The　aim　of　this　work　is　to　explore　high-property　nickel　based　self-lubricating　coatings　to　meet　the　challenge　of　the　increasing　demand　of　heavy　load　wear　condition.　Thus,　a　series　of　Ni-MoS2/graphite　coatings　were　designed　and　prepared　by　supersonic　atmospheric　plasma　spraying.　The　microstructural　evolution　of　lubricating　phases　was　systematically　studied　by　plasma　focused　ion　beam　(FIB)　and　field-emission　transmission　electron　microscopy　(FE-TEM).　The　results　suggested　that　the　lubricating　phases,　such　as　graphite　and　MoS2,　can　transform　into　some　independent　lamellar　structures　due　to　their　low　binding　energy.　MoS2　phase　was　easy　to　decompose　into　nanoscale　Mo　with　preferred　(110)　crystal　plane　at　high　temperatures,　leading　to　the　decrease　of　self-lubrication　property　of　coatings.　Due　to　the　rapid　formation　of　the　graphite-dominated　debris　transfer　layer,　the　coating　with　approximately　19　vol%　graphite　showed　the　longest　friction　time　and　the　lowest　wear　rate.　The　graphite　with　a　large　size　range　(1–60　μm)　not　only　effectively　compensated　the　loss　of　MoS2　caused　by　the　thermal　decomposition,　but　also　improved　the　density　and　fracture　toughness　of　coatings.　In　addition,　the　content　of　monoclinic　β-MoO3　was　significantly　decreased　with　the　addition　of　graphite,　which　further　improved　the　tribological　properties　of　the　coatings.　This　work　provided　an　in-depth　understanding　for　the　development　of　composite　coatings　with　high　anti-wear　performance　under　heavy　load.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.