Both mode localization and mode transition can make the modes of a str ucture change a lot befor e and after its damage, and make the correlation between the modes weaken to a great extent. Based on the fact, using mode correlation coeff icient, a damage characteristic vector with high sensitivity is presented for the detection of the partial damage of reticulated shell structures. The vector is simple, and it is composed of several modes and a few test freedoms. Through a numerical examp le of a reticulated shell structure, the properties of the damage characteristic vector are tested. The results show that the vector not only has fairly good re solutio n performance, damage sensitivity and noise robustness, but can keep its adap tability to some extent to the error of a structural finite element model.