In the current study, the high temperature oxidation behavior of AlCoCrFeNi high entropy alloy (HEA) following severe shear deformation was investigated. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed spinodal distribution of B2 and BCC phase in the as cast specimen. In contrast, the processed specimen showed a dual phase microstructure (B2/BCC+FCC) after shear deformation. Electron backscattered diffraction analysis revealed significant grain refinement from 90 µm for the as-cast HEA to nearly 2 µm for the processed specimen. The processed specimen showed up to 66% reduction in the oxidation kinetics compared to the as cast alloy. The remarkable improvement in the high-temperature oxidation performance following processing is attributed to complete microstructure refinement. The current study provides a sustainable solution and a new pathway for addressing the looming problem of material deterioration at high temperatures. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.