Disc cutter wear is one of the most common problems in shield construction. The work aims to prepare Ni-based WC coating on the disc cutter surface by means of plasma transfer arc welding, and study the wear properties of the Ni-based WC coating and its reasonable evaluation method based on the actual working conditions of the shield disc cutter to reduce the severe abrasion and prolong the service life of the cutter. The friction and wear tests of Ni-based WC coating was conducted under two relative motion modes of reciprocating sliding and impact-sliding. The results indicated that the Ni-based WC coating prepared on the surface of shield disc cutter material could improve the wear resistance of shield disc cutter. After reciprocating sliding wear, the wear scar width of the Ni-based WC coating was 0.42 mm, while that of H13 steel was 0.78 mm. In addition, the impact-sliding wear property of Ni-based WC coating was better than that of H13 steel. Ni-based WC coating was mainly subject to abrasive wear under the two motion modes. For the reciprocating sliding mode, the coating showed local peeling, while there was adhesive wear under the impact-sliding mode. The high hardness WC particles on the Ni-based WC coating can prevent the abrasive particles from ploughing and impact with the Ni alloy under the two motion modes. Compared with the reciprocating sliding mode, the coating was subjected to the coupling effect of both impact and sliding in the impact-sliding mode, which resulted in significantly different wear features and damage forms. Thus, the wear test under impact-sliding mode can provide a more comprehensive and relevant study and evaluation on the tribological properties of the disc cutter ring.