Silicon carbide (SiC) was reinforced in the pulse electrodeposited nickel-tungsten (Ni-W) coatings deposited on the steel substrate, and isothermal oxidation test was performed at 1273 K (1000 °C) for 24 hours. Addition of just 2 vol pct of SiC showed 26 pct increase in the relative oxidation resistance of Ni-W coating. The increased oxidation resistance was attributed to the phase evolution (SiO2, Cr2O3, CrSi2, Ni2SiO4, Cr7C3, Cr3C2, and Cr3Si), which suppressed the spallation of the oxide scale in Ni-W-2 vol pct SiC. The presence of Fe2O3 phase in the oxidized Ni-W coating was mainly responsible for the major multiple spallations at the interface and in the bulk, which resulted in the degradation of oxidation resistance. © 2016, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International.