In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for generating a combined MR image of an examination object, a first image data record of an examination object, generated from magnetic resonance data recorded with a first reception coil, is loaded into a computer. A second image data record of the examination object, generated from magnetic resonance data recorded with a second reception coil, wherein the first and the second reception coils are different reception coils, is also loaded into a computer. At least one interim image data record is generated by the computer by applying a mask function to the first and/or second image data record. An interim image data record is combined in the computer with the image data record to which no mask function was applied, or with the other interim image data record, to form a combined MR image.