The invention relates to a preparation method of a multi-element composite material mainly used as a lithium ion battery anode material, and also relates to a preparation method for a precursor of the multi-element composite material. The material belongs to nickel-cobalt lithium manganate anode materials, and can be represented by the chemical formula Lia(NixCoyMnz)NbO2/M, wherein a is greater than or equal to 1 and is smaller than or equal to 1.2, b is greater than or equal to 0 and is smaller than or equal to 0.1, (x + y + z) is greater than or equal to 0.9 and is smaller than or equal to 1, N is a doping element and is one or more of Mg, Al, Ti, Cr, Zr, La, Nb and other elements, M is a cladding element and is one or more of Li, B, C, Al, Si, Ti, Co, Zr and other elements. By full mixing of the precursor and a lithium salt, the method provided by the invention improves the reaction activity, and strictly controls the sintering temperature so as to obtain the multi-element anode material with regular shape and uniform particle size.