and core mechanisms of refractory metals (W, Mo, Ta, Nb), their alloys, and refractory high/medium-entropy alloys. Creep, as a slow plastic deformation under constant stress at high temperatures, is regulated by the homologous temperature (TH). When TH < 0.3, it is dominated by dislocation glide; when 0.3 < TH < 0.5, it is controlled by the competition between strain hardening and recovery; when TH > 0.5, it exhibits three-stage creep, with the role of diffusion becoming increasingly prominent as temperature rises. Among classical creep models, the power-law model is the most widely used. Through the stress exponent (n) and activation energy (Q), it can roughly distinguish dominant mechanisms such as diffusion creep (n=1), dislocation climb (n=5~7), and solute drag creep (n=3). The creep of pure refractory metals mostly follows the power-law relationship. The n values of W, Mo, and Ta are mostly between 3 and 7, and their activation energies are related to lattice diffusion or dislocation core diffusion. In contrast, fine-grained Nb exhibits a dual mechanism dominated by power-law creep and vacancy generation depending on stress. In alloy systems, W-Re-HfC, Mo-La?O?, and others improve creep resistance through precipitation strengthening; the creep performance of the Ta-based alloy ASTAR-811C depends on grain size; and the Nb-based alloy C103 is controlled by the solute drag mechanism. Among refractory high/medium-entropy alloys, the HfNbTaTiZr system is mainly governed by the solute drag mechanism. Similarly, in the WMoTaNb system, the increase in W content can enhance creep resistance through the solute drag effect. Overall, the factors affecting creep performance include intrinsic factors such as composition and structure, as well as extrinsic conditions such as stress, processing technology, and service environment. This paper provides theoretical support for the application of refractory metals in high-temperature extreme scenarios and offers guidance for the design of high-performance materials.