The things you do in Fallout 4 have an effect on the people of the wasteland, and that includes the companions you choose to take with you during your adventures. The friends you make along the way all have different personalities, and if you end up doing something they like or dislike, then you can expect them to react accordingly.
Of course, the way you act around companions in Fallout 4 will have either a positive or negative effect on how they treat you, and if you do something that they really don't like, they might even end up leaving you completely. If you don't want to ruin your relationships with your companions, here's a guide covering their general likes and dislikes, and general notes on how you should act around them.
Fallout 4: Pull the Plug Quest Guide
If you want to drain the flooded Thicket Excavations site in Fallout 4, all you need to do is find and repair a few broken valves.
Fallout 4 Companion Affinity
Companions in Fallout 4 have an invisible affinity meter that dictates what they think of you and how they treat you. You'll know if their affinity for you has increased or decreased based on the pop-up that appears on the upper-left side of the screen. They'll either like or dislike something you've done, though they may either strongly like or strongly dislike something if they have strong opinions on the matter at hand.
If you max out a companion's affinity for you, you'll unlock an affinity perk and the option to pursue a romantic relationship with them (if available).
Codsworth
- Likes: Nice behavior, modifying weapons and armor, the Minutemen
- Dislikes: Evil behavior, chem use, crime
- Affinity Perk: Robot Sympath (damage resistance vs Robotic Energy Weapons)
Codsworth is the first companion you'll meet in the game. He is your family's Mr. Handy who has somehow survived the nuclear apocalypse and the centuries that followed. Even after hundreds of years, Codsworth still remembers you, but just because he's a loyal robot butler, doesn't mean that he'll agree with everything you do.
Dogmeat
- Likes: Everything
- Dislikes: Nothing
- Affinity Perk: None (but he's still a very good boy)
A stray dog who you meet at the Red Rocket station near Sanctuary. Dogmeat isn't much of a talker (being a dog and all), but he'll follow you with a big smile and a wagging tail as long as you treat him nicely.
Preston Garvey
- Likes: Peaceful,generous, and kind acts, modifying weapons, helping settlers
- Dislikes: Acts of violence, crime, chem usage, Covenant, anything that would harm innocent people
- Affinity Perk: United We Stand (Deal more damage and gain damage resistance when fighting three or more enemies).
Preston is the leader of the Commonwealth Minutemen, though he'll easily give the reins to you if you agree to help them for the long term. He is a compassionate man who protects the innocent against anyone who would do them harm.
Piper Wright
- Likes: Sarcasm, generosity, lockpicking unowned property
- Dislikes: Mean behavior, violent crimes, being submissive in the face of authority, The Brotherhood of Steel, and the Institute
- Affinity Perk: Gift of the Gab (Gain double XP for conversations and discovering locations).
Piper is a quick-witted journalist who isn't afraid to get into a scuffle. She is generally kind and caring, though she can be quite sarcastic and nosy when she starts sussing people out.
Nick Valentine
- Likes: General good behavior, being mean to scumbags, hacking unowned terminals
- Dislikes: The Brotherhood of Steel, violent crimes, stealing/theft
- Affinity Perk: Close to Metal (Terminals cool down 50% faster, and gain an extra guess attempt when hacking computers).
Nick is a synth who works as a detective in Diamond City. As someone who firmly believes in justice, he dislikes crimes of all kinds. Nick likes it when you're being kind to people, but he prefers to take an aggressive stance when it comes to dealing with unsavory characters.
Paladin Danse
- Likes: Nice acts, violence acts evildoers and mutants, using Power Armor, modifying weapons and armor
- Dislikes: Synths, crime, chem use, being too nice or too mean
- Affinity Perk: Know Your Enemy (Deal more damage against Super Mutants, Synths, and Feral Ghouls)
Danse is the textbook example of a good soldier. He is a by-the-book type of person with a good head on his shoulders, though he doesn't shy away from violence. Danse is a bit prejudiced against Synths, though this might not remain the case.
Deacon
- Likes: Lying, lockpicking, nice and mean acts
- Dislikes: The Institute, unnecessary violence, chem usage
- Affinity Perk: Cloak & Dagger (increased Sneak Attack damage and Stealth Boy duration)
Deacon is a member of the Railroad, working as a spy of sorts. He's a sly guy who gets what he wants through talking, infiltration, and non-violent skullduggery, but that doesn't mean he's a pacifist. Deacon will fight with you just like the other potential companions, even if he'd rather not.
