Phyllite　is　widely　distributed　in　nature,　and　it　deserves　to　be　studied　considering　rock　engineering　applications.　In　this　study,　uniaxial　compression　tests　were　conducted　on　foliated　phyllite　with　different　foliation　angles　under　dry　and　water-saturated　conditions.　The　impacts　of　water　content　and　foliation　angle　on　the　stress–strain　curves　and　basic　mechanical　properties　of　the　Phyllite　were　analyzed.　The　experimental　results　indicate　that　the　peak　stress　and　peak　strain　decrease　first　and　then　increase　with　increasing　foliation　angle　as　a　U-shape　or　V-shape,　and　the　phyllite　specimens　are　weakened　significantly　by　the　presence　of　water.　Moreover,　an　approach　with　acoustic　emission,　digital　image　correlation,　and　scanning　electron　microscopic　is　employed　to　observe　and　analyze　the　macroscopic　and　mesoscopic　failure　process.　The　results　show　that　tensile　microcracks　dominate　during　the　progressive　failure　of　phyllite,　and　their　initiation,　propagation,　and　coalescence　are　the　main　reasons　for　the　failure　of　the　phyllite　specimens.　The　water　acts　on　biotite　and　clay　minerals　that　are　main　components　of　phyllite,　and　it　contributes　to　the　initiation,　propagation,　and　coalescence　of　numerous　microcracks.　Finally,　four　failure　modes　are　classified　as　followed:　(a)　for　the　specimens　with　small　foliation　angles　α　=　0°　or　30°　(Saturated),　both　shear　sliding　and　tensile-split　across　the　foliation　planes;　(b)　for　the　specimens　with　low　to　medium　foliation　angles　α　=　30°　(Dry)　or　45°(Saturated),　shear　sliding　dominates　the　foliation　planes;　(c)　for　the　specimens　with　medium　to　high　foliation　angles　α　=　45°　(Dry)　or　60°,　shear　sliding　dominates　the　foliation　planes;　(d)　for　the　specimens　with　high　foliation　angles　α　=　90°,　tensile-split　dominates　the　foliation　planes.　©　2022　by　the　authors.