©　2017,　The　editorial　office　of　Transaction　of　China　Electrotechnical　Society.　All　right　reserved.　In　order　to　stimulate　atmospheric　pressure　plasma　(APP),　it　is　usually　demanded　that　the　applied　pulses　is　with　kV　amplitude,　ns　rising　time　and　pulse　width,　and　kHz　repetitive　frequency.　Intensively,　the　pulse　front　edge　and　width　are　always　required　to　be　as　short　as　possible.　Fortunately,　the　pulse　generating　circuit　based　on　avalanche　transistor　is　much　suitable　for　these　parameter　requirements.　This　paper　summarized　the　pulse　generating　methods　using　avalanche　transistors.　Firstly,　the　basic　principle　and　research　status　of　the　avalanche　transistor　were　introduced.　And　then　the　research　status　and　performance　characteristics　of　the　four　typical　avalanche　transistor-based　circuits　were　detailed,　including　the　series-transistor　circuit,　Marx　circuit,　parallel-transistor　circuit　and　pulse　cut-off　circuit.　Thereafter,　the　key　factors　influencing　output　pulse　parameters　were　theoretically　analyzed,　such　as　pulse　amplitude,　rising　time,　fall　time,　pulse　width,　repetitive　frequency,　efficiency　and　stability.　At　last,　the　research　status　and　basic　theory　of　three　combined　avalanche　transistor-based　circuits　were　presented,　including　the　series-transistor　Marx　circuit,　parallel-transistor　Marx　circuit　and　parallel　Marx　circuit.