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Presently, there is a growing interest in exploring materials for absorbing electromagnetic waves (EMW). MAX materials stand out as potential absorbers. However, limited attention has been given to understanding the impact of doping on their intrinsic properties. This study innovatively introduces magnetic metallic elements (Fe, Ni) and transition metallic elements (Mo, Zr, W, Ta) simultaneously into the M site of Ti 3 AlC 2 , forming novel ternary MAX phase ceramics. Phase and microstructural analyses indicate the successful preparation of a single solid solution with uniformly distributed elements. Notably, Ti 2.7 Fe 0.1 Mo 0.2 AlC 2 exhibits the lowest reflection loss at − 33.9 dB. Ti 2.7 Ni 0.1 Ta 0.2 AlC 2 demonstrates the widest absorption bandwidth of 5.10 GHz. Importantly, the matching thicknesses for Ti 2.7 Fe 0.1 Mo 0.2 AlC 2 and Ti 2.7 Ni 0.1 Ta 0.2 AlC 2 are 2.5 mm and 1.97 mm, respectively. This indicates that the material achieves excellent microwave absorption performance while maintaining a lightweight and thin structure, making it suitable for various specific requirements. We systematically investigated the influence of different doping elements on the microwave absorption properties of Ti 3 AlC 2 , with a particular emphasis on the simultaneous introduction of magnetic metallic and transition metallic elements. This dual incorporation has significantly enhanced both dielectric and magnetic losses, offering crucial insights for the design of future innovative microwave absorption materials. [Display omitted] • The Ti 3 AlC 2 ceramics at the M site doping were prepared using a simple reactive sintering technique. • The metal element doping has great influence on electromagnetic parameters and EMW absorption performance. • The impact of doping metallic elements on the phase and microstructure evolution was investigated. • The electromagnetic wave absorption mechanism was systematically examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]