Display omitted •Amorphous/crystalline coatings were prepared by laser cladding with rectangular spot.•Laser remelting can decrease cracks, and improve the surface quality of cladding coating.•Laser remelting can refine the microstructure and induce the formation of amorphous phases.•Laser remelting can enhance the corrosion resistant and microhardness of cladding coating. The WC reinforced Fe-based amorphous composite coatings were prepared by laser cladding with rectangular spot. The effect of laser remelting on the microstructure and properties of composite coatings was investigated. The results showed that laser remelting can reduce the cracks and porosities of the cladding coating and improve its surface quality. Large amounts of crystalline phases were precipitated at the top of the cladding and remelting coatings. However, the microstructure at the top of the remelting coating was finer compared to that at the top of the cladding coating. With increasing distance from the surface of substrate, the amorphous phase appeared within the remelting coating and large amounts of carbides rich in Fe and Mo, Fe23B6, γ-Fe and Cr9.1Si0.9 phases were also precipitated in the remelting coating. As a result, the corrosion resistance of the remelting coating was higher than that of the cladding coating. The microhardness of the remelting coating was approximately 1.13 times higher than that of the cladding coating.