This study investigates the multiple effects of addition (0–10 wt%) of nano-SiC on the laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) of CoCrNi(SiC) x composite coatings on ASTM-1035 steel. For the first time, the impact of addition of SiC on the molten pool temperature field during single/multi-pass laser deposition was quantitatively revealed. It was found that SiC elevates melt pool peak temperature (1373 → 1740 °C) and temperature gradient (1071 → 3860 °C/mm) while reducing pool dimensions due to enhanced laser absorptivity and suppressed Marangoni flow. Multi-scale microstructural analysis demonstrates that SiC decomposition drives Si dissolution into the FCC matrix and C segregation at cell boundaries, promoting Cr₂₃C₆ precipitation. Grain refinement (111.3 → 17.1 μm) is attributed to accelerated cooling rates (1285 → 2029 °C/s) and heterogeneous nucleation. Increased elastic modulus (101.41 → 159.72 GPa) and nanohardness (3.29 → 6.73 GPa) contributed to an enhanced value of H/E and H 3/E 2, indicating an improved wear performance. As a result, the friction coefficient decreases by 50 % (0.81 → 0.4) and wear rate drops 76 % (1.46 × 10 −4 → 3.48 × 10 −5 mm 3/N·m). This enhancement stems from (i) solid-solution/precipitation/dislocation strengthening and (ii) in-situ formation of self-lubricating Cr₂SiO₄/SiO₂ films that suppress oxidative wear. The work elucidates SiC's role in synchronously optimizing thermal behavior, microstructure, and tribology property for high-performance coatings.