Abstract: Aiming at the laser cladding process of Ni clad WC particle reinforced metal matrix composites, the temperature field and stress field model of cladding layer were developed. Considering the influence of different content of Ni clad WC particles on the thermophysical properties of composite cladding layer, the evolution mechanism of temperature field and stress field in metal matrix composite cladding layer was analyzed, and a gradient cladding scheme for stress optimization was proposed. The results show that the greater the content of Ni coated WC particles in the powder, the greater the difference between the physical properties and the matrix, and the greater stress generates in the cladding process. The maximum stress in the cladding layer appears near the joint surface between the cladding layer and the matrix. The gradient cladding scheme can significantly reduce the maximum stress and obtain a well formed composite cladding layer.