Hydrogen　evolution　reaction　(HER)　is　a　critical　process　in　electrocatalytic　water　splitting　for　hydrogen　production.　However,　the　development　of　low-cost　electrocatalysts　for　highly　efficient　HER　is　still　a　huge　challenge.　Hence,　we　fabricate　a　multi-metal　phosphide　on　Ni　foam,　FeCoNiNbxP,　through　a　facile　hydrothermal　reaction　followed　by　phosphorization.　We　find　that　Nb　promotes　the　formation　of　metal　phosphides,　and　the　main　phases　of　the　catalysts　with　Nb　are　multiphase　phosphides.　Importantly,　the　Nb　incorporation　significantly　improves　the　HER　activity　of　FeCoNiP.　We　show　that　FeCoNiNb0.3P　has　the　best　HER　activity,　which　only　requires　an　overpotential　of　78　mV　to　achieve　a　current　density　of　10　mA　cm(-2)　in　1　M　KOH,　and　demonstrates　excellent　stability　under　both　constant　potential　and　varied　current　densities.　Our　findings　show　that　the　multiple-metal　compounds　are　beneficial　to　the　improvement　of　catalytic　activity　and　provide　guidance　on　the　design　of　novel　catalysts　for　applications.　(c)　2021　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.