Fallout 4: Companion Comparison, Perks and Romance
A journey through the desolate Commonwealth is harsh, but having a reliable companion by your side offers invaluable reassurance. Fallout 4, still captivating many players in 2026, features a cast of unique companions, each with their own combat abilities, stories, and "special Perks" that permanently enhance the player. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you find the perfect partner for your adventure, detailing the main companions' strengths, locations, romance options, and methods for raising affinity.
【Checked on November 4, 2026】
The Perk and affinity numbers in this article were checked against the Fallout Wiki pages listed at the end. Fallout 4 has no seasons. We have not re-checked them in the game.
Companions That Stand Out in Combat (Our Take)
Who is strong depends on your playstyle. The following is our own view based on the wiki numbers, not a tested ranking.
Custom Robots (e.g., Ada, Codsworth)
With the "Automatron" DLC installed, you can modify robots at a robot workbench. Their strength depends on the weapon and armor combination. We did not confirm specific performance.
Paladin Danse
A Brotherhood of Steel soldier, he joins you in BOS II T-60b power armor carrying a laser rifle (Fallout Wiki). His special Perk, "Know Your Enemy," increases damage by 20% against feral ghouls, super mutants and synths.
Curie (Synth Body)
She initially appears as a medical Mr. Handy (Miss Nanny) and gets a synth body as you progress the quest "Emergent Behavior" (Fallout Wiki). Her special Perk, "Combat Medic," heals 100 of your Health when your Health falls below 10% (once every 24 hours).
Main Companions Data List｜Locations, Special Perks, Romance
We've compiled a list of data for the main companions in Fallout 4. Ada and Old Longfellow are not listed. Use it as a reference to find partners that suit your playstyle.
| Name | Strength / Feature Evaluation | Location | Special Perk | Romance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codsworth | Significantly enhanceable with "Automatron" DLC. Initially melee/flamethrower. | Sanctuary | Robot Sympathy: +10 Energy Resistance against energy attacks from robots. | Not possible |
| Preston Garvey | Balanced type. Perk is excellent in combat against multiple enemies. | Museum of Freedom | United We Stand: +20% damage and +20 damage resistance when facing 3+ enemies (the Fallout Wiki pages word the resistance differently). | Possible |
| Dogmeat | Does not count as a companion for the Lone Wanderer Perk (its effect stays with him along). Immobilizes enemies. | Red Rocket Truck Stop | None (Enhanced by Attack Dog Perk) | Not possible |
| Curie | Gets a synth body. Gives Stimpaks. | Vault 81 | Combat Medic: Once a day, heals 100 of your Health when your Health falls below 10%. | Possible |
| Piper Wright | Perk that makes gaining XP from exploration and conversation appealing. | Diamond City | Gift of Gab: XP gained from discovering new locations and successful speech challenges is doubled. | Possible |
| Nick Valentine | Hacking support ability is useful. Important character in the story. | Vault 114 | Close to Metal: Hacking attempts increase by 1, and lockout time decreases by 50%. | Not possible |
| Cait | Good at melee combat. Perk is strong for turning the tide in a pinch. | Combat Zone | Trigger Rush: The in-game description says AP regenerates faster when Health is below 25%, but in practice AP regenerates 50% faster when AP is below 25 points (Fallout Wiki). | Possible |
| Strong | Melee-focused Super Mutant. Possesses high Health. | Trinity Tower | Berserk: Melee damage increases by 20% when Health is below 25%. | Not possible |
| Paladin Danse | A combatant in power armor. Perk gives +20% damage against feral ghouls and others. | Cambridge Police Station | Know Your Enemy: +20% damage against Ghoul, Super Mutant, and Synth enemies. | Possible |
| Deacon | Perk aimed at stealth play. | Railroad HQ | Cloak & Dagger: Stealth Boy duration is extended, and sneak attack damage +20%. | Not possible |
| John Hancock | Perk that builds criticals based on RAD contamination is powerful for specific builds. | Goodneighbor | Isodoped: Critical meter fills 20% faster when RADs are 250 or more. | Possible |
| MacCready | A Perk for builds that use V.A.T.S. headshots. | Goodneighbor's The Third Rail | Killshot: V.A.T.S. headshot accuracy increases by 20%. | Possible |
| X6-88 | Synth belonging to the Institute. Perk that increases energy resistance. | The Institute | Shield Harmonics: Energy Resistance increases by 20. | Not possible |
| Porter Gage | Appears in "Nuka-World" DLC. Perk combining an XP bonus and resistance. | Nuka-World's Fizztop Grille | Lessons in Blood: +5% XP from kills, +10 Damage Resistance and Energy Resistance. | Possible |
Maximize Affinity to Unlock Special Perks and Romance
Affinity System Basics
The "affinity" system, which deepens your bond with companions, is one of Fallout 4's major attractions. By maximizing affinity, you can gain special Perks from them and, with some, develop a romantic relationship.
