Abstract: Mg-Al-Zn magnesium alloys, as a widely developed branch of Mg-Al magnesium alloys, have shown promising application prospects due to their excellent comprehensive properties. Among various modification methods, alloying and microalloying techniques have attracted widespread attention from scholars due to their significant effects. This article reviews the effects of common rare earth elements such as La, Nd, Pr, Y, and Gd on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-Al-Zn magnesium alloys, and explores in depth the advantages, disadvantages, and future development directions of these rare earth element modified Mg-Al-Zn magnesium alloys.