This　work　focuses　on　the　anisotropic　deformation　and　fracture　mechanisms　of　a　typical　physical　vapor　deposited　TiN/ZrN　multilayer,　employing　novel　nanoindentation　and　micropillar　compression　techniques.　The　results　highlight　a　stronger　nanoindentation　response　of　the　multilayer　when　loaded　perpendicular　(90　degrees)　to　the　layer　orientation,　and　the　deformation　was　mainly　controlled　by　the　plasticity　of　ZrN　layers.　In　comparison,　at　parallel　(0　degrees)　orientation,　the　kink　banding　and　the　induced　cracking　may　weaken　the　constraint　beneath　the　indenter,　thus　leading　to　degraded　hardness.　By　considering　the　anisotropic　deformation　mechanisms,　nanoindentation　finite　element　modeling　was　further　performed　to　give　reliable　predictions　on　the　strength　at　the　inclined　orientation.　The　modeling　results　suggest　a　dominant　deformation　mechanism　that　occurred　mainly　in　the　ZrN　layers,　with　minor　contribution　from　the　stiff　TiN　layers.　As　a　result,　a　minimized　hardness　was　predicted　at　45　degrees　loading　direction　with　respect　to　layer　orientation.　Finally,　the　micropillar　compressions　show　a　brittle　nature　of　both　90　degrees　and　0　degrees　oriented　micropillars,　and　a　higher　fracture　strain　was　obtained　at　90　degrees,　due　to　the　observed　crack　termination　mechanism　at　this　orientation.