Companion affinity varies based on the player's actions. It increases when you perform actions they "like" (e.g., generous choices, lockpicking, cooperating with a faction) and decreases when you perform actions they "dislike" (e.g., theft, murder, cooperating with hostile factions). Special conversations occur each time affinity reaches a certain level, allowing you to learn about their past and thoughts. When affinity reaches 1000 (the "idolize" stage; the internal maximum is 1100), you acquire that companion's unique special Perk. However, for Cait, Curie, Danse, Nick and MacCready, affinity may stall until you progress their personal quests (Benign Intervention, Emergent Behavior, Blind Betrayal, Long Time Coming and Long Road Ahead respectively; Fallout Wiki). Once learned, this Perk remains permanently active even after parting ways with that companion.
Efficient Affinity Building Methods
- Modding Loop Strategy: Codsworth and Danse love weapon modding, and Gage, Preston and X6-88 like it. For armor modding, Codsworth and Danse love it and X6-88 likes it (Fallout Wiki). Swapping to the empty "None" attachment costs nothing, and the cooldown is 48 in-game hours.
- Using Repeatable Actions: Actions that raise affinity have a cooldown (48 in-game hours for modding). Lockpicking and entering power armor can also be repeated, but likes and dislikes differ by companion. For example, Gage, Cait and Deacon like lockpicking and Strong dislikes it (Fallout Wiki).
- Leveraging Companion Personalities: Utilizing actions that each companion likes is also effective. For instance, Hancock likes chem use, and Cait likes hard liquor until her personal quest "Benign Intervention" is done. Gage and MacCready like stealing, while Preston and Codsworth hate it (Fallout Wiki).
Romanceable Companions and Benefits
- Piper Wright
- Cait
- Curie
- Paladin Danse
- Preston Garvey
- MacCready
- John Hancock
- Porter Gage (Nuka-World DLC)
At affinity 500 the "flirt" option appears from the second conversation, and at maximum affinity the final conversation offers the "romance" option (Fallout Wiki). If it fails, you can try again later. Both flirt and romance are Charisma checks, and a successful flirt makes the final check easier (Fallout Wiki). When you rest in a bed that is not owned by someone else with your romanced companion nearby, you gain "Lover's Embrace" (+15% experience for 8 hours). The wiki says it does not stack with several partners.
Summary
Fallout 4's companions are more than just combat pieces. Each possesses unique stories and abilities, making them invaluable presences that deepen and enhance your journey through the Commonwealth. If combat is your priority, custom robots or Paladin Danse are options to try. If you prioritize exploration and role-playing, try Piper or Nick Valentine. A special Perk you earn at maximum affinity stays after you part ways (Fallout Wiki). Use this article to find the companion that suits you.
Sources and What We Checked
The details were checked against the following Fallout Wiki pages on November 4, 2026. The wiki can change, and we have not re-checked these in the game. We did not confirm the locations column or the robots' performance.