So, you’ve been wandering the Commonwealth alone, or maybe you’ve just stuck with Dogmeat because he doesn’t judge you for stealing every desk fan in sight. I get it. Managing companion affinity feels like babysitting. But honestly? You’re leaving some of the most broken, game-changing buffs on the table.
Companion perks Fallout 4 offers aren't just minor stat bumps. They are permanent. Let that sink in for a second. Unlike previous games where you had to keep the person around to keep the bonus, once you max out a friend in this game, that perk is yours forever. You can literally collect them like Pokémon, ditch the companion at a settlement, and walk away with a god-tier character build.
The Mechanics of "Liking" You
Basically, every companion has a hidden affinity meter from 0 to 1,000. You start at 500. To get the perk, you need to hit 1,000.
It sounds simple, but it’s kinda tedious. You do things they like (picking locks for Piper, being a jerk for Cait, or just modifying weapons for Codsworth), and the number goes up. There’s usually a "cooldown" on these actions, though. If you pick ten locks in a row, you’ll only get the affinity boost for the first one. Most players don't realize you have to wait about 48 in-game hours—or just quicksave and reload—to bypass that timer.
Also, keep in mind that several companions, like Danse or Curie, have their perks locked behind specific story milestones. You can't just spam "mod weapon" and expect Danse to give you his perk before you deal with the Blind Betrayal quest. It won't happen.
The Heavy Hitters: Perks That Actually Matter
Not all perks are created equal. Some are basically essential, while others are... well, they’re Codsworth’s perk.
Preston Garvey: United We Stand
Everyone memes on Preston for his "another settlement needs our help" routine. But his perk? It’s arguably the best in the game. United We Stand grants you a flat 20% increase in damage and +20 Damage Resistance whenever you’re facing three or more enemies.
Think about how often you fight just one guy. Almost never. Whether it’s a pack of ghouls or a raider camp, you’re almost always outnumbered. This perk is basically a permanent "Easy Mode" button for 90% of the combat encounters in the game.
Robert MacCready: Killshot
Back in the day, this perk was actually glitched and gave you a 2,000% headshot accuracy bonus. It was insane. Bethesda patched it, but even now, Killshot provides a +20% chance to hit heads in V.A.T.S.
If you’re running a sniper build or using a high-luck crit build, this is mandatory. It turns those "maybe" shots into guaranteed brain-splatters from across the map.
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Deacon: Cloak & Dagger
For the stealth players, Deacon is your man. His perk increases sneak attack damage by 20% and makes Stealth Boys last 40% longer. If you stack this with the Ninja and Mister Sandman perks, you aren't just a ghost; you're a nuke in the shadows.
Paladin Danse: Know Your Enemy
Danse gives you a 20% damage boost against Feral Ghouls, Super Mutants, and Synths. That covers a massive chunk of the enemies you’ll face in the late game. If you're struggling with the bullet-spongy Super Mutant Warlords, Danse is the one you want to please first.
The Niche (And the Slightly Useless)
Then you’ve got the perks that are... fine? They aren't going to break the game, but they’re nice to have if you’re a completionist.
- Piper (Gift of Gab): Doubles XP for discovering locations and persuasion checks. Pro tip: Get this early. If you get it at level 50, it’s basically worthless. If you get it at level 5, you’ll out-level the game before you even hit the Glowing Sea.
- Curie (Combat Medic): Heals you for 100 HP if you fall below 10% health once per day. It’s a literal lifesaver, but if you’re playing on Survival mode, you shouldn't be letting your health get that low anyway.
- Hancock (Isodoped): Your Critical Hit meter fills 20% faster, but only if you have at least 250 Rads. It’s great for "Rad-builds" using Inquisitor of Atom gear, but for everyone else, it’s a headache to maintain.
- Strong (Berserk): +20% Melee Weapon damage when you’re below 25% health. Honestly? Strong is hard to please (he hates it when you pick locks or enter Power Armor), and the perk is too risky for most players.
How to Cheat the System
If you don't feel like playing the game "correctly" to get these, there are ways to speedrun friendship.
The "Dogmeat Exploit": Most "good" companions (Piper, Nick, Curie) love it when you heal Dogmeat. You can literally shoot your own dog (sorry, boy), use a Stimpack to fix him, and they will "like" it. Wait a bit or reload, and repeat. It’s dark, but it works.
The Workshop Grind: Companions like Danse, X6-88, and Codsworth love it when you modify armor or weapons. Just go to a workbench, put a sight on a gun, take it off, and put it back on. You’ll see the "Codsworth liked that" notification pop up. It’s the fastest way to max them out without ever leaving Sanctuary.
Making the Choice
You don't have to choose. You can get every single one of these. The best strategy is to rotate your companions based on what you’re doing. If you’re about to go on a massive exploration spree, grab Piper first. Once you have her perk, swap her for MacCready and go clear some raider camps.
It’s worth noting that even if a companion starts hating you later (like if you side with the Institute and Deacon gets hostile), you keep the perk. It is baked into your character's DNA at that point.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
- Recruit Piper Immediately: Head to Diamond City as soon as you leave the vault. Her XP boost is the only perk that loses value the longer you wait.
- Focus on "United We Stand": Preston is annoying, but his perk is the single best defensive and offensive boost for any general combat build.
- Check Your Stats: You can see which perks you’ve already unlocked in the "Perks" section of your Pip-Boy. If they aren't there, you haven't hit 1,000 affinity yet.
- Use the Workbench Trick: If you have a companion you can't stand (looking at you, X6-88), park them near a weapon bench and just spam modifications until you get the "Idolizes" notification. Ditch them immediately after.