Fallout Tactics
Fallout Tactics

Companion Management & Perks — Fallout Tactics Guide

Effectively manage companions and select powerful perks in Fallout Tactics. Leverage recruit strengths and mitigate weaknesses for mission success.

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Companion Management & Perks

Your squad is your lifeline in the treacherous wastes of Fallout Tactics. Effective companion management, from recruitment to perk selection, is crucial for survival and mission success. Unlike your custom character, companions come with pre-determined stats and a limited pool of perks. Understanding how to leverage their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses is key.

Recruitment and Roster Management

Companions are recruited from various Brotherhood of Steel bunkers as you progress through the campaign. Each bunker typically offers a selection of recruits with different specialties. You can only bring a certain number of companions on a mission, determined by your current squad size limit (initially 2, increasing with rank). The rest remain at the bunker, ready to be swapped in.

  • Bunker Locations:
  • Bunker Alpha: Your starting point. Offers basic recruits like Stitch (Medic) and Ice (Small Guns).
  • Bunker Beta: Accessible after completing missions in the Freeport area. Introduces more specialized recruits.
  • Bunker Gamma: Found later in the game, providing higher-level and more powerful companions.
  • Swapping Companions: To swap companions, return to any Brotherhood bunker. Speak to the Quartermaster or the designated personnel (often near the training area). You'll be presented with a roster of available recruits. Remember to equip new companions with appropriate gear from your inventory before deploying them.

Companion Leveling and Perk Selection

Companions gain experience and level up alongside your main character. However, their perk selection is more restricted. When a companion levels up, they gain skill points to distribute and, at certain levels, they will be eligible for a perk. The available perks are often tailored to their base stats and intended role.

  • Strategic Perk Choices:
  • Dedicated Medics: For companions like Stitch, prioritize perks that enhance their healing capabilities. Good choices include Field Medic (improves First Aid and Doctor skill effectiveness) and Healer (increases healing done by First Aid and Doctor).
  • Heavy Weapons Specialists: For companions wielding big guns, consider perks like Bonus Rate of Fire (grants an additional attack per round with certain weapons) or Heavy Handed (increases damage with heavy weapons at the cost of accuracy, best for high Strength characters).
  • Snipers/Ranged DPS: Companions focused on precision shooting benefit from Sniper (critical hits with aimed shots) and Better Criticals (increases critical hit damage). Ensure they have high Agility and Perception.
  • Melee Brawlers: For close-quarters combatants, Slayer (always hit for maximum damage in melee) and Bonus HtH Attacks (additional unarmed/melee attack) are excellent.
  • Utility & Support: Don't overlook perks that benefit the entire squad or provide crucial utility. Pathfinder (increases movement speed on the world map) is useful for your main character, but less so for companions. Consider perks that boost their specific skill sets, like Master Trader for a high-Charisma companion if you plan to use them for bartering (though your main character is usually better suited).

Gear and Inventory Management

Companions are only as effective as the gear you provide them. Always ensure they have appropriate weapons, armor, and consumables.

  • Weapon Specialization: Equip companions with weapons that match their highest weapon skill. A companion with 100% Small Guns skill will be far more effective with a FN FAL than a Flamer.
  • Armor: Prioritize giving your most vulnerable companions (e.g., medics, low HP characters) the best available armor, such as Brotherhood Combat Armor or Power Armor once acquired.
  • Ammunition: Keep a close eye on companion ammunition. They will not automatically switch to a different weapon if they run out of ammo for their primary. Always carry spare ammo for their main weapons.
  • Consumables: Provide each companion with at least a few Stimpaks and potentially RadAway or Rad-X depending on the mission environment. They will use these automatically when critically injured or irradiated.

By carefully managing your companions' recruitment, perk selection, and equipment, you can forge an unstoppable Brotherhood squad capable of facing any challenge the wasteland throws your way.