Composite formation with Zr-based Laves phase alloys, especially the ZrCr 2 family, is an effective method to improve the hydriding properties of MgH 2 . The present paper describes a systematic study of the reaction pathway of Mg−x wt % ZrCrCu composites (x = 25, 50) in terms of their structural, morphological, and hydrogenation properties. XRD and SEM results show no interaction between Mg and the ZrCrCu alloy phase during composite preparation by high-energy ball-milling. However, hydriding/annealing cycles lead to the formation of the Mg 2 Cu phase at grain boundaries of the Mg−ZrCrCu matrix. This Mg 2 Cu phase does not interact with the hydrogen at the studied condition, but provides several diffusion paths and stable nucleation sites for the formation of MgH 2 , and thus enhances the sorption kinetics. Pressure composition temperature (PCT) analysis shows a reduction in desorption temperature down to 250 °C for these composites.