A　novel　variable　hysteresis　performance　damper　(VHD)—multi-stage　slip　friction　damper　is　developed　and　applied　to　implement　multi-level　seismic　resistance　of　structures.　Different　from　the　conventional　slip　friction　dampers,　which　feature　only　a　single　type　of　slip　friction　surface,　this　innovative　damper　incorporates　two　types:　a　flat　slip　surface　and　a　wedge　slip　surface.　The　quasi-static　cyclic　loading　tests　of　the　VHD　were　carried　out　to　investigate　its　variable　hysteresis　performance.　The　test　results　revealed　that　the　developed　damper　presented　excellent　adaptive　performance,　and　its　hysteresis　behavior　changed　from　a　complete　rectangle　with　efficient　energy　dissipation　to　a　flag-shaped　curve　with　exceptional　self-centering　capacity　as　deformation　increases.　Subsequently,　the　developed　VHD　with　unique　adaptive　performance　was　applied　in　RC　bridge　piers　(BP)　to　improve　the　seismic　performance.　Nonlinear　time　history　and　fragility　analysis　methods　were　employed　to　assess　the　seismic　performance　of　the　RC　bridge　piers　with　VHDs　(BP-VHD)　in　deterministic　and　probabilistic　manners,　considering　maximum　and　residual　deformations　as　performance　indicators.　For　comparison,　seismic　responses　of　RC　bridge　piers　with　traditional　buckling　restrained　braces　(BRBs)　and　self-centering　energy　dissipation　braces　(SCEBs)　were　also　presented.　The　analysis　and　comparison　results　demonstrate　that　the　developed　VHD　is　as　effective　as　BRB　in　reducing　maximum　deformation　at　small　PGAs,　meanwhile,　it　can　effectively　reduce　the　residual　deformation　of　the　structure　to　allowable　values　when　the　PGA　is　large.　Furthermore,　the　failure　probability　of　BP-VHDs　is　lower　compared　to　piers　with　BRBs　and　SCEBs,　particularly　concerning　maximum　and　residual　drift　ratios　as　performance　indicators.　The　application　of　the　VHD　can　effectively　achieve　the　goal　of　multi-level　seismic　resistance　for　RC　bridge　piers.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd