Abstract: The flux cored wires for gradient structure (bottom layer, transition layer and hardfacing layer) by wire and arc additive manufacturing on surface of 5CrNiMo steel were developed, and the microstructure, tensile properties, wear properties and bonding properties of the substrate and gradient layers were analyzed. Moreover, the wire and arc additive manufacturing of gradient die for engine superalloy disk was carried out. The results show that the three flux cored wires had good formability. The interface between the metal layers were well bonded, and the bonding strength was all over 1 000 MPa. Fine carbides were dispersed in the structure of the transition layer and hardfacing layer. The tensile strength, yield strength and hardness of the 5CrNiMo steel, bottom layer, transition layer and hardfacing layer increased in turn, while the elongation and area shrinkage after fracture of the gradient layer decreased in turn. At 700 ℃, the wear rate of the hardfacing layer was reduced by 35.29% compared with that of 5CrNiMo steel, showing that the hardfacing layer had good high temperature wear resistance. The service life of the gradient die by wire and arc additive manufacturing with the designed flux cored wire materials for superalloy disk was more than four times that of 5CrNiMo steel die.