It can get lonely in the Wasteland, but you may approach the Commonwealth inFallout 4with companions. Withevery DLC installed, you can have 17 permanent companions rather than the base offer of thirteen. But ask anyone, and it’s clear that they don’t all rank the same.
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Ranking them at all is tough enough. Do you care about buffs? Or perhaps you focus on characters who are available for romance? For me, Fallout 4 companions stood out based on their personalities and what they add to the narrative, which contributed to my rankings.
Perksmerely play a minor role in my choices because it’s all about story preferences here.
17Automatron
Build The Perfect Battle Companion
Base Game or DLC
DLC (Automatron)
Ranking the Autmatron on a companion scale in Fallout 4 is difficult. They’re unconditional, so there are no approval gains or drops. But they’re also very different based on how you build and mod them.
Fully upgraded, they’re near-unstoppable in battle, which makes them perfect to take in the wild. But that also means you’re trading stories and commentary from other companions for battle prowess. Your desired level of immersion comes into play when using the Automatron.
A Curious Machine
Speaking of Automatrons, Ada isn’t customizable like the previous one. But what helps her stand out is that she has a voice. She’ll share her opinion, ask questions, and feel more like a companion than a giant weapon.
She’s interesting in the sense that you can have a straight-up robot following you around learning about the world. There’s no moral compass, so you can be however you want too without worry.
The Coldest Synth In The Wastelands
Shield Harmonics
X6-88 is an undisputed killing machine. Consider him the opposite of Curie (who we will discuss later). He’s cold, calculated, and will appreciate Sole Survivors who are just as brutal and selfish.
He ranks low only for the reason that there’s not much else to him. He has no personal quest, so you don’t get beyond surface level for him. Still, he’s good at combat, and has a few nice dialogues for the morally questionable Sole Survivors.
The Goodest Of Good Boys
Attack Dog
The second this German Shepherd, surprisingly well-groomed, wandered up, it was over. Is Dogmeat a powerhouse in combat? No. He gets himself hurt or killed more often than not. But does he offer a must-have perk that makes him invaluable? Also no.
So why doesn’t he rank at the bottom of the companion list for Fallout 4? Because he’sDogmeat. Who wouldn’t want such a loyal, beautiful creature at their side? It’s a harsh enough environment. He makes it brighter.
Dogmeat would have taken the top spot if the ranking system was 100% about likability. It’s just a shame that our lovable four-legged companion can get caught up in battle to the point that he’s more in the way than helpful. Still love him though.
13Codsworth
Forever Part Of The Family
Robot Sympathy
Reuniting with Codsworth after so much time apart is one of the earliest heart-warming moments in Fallout 4. His effortless charm is reason enough to bring him along. He truly cares about the Sole Survivor without reservations.
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Codsworth’s not bad at combat either. At least in the beginning with those low-level enemies. When things get tougher, you may want to use someone else. Until then, there’s no harm in bringing our lovable bot.
The Grumpy Green Giant
Vets of the Fallout series knowhow fun it is to interact with super mutants that don’t want to kill you. Strong is just that: fun. Now,he’snot the most fun character. It’s just entertaining to interact with him. He starts with a distaste for humans, but it can change as he travels with you.
The lovely character growth aside, Strong will run head-first into danger no matter what. Kind of like Dogmeat, but Strong is sturdier and will survive those encounters.
11Old Longfellow
A Grumpy Gramp With Surprising Depth
DLC (Far Harbor)
It’s not too often you’d find someone in a post-apocalyptic game fulfilling the “alcoholic gramps” role, but Old Longfellow checks the box perfectly. He’s cranky more often than not while nursing an alcohol addiction. Yet he takes offense if he knows you’re using chems.
There’s not too much else to say about him. As a DLC character, you learn less about him compared to others. He does have a tragic backstory that gives him a slight edge though.
10Paladin Danse
All The Ideals From The Brotherhood Of Steel
Know Your Enemy
If you’ve ever wanted to meet a Fallout 4 character who embodies everything about the Brotherhood of Steel, Paladin Danse is your companion. Considering the ideals of the Brotherhood, Danse works best with a like-minded Sole Survivor.
He’s unquestionably bigoted against all non-humans. It’s quite ironic too if you follow his personal story and discover the twist. That alone is worth aligning with such a dark organization.
9Preston Garvey
Good For More Than Just Settlement Tasks
United We Stand
Poor Preston Garvey got the short end of the stick as a companion in Fallout 4. And it’s all because of those dreaded settlement tasks. There’s always one to help out. It’s no wonder he became a meme. But that doesn’t erase the positive traits in this loyal man.
He’s someone with low self-esteem but is always kind and willing to go above and beyond for others. Other than the constant settlement tasks, there’s nothing else to truly complain about with him.
Preston willneverlive down the meme. It’s a shame too, because he does have some interesting conversations. If only Bethesda made the whole “settlement” thing less of a pain, I have a strong feeling he would have been more of a favorite.
8Porter Gage
A Raider Who Is Actually On Your Side
DLC (Nuka-World)
Lessons In Blood
How rare is it to discover a raider thatdoesn’twant you dead? Porter Gage is the exception here in Fallout 4. Don’t confuse things though. He still acts like a raider, and sometimes it feels like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. But he’s kind of nice when he wants to be.
Gage can certainly lack morals even if he’s on your side. Sole Survivors who think largely the same will have a great time with him. Others may bump heads in the best of ways.
