Laser surface treatment with powdery materials can be used to adapt surface properties of tools to their special requirements. Composite layers consisting of a ductile matrix and reinforcing hard particles, even in the nanoparticle range, can be generated using a combined process of laser cladding and particle injection. Another method used to modify metallic surfaces is a laser-based alloying process, using powdery alloying elements instead of hard materials. The powder is molten in the processing zone during laser treatment. Results show a high-potential for these two innovative techniques: Cutting tools reinforced by steel-ceramic composite layers have been generated. For this purpose, cutting lines have been supplied with ceramic microparticles to minimize the tool wear. Even the use of ceramic nanoparticles was realized to avoid stress peaks and to obtain a homogeneous and well dispersed layer. Other promising results have resulted from laser alloying low-cost steel and cast iron materials to upgrade extremely stressed functional areas of forming tools. The use of molybdenum and vanadium microparticles has led to a significant improvement of the surface hardness. Due to the approaches described here, increased life cycles and an expanded range of applications are expected.