The work aims to study the effect of technological parameters (pressure, bias voltage and arc current) on deposition rate, microstructure and composition of coatings. The NiCoCrAlYTa coatings were deposited on nickel-based superalloy by changing air pressure, bias voltage and arc current in orthogonal experiment by arc ion plating (AIP). The cross-section and surface morphology of the coatings were analyzed by SEM, composition was detected by EDS, porosity was detected by metallographic microscope and thickness was examined by 3D contourgraph. Arc current had most significant effect on deposition rate of coatings, bias voltage the second and air pressure the least. However, the bias voltage had most significant effect on porosity of the coatings, air pressure the second and arc current the least. The coating microstructures transformed from columnar to lamellar structure with the increase of bias voltage. The number of large particles on the coatings first increased and then decreased with the increase of arc current. The coating composition was subject to segregation with respect to that of target. Compared with the target, the Ni and Al content of the coatings decreased while Co and Cr content of the coatings increased. The composition segregation effect intensified with the increase of bias voltage. However, it first intensified and then weakened with the increase of arc current. Air pressure had no obvious impact on composition segregation. Low air pressure and high current can improve the compactness of NiCoCrAlYTa coating, decrease the composition segregation and reduce loss of Al, a vital element in the coatings. The optimal technological parameters obtained in experiment were: air pressure of 0.5 Pa and arc current of 110 A, the bias voltage can be further optimized by examining relevant performance.