China has abundant vanadium titanomagnetite resources，but the traditional blast furnace-converter process has such problems as long process flow，poor comprehensive utilization effect of resources，high energy consumption and large environmental pollution. The gas-based shaft furnace direct reduction-electric furnace melting process provides a new way for the clean and efficient utilization of vanadium titanomagnetite. Direct reduction cage test for vanadium titanium pellet ore gas-based shaft furnace is conducted，the direct reduction status and pellet quality of vanadium titanium pellet ore in actual production are researched，and the corresponding improvement measures are proposed. The results show that the compressive strength of vanadium-titanium pellets is one of the factors affecting the production of gas-based shaft furnaces， and its high low-temperature reduction pulverization rate and reduction expansion rate are also important factors leading to serious pulverization and poor appearance and morphology of direct reduced iron ( DRI) ，which has become a limiting link in the production of gas-based shaft furnaces. Due to the special mineral composition of vanadium-titanium pellets，its reducibility is poor，and the metallization rate of DRI production is low. By adjusting the operating system of the gas-based shaft furnace by increasing the inlet temperature of the gas-based shaft furnace and improving the reducing atmosphere，the metallization rate of the DRI can be improved. The cage test provides a direction for improving the metallurgical properties of vanadium-titanium pellets，and the operation system of the shaft furnace should be optimized in the future to further improve the reduction efficiency.