One of the most important way to improve the properties of metals is forming composites. Metal matrix composites possess the superiorities in mechanical and functional properties, such as high specific strength, high specific stiffness, and low thermal expansion coefficient, making them be ideal candidates in many cutting-edge-technologies. The incorporation of high-performance reinforcement in metal matrix will, undoubtedly, lead to significant increments in mechanical and functional properties. However, as constrained by the nature of engineering materials as well as the traditional design approaches, metal matrix composites are facing the challenges of limited development motivation. New design strategies and routes must be developed to address this issue. We here come up with a concept of “self-stimulation effect” in metal matrix composites to create new deformation and physical features via the composite effect, leading to unprecedented properties that well beyond those obtained from the traditional “rule-of-mixtures”. We review some of the literatures on this field, mainly focus on mechanical and functional properties, to demonstrate the crucial role of self-stimulation on the achievement of excellent properties.This review is ended with some in-depth discussion on the further development of metal matrix composites.