High magnetic field has been applied to the directional solidification of superalloy DZ417G. The results show that high magnetic field can significantly influence the primary dendrite arm spacing and microsegregation. A 6 T magnetic field can decrease the primary dendrite arm spacing by 22 % at a drawing speed of 40 μm/s. Nevertheless, when the magnetic field is greater than 6 T the primary dendrite arm spacing begins to increase. The microsegregation of Ti and Mo can be also decreased by about 28 % and 40 % respectively with a 6 T magnetic field at a drawing speed of 40 μm/s. These phenomena are attributed to the competitive relationship of the electromagnetic damping and thermoelectromagnetic convection caused by the high magnetic field.