Lithium　sulfur　batteries　(LSBs)　are　attractive　owing　to　the　high　theoretical　capacities　of　sulfur　cathode　active　material　(1672　mAh　g(-1))　and　lithium　anode　active　material　(3862　mAh　g(-1)),　which　leads　to　a　specific　energy　of　approximately　2600　Wh　kg(-1).　However,　for　any　rechargeable　batteries　employing　lithium　metal　as　the　anode,　a　major　failure　mechanism　is　uncontrolled　dendrite　formation,　which　presents　serious　safety　issues,　low　Coulombic　efficiency　and　poor　cycle　performance.　Recently,　researchers　make　great　effort　to　overcome　these　problems.　Here　we　summarize　some　methods　for　suppressing　lithium　dendrite　growth　based　on　the　failure　mechanism　of　LSBs,　mainly　including　novel　separator,　anode　modification　and　electrolyte　modification.　We　also　discuss　the　advantages　and　disadvantages　of　different　methods　and　point　out　the　challenges　that　still　needed　to　be　addressed　for　building　better　LSBs.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.