The work aims to improve tribological properties of TiSiN-Cu coating by doping the coating with soft metal Cu. TiSiN-Cu coating was deposited on 316L stainless steel by adopting multi-arc ion plating technology. Surface morphology of the coating was observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Element composition and phase structure of the coating was analyzed with X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD), respectively. Mechanical properties and tribological properties of TiSiN-Cu coatings with different Cu contents were characterized with nano indentation hardness test as well as friction and wear test. Cu content had great influences on microstructure, hardness and tribological properties of the TiSiN-Cu coatings. Copper existed in the form of elementary substance. There was a little CuO on the surface of coatings owing to exposure to air. As the Cu content increased, grain size of TiN first decreased and then increased, the hardness first increased and then decreased. When the Cu content was 6.28 at.%, the hardness reached 29.26 GPa. Under dry friction conditions, the wear rate was 6.65×10?7 mm3/(N?m) (the minimum) when Cu content was 12.93 at.%. However, the wear rate was higher in seawater environment. Soft metal Cu can significantly improve the dry friction of the TiSiN coating as solid lubrication particle. However, the interaction of friction and corrosion can accelerate wear of the coatings in seawater.