AbstractUsing a high‐speed video camera and a high‐speed optical imaging system, we observed a multi‐branched upward lightning flash that exhibited several special discharge features. One special feature is that a series of recoil leaders and the subsequent discharges caused by the connection of some recoil leaders to a conducting channel could extend a discharge channel like a leader. Another special feature is that the subsequent discharge could be similar to either a return stroke (RS) or an M‐component or something between. It seems that when a recoil leader initiated in a more conductive channel with a closer distance to a conducting channel, its subsequent discharge is similar to an M‐component. In cases with opposite conditions, the subsequent discharge will become similar to a RS. In conditions between the above two cases, a discharge that is intermediate between the RS and M‐component will occur.