Abstract: Based on pseudo-static tests of three adaptive slit shear walls with different horizontal reinforcements, the failure process and modes of the shear walls were discussed. Meanwhile, the effects of horizontal steel bars on the performance of adaptive slit shear walls were analyzed. The result shows that the failure mode can be changed by configuring cold-formed steel in the shear walls to avoid brittle fracture, and the shear walls exhibit adaptive slit performance. In the paper, the amount of horizontal steel bars can affect the crack development. The paper also proves that as the horizontal reinforcement increases, the shear capacity, yield displacement angle and peak displacement angle are also improved, but the energy dissipation capacity is reduced. The formulas of shear capacity for shear walls in current codes and standards are suitable for the adaptive slit shear walls.