Curie
- Likes: Peace, nice and generous acts, mean but warranted acts, sympathy toward Synths
- Dislikes: Unnecessary violence, crime, chem usage,the Railroad, the Institute
Much like Codsworth, Curie is a Mr. Handy, albeit with a unique personality. She is a kind, innocent soul who sympathizes with the plight of Synths, though she doesn't much care for the Institute or the Railroad. She undergoes a drastic transformation once her personal quest is completed.
MacCready
- Likes: Violence, stealing, lockpicking, successful speech checks
- Dislikes: Being too nice, murder, chem addicts, the Institute
- Affinity Perk: Killshot (increased VATS head accuracy)
MacCready is an ex-Gunner who now works as a freelance mercenary. He's a lot less kind than the previous companions in this list so far, but despite his propensity for violence and crime, he draws the line at murder and chem addiction.
Strong
- Likes: Violence, generosity, peaceful acts, murder, cannibalism
- Dislikes: Selfish acts, lockpicking, using Power Armor, haggling
- Affinity Perk: Berserk (Deal increased weapon damage after falling below 25% health)
Despite being more eloquent and generally more intelligent than most other Super Mutants, Strong is still a Super Mutant. He's a big brute who likes fighting and killing, but he respects people enough to not go berserk every time. Strong dislikes mean and selfish acts, and he sees Power Armor usage as a sign of weakness.
Cait
- Likes: Chem usage (pre-companion quest), violence, lockpicking, stealing
- Dislikes: Chem usage (post-companion quest), generosity, peaceful acts, murder, all factions
- Affinity Perk: Trigger Rush (Regenerate AP faster when your health is below 25%)
Cait is a former Raider and chem addict who has led a tough life, causing her to become much more jaded compared to most other companions. She prioritizes survival over morality, and while you first meet her as a chem addict, you can help Cait get back on her feet once you finish her companion quest.
Hancock
- Likes: Generosity, peaceful acts, meaningful use of violence, chem usage
- Dislikes: Mean acts, murder, stealing, the Institute
- Affinity Perk: Isodoped (Deal more damage when you have more than 250 Rads)
Hancock is a Ghoul from Goodneighbor with a strict but generally good personality. He values kindness, but he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty when bad people come knocking. Hancock doesn't mind if you use chems or if you blast someone's face off in self-defense, but he won't tolerate crimes involving life or property.
X6-88
- Likes: Selfish and peaceful acts, successful speech checks, modifying weapons and armor, using Power Armor, the Institute
- Dislikes: Generous acts, chem use, chem addiction, using vertibirds, harming Synths
- Affinity Perk: Shield Harmonics (Increased Energy Resistance)
X6-88 is an Institute Synth tasked with hunting down rogue Synths across the Commonwealth. He is loyal to his creators, though he'll take a liking to you too, as long as you don't attack any of the other Synths you find in the wasteland.
Old Longfellow
- Likes: Generosity, kind acts, helping settlers, Far Harbor, drinking beer
- Dislikes: Chem usage, peaceful acts, crime, cannibalism, acts harmful to Far Harbor, Children of Atom
- Affinity Perk: Hunter's Wisdom (Reduces damage resistance values of animals and sea creatures)
Old Longfellow is a hunter who has lived in Far Harbor for a long time. He is a gruff old man who has seen a lot in his life, and while he loves helping people out, his finger is always ready to pull the trigger when something fishy is around.
Porter Gage
- Likes: Violence, murder, sarcasm, building settlements, modifying weapons, stealing, lockpicking
- Dislikes: Chem use, drinking alcohol, being friendly, the Minutemen
- Affinity Perk: Lessons in Blood (Gain bonus damage resistance and XP for killing)
Gage is a bonafide raider in both his looks and personality. He is far from being a nice guy, and all he wants to do is help the Overboss of Nuka-World. Porter Gage values wealth and power, and he doesn't care how he gets either of them.
Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Cross-Platform Play
- no
- Cross Save
- no
- Franchise
- Fallout
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- How Long To Beat
- 27 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 51 GB (December 2023)
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
