MC　-type　carbide　-reinforced　metal　matrix　composites　(MMCs)　coatings　are　additively　manufactured　by　plasma　transferred　arc　(PTA)　on　Q235　steel　under　different　arc　currents　ranging　from　120　A　to　160　A.　The　microstructure,　elemental　distribution,　hardness,　and　wear　resistance　of　MMCs　coatings　are　studied.　The　results　show　that　the　MMCs　coating　possesses　a　high　hardness　up　to　1112.1　HV　1.0　,　30.3　%　volume　fraction　of　carbides,　and　excellent　wear　resistance　when　PTA　main　arc　current　is　140　A.　The　mechanical　performance　improvement　is　in　that　the　MMCs　coatings　manufactured　at　140　A　have　the　highest　density　of　finer　fishbone-shaped　carbides　and　favorable　size　uniformity,　compared　with　other　main　arc　currents.