Ti-based coatings following laser ablation were studied to compare degradation behaviors by thermomechanical stress. TiN, TiCN, and TiAlN coatings were degraded by a Nd:YAG pulsed laser with an increase in the laser pulses. A decrease in the hardness was identified as the pulses increased, and the hardness levels were in the order of TiAlN > TiCN > TiN. The TiN showed cracks on the surface, and cracks with pores formed along the cracks were observed in the TiCN. The dominant degradation behavior of the TiAlN was surface pore formation. EDS results revealed that diffusion of substrate atoms to the coating surface occurred in the TiN. Delamination occurred in the TiN and TiCN, while the TiAlN which has higher thermal stability than the TiN and TiCN maintained adhesion to the substrate. It was considered that the decrease in the hardness of the Ti-based hard coatings is attributed to surface cracking and the diffusion of substrate atoms.