Scratch tests, reciprocating microwear, and scanning wear tests were performed on pure Au, bilayer Au/MoS2, and co-sputtered Au–MoS2 using a nanoindentation instrument in dry air. These different lubrication strategies (i.e. nanocomposite and bilayer coatings) were compared in terms of mechanical properties, friction coefficient, and wear behavior. The results were correlated to the tribofilm formation, which was analyzed using ex situ characterization of the wear track with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), micro-Raman spectrometer, and an atomic force microscope (AFM). It was observed that the nanocomposite Au–MoS2 coatings increased the wear resistance compared to pure Au films, which was explained by the increase in hardness values and the decrease in surface adhesion forces. Similarly for bilayer Au/MoS2 samples, the wear resistance of the Au film was enhanced by the MoS2 top layer, which behaved as a sacrificial layer protecting the Au.