Companions and Relationships: Your Allies in the Wasteland
In the desolate landscape of the Commonwealth, no one has to go it alone. Fallout 4 features a diverse cast of companions, each with their own personalities, backstories, and combat skills. Building relationships with them can provide valuable assistance, unlock unique perks, and offer a deeper connection to the game's narrative.
Companions are more than just pack mules; they are your loyal allies in the fight for survival. Each companion has a unique affinity system, meaning they will react positively or negatively to your actions based on their personal values. Gaining their trust and reaching maximum affinity can unlock powerful companion perks, making them indispensable members of your team.
Recruiting Companions
Companions can be found scattered throughout the Commonwealth, often tied to specific locations or quests. Once you meet them, you can usually ask them to join you. Some companions are automatically recruited as part of the main story, while others require a bit more effort to find.
Key Companions and Their Perks
Each companion offers a unique perk that you can unlock once you reach maximum affinity with them.
| Companion | Location/Quest | Perk | Perk Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codsworth | Sanctuary Hills (starts as a robot servant) | Grim Reaper's Sprint | 10% chance to refill AP on a VATS kill. |
| Piper | Diamond City (quest 'Story of the Century') | Gift of Gab | Gain 10% more XP from exploration and quest discoveries. |
| Nick Valentine | Diamond City (quest 'The Death of Diamond City') | Close to Metal | Better hacking: gain an extra guess and 50% faster cooldown. |
| Preston Garvey | Sanctuary Hills (Minutemen questline) | United We Stand | +10 Damage Resistance and +10% damage when facing 3+ opponents. |
| Cait | Combat Zone (quest 'The Fight Dirty') | Trigger Rush | Gain +10 Action Points when your health is below 25%. |
| Curie | Vault 81 (quest 'Hole in the Wall') | Combat Medic | Once a day, when your health drops below 10%, you heal 100 HP. |
| Paladin Danse | Cambridge Police Station (Brotherhood of Steel questline) | Know Your Enemy | +20% damage against Feral Ghouls, Super Mutants, and Synths. |
| MacCready | The Third Rail, Goodneighbor | Killshot | +20% VATS accuracy at 95% AP. |
| Hancock | The Third Rail, Goodneighbor | The Gainer | Gain +20% VATS critical hit chance and 10% more damage. |
| Strong | The Trinity Tower (quest 'The Superhuman Gambit') | Berserk | +20% melee damage and +30% melee damage resistance. |
| Deacon | Railroad HQ | Cloak & Dagger | +40% Stealth damage and unlocks Stealth Boy effect when sneaking. |
| Porter Gage (Nuka-World DLC) | Nuka-World | Gunslinger's Gambit | +10% damage and +10% AP when below 25% health. |
| Longfellow (Far Harbor DLC) | Far Harbor | Nautical Tides | +10% damage and +10% damage resistance against creatures. |
Building Affinity
Each companion has likes and dislikes. Performing actions they approve of will increase your affinity, while actions they disapprove of will decrease it.
- Likes: Generally include helping the innocent, acting morally, using specific weapons (e.g., Piper likes discovering new locations), and completing quests aled with their values.
- Dislikes: Often include stealing, excessive violence against non-hostiles, using drugs (for some), and actions that contradict their personal code.
To maximize affinity, pay attention to your companion's reactions and try to perform actions they approve of. You can also give them gifts or engage in dialogue options that they favor.
Companion Wheel and Commands
You can issue commands to your companions using the companion wheel (hold the interact button). This allows you to tell them to move, wait, trade items, or engage in combat.
Building strong relationships with your companions not only makes them more effective allies but also enriches the narrative experience of Fallout 4. Choose wisely, act according to their values, and unlock the full potential of your wasteland companions.