Abstract: The development of durable and broad‐spectrum resistance is an economical and eco‐friendly approach to control crop diseases for sustainable agricultural production. Emerging knowledge of the molecular basis of pathogenesis and plant–pathogen interactions has contributed to the development of novel pathogen‐informed breeding strategies beyond the limits imposed by conventional breeding. Here, we review the current status of pathogen‐assisted resistance‐related gene cloning. We also describe how pathogen effector proteins can be used to identify resistance resources and to inform cultivar deployment. Finally, we summarize the main approaches for pathogen‐directed plant improvement, including transgenesis and genome editing. Thus, we describe the emerging role of pathogen‐related studies in the breeding of disease‐resistant varieties, and propose innovative pathogen‐informed strategies for future applications.