Provided is a rope-shaped alkali metal battery comprising: (a) a first electrode comprising a first conductive porous rod having pores and a first mixture of a first electrode active material and a first electrolyte residing in the pores of the first porous rod; (b) a porous separator wrapping around or encasing the first electrode to form a separator-protected first electrode; (c) a second electrode comprising a second conductive porous rod having pores and a second mixture of a second electrode active material and a second electrolyte residing in the pores of the second porous rod; wherein the separator-protected first electrode and second electrode are combined to form a braid or a yarn having a twist or spiral electrode; and (d) a protective casing or sheath wrapping around or encasing the braid or yarn.