This short review provides a mechanistic overview of the most relevant developments into the area of intra- and intermolecular hydroamination and formal hydroamination of unactivated alkenes (excluding allenes and 1,3-dienes) promoted by first-row late transition metal catalysts involving zinc, copper, iron and cobalt. The different activation strategies and mechanistic disparities encountered with these systems will be highlighted. The relevant literature from 2012 until early 2018 has been covered.