All Companions in Fallout 4: Who is Actually Worth the Trouble?

Let's be real. Wandering the Commonwealth alone is depressing. Sure, the Lone Wanderer perk gives you some sweet damage resistance and carry weight, but after twenty hours of listening to nothing but the wind howling through the ruins of downtown Boston, you start to crave some company. That’s where the all companions in fallout 4 roster comes in. It isn't just a list of pack mules; these characters are the heartbeat of the game’s narrative. Some are amazing. Others? Honestly, they’re just there to judge you for picking up duct tape.

If you’ve played for five minutes, you already know Dogmeat. He doesn't count against your companion limit for certain perks, which is a weird little engine quirk everyone loves. But beyond the dog, you have a massive spread of synthetic humans, drug-addicted pit fighters, and a literal private eye from the 1940s. Picking the right one changes everything about how the world reacts to you.

The Heavy Hitters You Can’t Ignore

Most players gravitate toward Nick Valentine. It makes sense. He’s a noir detective trapped in a prototype synth body, and his personal quest, Long Time Coming, is easily one of the best-written stories Bethesda has ever put out. He’s got that gravelly voice that makes even the most boring fetch quest feel like a scene from a hardboiled movie. Plus, he hacks terminals. If you hate the hacking minigame as much as I do, Nick is a godsend.

Then there’s Paladin Danse. He’s the Brotherhood of Steel poster boy. Big armor. Big gun. Big ego. But his story takes a turn that—no spoilers for the three people who haven't finished the game—completely flips the script on what the Brotherhood actually stands for. He’s a tank. If you’re playing on Survival mode, you want Danse between you and that Suicider Super Mutant.

Cait is a different beast entirely. You find her in the Combat Zone, and she is rough. She likes it when you’re mean. She likes it when you pick locks. But beneath the Irish accent and the drug habit is a deeply tragic character. Her quest Benign Intervention is one of the few times the game actually handles addiction with a bit of weight. Once she gets clean, her "Trigger Rush" perk is actually pretty useful for VATS-heavy builds.

Why Your Choice Actually Matters

It’s about the perks. Every companion has an affinity system. You do stuff they like, they like you more. You reach the "Idolized" status, and you get a permanent perk. Some are garbage. Some are essential.

Take Deacon from the Railroad. He’s a pathological liar who changes clothes every five seconds. It's hilarious. But his perk, "Cloak & Dagger," is non-negotiable for stealth builds. It gives you a 20% boost to sneak attack damage and increases the duration of Stealth Boys. If you're a "sniper from the shadows" type of player, you have to spend time with him. Period.

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The Full List of Potential Allies

Looking for everyone? Here is the breakdown of all companions in fallout 4 that you can recruit in the base game:

• Codsworth: Your pre-war butler. Great with a buzzsaw, surprisingly judgmental about your scavenging habits.
• Dogmeat: Found at the Red Rocket. The only companion who loves you unconditionally.
• Piper Wright: The journalist from Diamond City. She’s great for early-game leveling because her perk doubles XP for discovering new locations and passing speech checks.
• Preston Garvey: The man, the myth, the meme. He wants you to help settlements. His "United We Stand" perk is actually incredible for fighting groups, giving you damage resistance and bonus damage when outnumbered.
• Curie: A French robot who can become... something else. Her quest is a highlight. Her perk heals you for 100 HP if you fall below 10%.
• Strong: A Super Mutant who hates everything you do unless it involves murder. He’s a pain to gain affinity with because he hates it when you pick locks or enter Power Armor.
• Robert MacCready: The merc from Fallout 3 all grown up. His "Killshot" perk was famously glitched at launch to give 2,000% headshot accuracy. It’s fixed now, but it’s still a solid 20% buff.
• Hancock: The Ghoul mayor of Goodneighbor. He’s the coolest guy in the game. He gives you a perk that makes your critical hit meter fill faster when you have radiation damage.
• X6-88: The Institute Courser. Cold, efficient, and boring as a brick. Good for a high-tech playthrough, though.

The DLC Additions

Don’t forget the expansions. Far Harbor gave us Old Longfellow, a salty old sea dog who knows the island better than anyone. He’s essential for navigating the fog. Then Nuka-World gave us Porter Gage. Gage is the ultimate "evil" companion. If you’ve ever wanted to play a raider king, he’s your right-hand man. His perk, "Lessons in Blood," gives you a 5% XP boost per kill and a boost to damage resistance. It's objectively one of the best combat perks in the entire game.

