Dense FGMs with gradually changing fraction of very hard and light-weight B₄C particles were fabricated employing an original Reactive Forging (RF) combustion synthesis method. In RF, a self-sustained reaction (thermal explosion, TE) is ignited by placing a powder blend between preheated press rams and the high temperature achieved is utilized for consolidation of the combustion product. The reported FGMs were prepared by stacking layers of highly exothermic Ti-C-Ni powder blend diluted with varying fractions of non-reacting B₄C particles. Only a limited amount of B₄C could be added as its diluting action reduces the overall exothermicity of the blend. In some cases, B₄C particles were precoated in order to prevent their interaction with Ti during combustion. Temperature evolution in (Ti-Ni-C)-B ₄C powder compacts corresponding to different FGM layers was measured separately and in the stacked form. The better understanding of combustion process in B₄C-diluted blends coupled with well-devised geometrical design allowed us to fabricate FGMs with high volume fractions of B₄C in the surface layer.