The Ultimate Fallout 4 Companion Ranking Guide: Unveiling the Most Powerful Allies!

In Fallout 4, the nuclear wasteland is perilous, but players needn't face it alone. The game offers various companions that players can recruit, both in the base game and expansions, all of which come with their own unique benefits.

These companions differ primarily in terms of their perks, combat abilities, and individual preferences. Some companions possess capabilities beyond merely inflicting damage, granting them a distinct advantage over others in the game.

S-Tier

Curie

Danse

Dogmeat

Porter Gage

Robert MacReady is a versatile character in Fallout 4, with two distinct forms: as a Mrs. Nanny robot, he can produce Stimpaks and be customized with the Automatron expansion. Alternatively, in his synth variant, Curie provides the player with exclusive Stimpaks that not only heal but also cure radiation. Additionally, Curie will regularly heal the player when their health drops below a specific level, establishing them as the most proficient healing companion in the game.

Danse's companion perk offers players a 20% damage increase against Synths, Super Mutants, and Feral Ghouls. This perk is beneficial regardless of the player's stance towards the Institute. Furthermore, Danse stands apart from other companions in Fallout 4 as they have the ability to wear Power Armor, making them a formidable force in any combat scenario.

While Dogmeat may not excel in combat due to the inability to wield weapons, this companion provides other advantages. Dogmeat is capable of stunning enemies during battles, allowing players to have improved VATS accuracy against these foes with the appropriate perk. In addition, Dogmeat can locate valuable items in the vicinity. Another bonus is that Dogmeat does not interfere with the Lone Wanderer perk, which grants players increased resilience and lethality when exploring solo.

Porter Gage stands out as an exceptional ally due to their companion perk, offering players heightened experience points and damage resistance. It is advisable for players to prioritize the completion of the Nuka World DLC in order to recruit Porter Gage early on and reap the benefits of their perk.

Robert MacReady, a character from a prior Fallout game, brings more to the table than just nostalgia. This companion periodically provides the player with ammunition and enhances VATS headshot accuracy through their companion perk.

A-Tier

Deacon

John Hancock

Deacon excels in stealth-oriented builds in Fallout 4 because his perk grants players enhanced stealth damage and a longer duration for Stealth-Boy. In terms of non-stealth gameplay, Deacon is not particularly remarkable compared to other companions whose perks have permanent conditions.

While players may be drawn to John Hancock for his personality, he also offers notable advantages for high-level players in Fallout 4. Hancock's secondary perk periodically produces chems for the player, while his main companion perk increases the player's critical hit generation when they surpass a certain level of radiation. Hancock is considered superior for the endgame of Fallout 4 due to the perks, armor options, and increased maximum health available. Additionally, it is easier to manage the radiation needed to benefit from Hancock's main companion perk.

B-Tier

Ada / Automatron

Preston Garvey

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Ada and Automatron are robots introduced in the Automatron expansion of Fallout 4. They function in the same way as companions, but with one key difference - Ada occasionally generates junk resource items. While they don't offer any companion perks, their ability to be fully customized at a robot workstation allows them to compensate for this with their combat efficiency and the passive benefits granted by armor mods. These two characters serve as a good benchmark for comparing other companions, given their combat potential and the fact that they don't require players to adhere to a specific playstyle.

Early in the game, players will come across Preston Garvey, who possesses a universal companion perk that proves useful throughout the game. Preston's companion perk increases the player's damage and resistance when facing groups of at least three enemies.

C-Tier

Cait

Codsworth

Nick Valentine

X6-88

Cait is a valuable companion in Fallout 4 due to her exceptional lock-picking skills. However, her companion perk, which boosts the player's AP regeneration under a certain threshold, is overshadowed by perks offered by other companions.

While Codsworth may not excel in combat in the base game, players can enhance his effectiveness by equipping him with superior weapons and armor through the Automatron expansion in Fallout 4. Additionally, Codsworth's companion perk, focusing on increased energy resistance against robot attacks, proves particularly advantageous in the Automatron expansion.

Nick Valentine: Valentine is a charismatic character, but his companion perk doesn't offer anything that players can't accomplish on their own. This companion has the ability to hack any level of terminals and grants players an extra attempt at hacking. However, in Fallout 4, being locked out of a terminal is not a permanent or severe consequence.

X6-88: X6 is a synthetic companion that players can recruit, serving as a more versatile version of Codsworth. X6's companion perk provides players with increased resistance to energy damage across all sources, not just robot attacks. Being a humanoid robot, X6 is capable of using standard armor and weaponry.

D-Tier

Old Longfellow

Piper

Old Longfellow is a valuable asset in the Far Harbor expansion, but his usefulness is limited in other situations. This companion's perk significantly decreases damage from animals and sea creatures by 25%, making him a reliable choice in this particular expansion. However, outside of Far Harbor, his perk may not have much relevance.

Piper: In terms of personality, Piper is a fantastic companion in Fallout 4's wasteland. However, her companion perks pale in comparison to other allies. Piper's perk grants players extra experience points for dialogue skill checks and discovering locations, which is quite limited in its usefulness, particularly when compared to Porter Gage's universal experience boost.

Strong: Strong, being a super mutant, is a formidable tank character. Unfortunately, their companion perk is not very practical. Strong's perk is the cornerstone of Fallout 76's Bloodied build, providing increased melee damage when the player's health falls below a certain threshold. Ultimately, this poses a significant risk for players who rely on melee builds and wish to use the perk consistently.

Fallout 4 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.