It　is　difficult　to　increase　performance　using　traditional　alloy　design　approaches　based　on　limited　optimized　microstructures.　A　substantial　increase　in　strength　usually　causes　the　failure　of　materials　with　reduced　ductility.　Here,　we　report　a　strategy　to　overcome　this　bottleneck　by　optimizing　the　grain　orientation　in　alloy　systems.　Unlike　conventional　casting　microstructure　based　on　traditional　concept,　the　processing　involves　a　sub　grain-level　heat　flow-orientation　regulation　technique,　leading　to　an　optimal　microstructure　of　submicrometer　grains　with　different　orientations.　Our　approach　can　effectively　resist　microcrack　initiation,　propagation,　and　fracture,　resulting　in　excellent　tensile　ductility　of　SLM-processed　Ni6Cr4WFe9Ti　alloy.　This　optimized　grain　orientation　strategy　offers　a　general　method　for　additive　manufacturing　of　crisscross　orientations-strengthened　materials　with　both　high　strength　and　ductility.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.