A novel method of incorporating fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition (FBCVD) with electroless plating was developed to effectively prepare the core-shell structured high-Ni-content WC-Ni composite powders. FBCVD offered a unique approach to decorating Ni particles on WC particles. The small Ni particle acted as an active catalyst to effectively produce high-Ni-content composite powders in the subsequent electroless plating process. The particle size and quantity of decorated Ni particle determined the electroless plating rate. FBCVD pretreatment temperature and time had a conflicting influence on obtaining both the fine size and large quantity of deposited Ni particles. For the conditions tested, the maximum electroless plating rate of 2.93 mg/g/min was obtained using an optimal FBCVD pretreatment at 750 degrees C for 5 minutes, corresponding to a 0.11 wt. % Ni deposition and 50 nm particle size.