The Affinity Grind: How to Not Waste Your Time

Gaining affinity can be a slog. You’ll find yourself standing in a corner, picking a lock, waiting two hours, and picking it again just to make Piper happy. It’s tedious.

The trick is to play into their personalities. If you’re with Danse, use Power Armor and be a professional. If you’re with Hancock, use drugs and be a chaotic hero. The game tracks "likes" and "loves." "Loves" usually come from specific dialogue choices in quests. If you know a big story beat is coming up, bring the companion that fits that theme. Bringing Nick Valentine to the Far Harbor DLC isn't just a suggestion; it's practically mandatory for the extra dialogue.

There is a weird limit to how many things you can do in a short window. Most companions have a cooldown on how often "Player picked a lock" or "Player modified a weapon" triggers an affinity gain. Usually, it's around 10 to 15 real-world minutes. You can bypass this by sleeping or waiting, but that's just boring.

Combat Effectiveness vs. Personality

Let's talk truth. The AI in Fallout 4 isn't exactly "genius" level. Your companions will walk into your line of fire. They will fall off bridges. They will get stuck behind a single trash can.

If you want pure combat power, Strong or Danse are the picks. Strong has a massive health pool and can use heavy weapons. Danse stays in his Power Armor indefinitely, meaning he never takes limb damage and can carry a literal ton of gear.

But if you want the best experience, it's Nick or Piper. The way they comment on the environment makes the world feel lived-in. When you walk into a ruined library and Piper laments the loss of all that knowledge, it hits different than Strong just shouting about wanting to smash things.

The Problem With Preston

Everyone hates Preston Garvey. It's a tragedy of game design. He’s a genuinely good character—a man who watched his entire world crumble and is trying to hold onto a spark of hope. But because he’s the vehicle for the infinite "radiant" quests, he’s become a joke. "Another settlement needs our help."

The irony? His perk is one of the best. If you can stomach his constant map-marking, getting him to max affinity is worth it for the defensive buffs alone. Just maybe send him to a settlement you never visit once you're done.

Maximizing the All Companions in Fallout 4 Experience

To really get the most out of your squad, you need to understand that you aren't stuck with one. You can swap them out at any time.

Keep a "social" companion like Piper or Nick for town visits and dialogue-heavy quests. Switch to a "tank" like Danse or Strong for clearing out Glowing Sea dungeons. Use Deacon for the high-level Railroad missions.

Also, give them better gear. This is the mistake most people make. Your companions have infinite ammo for their default weapon, but those weapons suck. If you give MacCready a fully upgraded sniper rifle and one single bullet, he’ll run out. You have to provide the ammo. It’s an investment, but giving Cait a high-tier shotgun makes her a menace in close quarters.

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Hidden Details You Might Have Missed

Did you know Codsworth can say over a thousand popular names? If you named your character "Bastard" or "Katniss" or "Mr. Boobies," he will actually say it out loud. It’s a small touch, but it’s the kind of thing that makes Bethesda games special.

Another one: Dogmeat doesn't disable the "Lone Wanderer" perk. This is widely considered the best way to play the game. You get the 25% damage boost and the extra 100 carry weight from the perk, plus the dog can still find items and pin down enemies for you. It’s essentially a cheat code that the developers left in.

Actionable Strategy for Your Next Run

If you're starting a new save, here is the most efficient way to handle your allies:

1. Grab Dogmeat immediately. He’s at the first gas station. No brainer.
2. Head to Diamond City and get Piper. Use her for the first 10 levels to maximize the "Gift of Gab" XP bonus.
3. Rush the Railroad intro. Meet Deacon. Even if you don't like the Railroad, his stealth perk is too good to pass up.
4. Complete 'Unlikely Valentine'. Getting Nick early unlocks so many unique dialogue options in the early-to-mid game.
5. Park the ones you aren't using at a single settlement. Don't spread them across the map. Put them all at Sanctuary or Red Rocket so you can swap them out without a fast-travel loading screen marathon.
6. Equip them with 'Lead Lined' armor. They aren't as smart as you about avoiding radiation.

The all companions in fallout 4 system is deep, buggy, and occasionally frustrating, but it's what makes the Commonwealth feel like more than just a graveyard. Whether you're looking for a romance—yes, you can romance most human companions for an extra XP "Lover's Embrace" rest bonus—or just someone to hold your extra desk fans, these characters are the key to a successful wasteland survival story.

Focus on getting the perks from Deacon and MacCready first for the combat advantages, then settle in with whichever character's personality fits your roleplay style. The wasteland is a big place; you might as well have someone to talk to while you're saving it.