The composite coating had a good metallurgical combination with the substrate. The matrix of the coating showed a compact Ti_xAl_y phase with short rod structure, and a large number of TiC_1-xN_x phase dendrites mainly distributed on the matrix. During the melting process, Al atoms diffused into the TiC_1-xN_x phase dendrites, resulting in the formation of a layer of MAX phase at the dendrites' edges. TiC and Ti₂AlC in the composite coating were gradually replaced by TiN and Ti₂AlN as the AlN/TiC content ratio in the mixed powder increased. The solid solution TiC_1-xN_x changed from solid solution N in TiC to solid solution C in TiN, that is, from TiC_0.7N_0.3 to TiC_0.3N_0.7,and finally to TiC_0.2N_0.8. The coating's hardness was increased to 2.04 times of the TC4 matrix by forming a fine and dense structure and a dispersed reinforcing phase with the proper powder ratio. The Ti-Al-(C, N) composite coating is expected to improve the surface properties of titanium alloy, allowing it to adapt to more difficult working conditions.