Electron microscopy is used to reveal the competitive epitaxial growth of bcc structure (Cr1-x Mn (x) )(5)Al-8 and (Cr1-y Mn (y) )(2)AlC [M (n+1)AX (n) (MAX)] phase during both magnetron sputtering and arc deposition. X-ray diffraction theta-2 theta measurements display identical peak positions of (000n)-oriented MAX phase and (Cr1-x Mn (x) )(5)Al-8, due to the interplanar spacing of (Cr1-x Mn (x) )(5)Al-8 that matches exactly half a unit cell of (Cr1-y Mn (y) )(2)AlC. Vibrating sample magnetometry shows that a thin film exclusively consisting of (Cr1-x Mn (x) )(5)Al-8 exhibits a magnetic response, implying that the potential presence of this phase needs to be taken into consideration when evaluating the magnetic properties of (Cr, Mn)(2)AlC.