There are thirteen available permanent companions. To recruit a companion, you first need to fine one, and fulfill their initial requirements - most often completing a task or paying money.
Once they become available, you can have one of them follow you, while the others can remain at one of the settlements. When they are present, they will react to actions you perform, raising or lowering an affinity stat. If raised, it will eventually lead to unlocking a perk to provide a permanent benefit.
Cait[edit]
You will likely hear a rumour about The Combat Zone. This area is occupied by raiders, with the ones attacking as if they're regular opponents. The ones on the inside are distracted, paying more attention to the combat in the second room. When you approach, the raiders will attack. There are a total of 10 of them, but they are weak opponents.
Once all raiders are eliminated, you can enter the cage and speak with Tommy. He will mention the combat zone being taken over by raiders for a reliable income, and offer you to buy out the fighting contract. He gives you the prize money for the last bout, and you can now have Cait as a companion.
As a companion, she can pick locks, but she has an addition to chems and will use them if in her inventory. She tends to prefer actions that involve threats and violence, and disliking being helpful towards others. Because of her chem addiction, she will like the player for using them (unless
On completion of her personal quest, Benign Intervention and obtaining maximum affinity, you will receive the Trigger Rush perk. This regenerated action points 50% quicker when there are 25 or less action points. Note that the description of the perk is incorrect.
Codsworth[edit]
Codsworth is your robotic family butler, as part of the Mister Handy line. When you leave the vault, you will encounter him in Sanctuary Hills, trying to tend to what's left of the garden. At that point, you can speak with him to scout the local area, after which he will suggest checking in Concord to see if there's anything else that can be done.
He becomes available as a companion once you reach the Museum of Freedom, or otherwise bypass the initial part of the main quest.
As a companion, Codsworth is equipped with a flamer and circular saw, in. This makes him a powerful early-game companion. He likes actions that attempt to fix the wasteland, or trying to make it as best as possible. He will also give purified water from time to time.
Maximizing affinity will give +10 Energy resistance against attacks from other robots.
Curie[edit]
Curie is found in Vault 81, located somewhere south of Oberland Station. She is part of the Miss Nanny robot line, and can give one dose of a cure for the quest Hole in the Wall.
While a companion, Curie will eventually want a human body rather than remaining in a Miss Nanny shell. This is handled in the Emergent Behavior quest.
When affinity is maximized, she describes the breakthrough about mutfruit to make stimpacks more effective, and also give the Combat Medic perk, which heals 100 hit points when below 10% health (once per day).
Danse[edit]
Danse is first encounters at the Cambridge Police Station, where he under siege from ghouls. He is a Paladin within the Brotherhood of Steel, and has power armor to help during combat.
Having Paladin Danse spared during Fallout 4/Blind Betrayal and maximizing his affinity gives a perk that grants +20% damage against ghouls, super mutants and synths.
Deacon[edit]
Deacon is a railroad agent, available soon after meeting the Railroad.
Once his affinity is maximized, he gives the Cloak & Dagger perk. This increases stealth boy duration by +40%, and sneak attack damage by +20%.
Dogmeat[edit]
Dogmeat is first found at the Red Rocket truck stop. If dogmeat is somehow missed, he will be called by Valentine when trying to track down Kellogg.
Dogmeat has no special likes or dislikes, and accepts you unconditionally. There's no special perk gained from this companion. Instead, you can select the Attack Dog perk from the perk tree, or read Astoundingly Awesome Tales #12 (found in The Institute) to reduce damage he takes.
Hancock[edit]
Hancock is the mayor of Goodneighbor, who is first seen executing someone who tries extorting money from a new visitor. He becomes available after the events of The Big Dig, in an attempt to steal from his stronghold.
At maximum affinity, the Isodoped perk fills the critical meter +20% faster when the sole survivor has at least 250 rads.
Nick Valentine[edit]
Nick Valentine is a synth, and a private detective specializing in finding missing people. He is available as a companion
Nick Valentine can attempt to hack terminals, but not if they belong to someone else.
Completing Long Time Coming and maximizing his affinity will grant the close to metal perk. This gives an extra attempt when hacking, and reduces the lockout time by 50%.
Piper[edit]
Piper is a reporter living in Diamond City, available after giving an interview.
At maximum affinity, she gives the Gift of Gab perk, which doubles experience from persuasion successes and finding new locations.
Preston Garvey[edit]
When first encountered at the Museum of Freedom, he's the senior officer of the Commonwealth Minutemen. He is available as a companion after he is rescued and reaches Sanctuary Hills - all that's needed is to join the Minutemen. He will also give out quests that help the minutemen, such as identifying locations of settlements that need help.
At maximum affinity, the United We Stand perk increases damage by 20%, and increases damage resistance by 20 when fighting 3 or more enemies at once.
MacCready[edit]
He is first found in Goodneighbor, and is available for hire by paying 250 caps. This can be reduced by persuasion checks.
Completing Long Road Ahead and maximizing affinity gives the perk Killshot. This increases headshot accuracy in VATS by 20%.
Strong[edit]
Strong is a super mutant, and is available to be recruited after completing Curtain Call.
Maximizing his affinity grants the Berserk perk for +20% melee damage when hit points are below 25%.
X6-88[edit]
X6-88 is an Institute Courser, first accompanying the player during The Battle of Bunker Hill, and is available as a companion afterwards.
X6-88 is hostile to the Railroad, and will attack them when you bring him to the Railroad Headquarters.
Maximizing his affinity grants the Shield Harmonics perk, giving +20 energy resistance.