Nanocatalysts,　due　to　their　small　size　and/or　lattice　mismatch　among　hetero　components,　undergo　strain.　During　a　reaction,　adsorbates　as　well　as　strain　may　cause　the　catalyst＇s　surface　to　reorganize,　which　can　lead　to　great　changes　in　the　reaction　energetics　and　structures　of　reaction　intermediates.　Surface　restructure　is　more　prominent　for　certain　metals　than　others.　To　better　utilize　strain　to　affect　reaction,　we　need　first　to　properly　characterize　transition　metals　according　to　their　surface　property　change　caused　by　adsorbates　and　strain.　Using　density　functional　theory　(DFT)　calculations,　the　synergistic　effect　of　a　representative　adsorbate　O∗　and　strain　(biaxial,　±5%)　on　the　close-packed　surfaces　of　27　transition　metals　are　systematically　investigated.　The　metals　can　be　roughly　characterized　as　strain-sensitive　or　strain-insensitive　using　three　descriptors:　two　variations　of　the　O　formation　energy　both　in　the　absolute　(ΔEform)　and　relative　sense　(ΔEform%),　and　the　maximum　vertical　displacement　of　metal　atoms　(Zi).　For　strain-sensitive　metals,　the　criteria　are　ΔEform　＞　0.60　eV,　ΔEform%　＞　20%　and　Zi　＞　0.50　Å　within　the　considered　strain　variation　range.　According　to　the　isolated　O∗　model,　Zn　and　Cd　are　found　to　be　strain-sensitive,　while　Zn,　Cd,　Pt,　and　Au　are　screened　out　as　strain-sensitive　metals　when　using　the　double-O∗　model　with　two　neighboring　O∗　adatoms,　suggesting　the　categorization　is　strongly　O　coverage　dependent.　In　principle,　for　these　strain-sensitive　transition　metals,　strain　can　be　effectively　utilized　to　control　the　energetics,　selectivity,　and　mechanism　of　reactions　involving　O∗　adatoms.　©　2022　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry　and　the　Centre　National　de　la　Recherche　Scientifique.