The surface of slightly porous, commercially available alumina ceramic was laser-modified with tungsten and/or zirconia additions. The thickness of the resulting multiphase surface layers ranged from 300-800 Cim depending on the chemical composition and the parameters of the laser process used. Microstructure and worn surfaces were analysed by scanning electron microscopy and energy- dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Mechanical properties were characterized by using Vickers hardness and nanoindentor testing. Tribological tests were carried out on the surface-modified ceramics using a ball-on-block tribometer. All tests were conducted in unlubricated oscillating sliding contact against balls of alumina in laboratory air at room temperature, relative humidities varying between 3% and 80%, and in distilled water. The multiphase surface layers showed a total volume fraction of second phases up to 40 vol% embedded in the alumina matrix, whereas the average size of the alumina grains was substantially reduced compared with the substrate ceramic. Tungsten dispersoids were distributed homogenously in the ceramic matrix and eutectic Al2O3-ZrO2 phase occurred a long the boundaries of the alumina crystallites. Mechanical and tribological properties varied as a function of the microstructure of the laser-modified ceramics, i.e. type and volume fraction of the second phases, and both friction and wear were substantially reduced compared with the commercially available monolithic alumina ceramic used for reference. Friction coefficient and amount of linear wear of the ceramics decreased with increasing relative humidity of the surrounding air.