Fallout 4 Companion Perks Guide: The Complete List

Are you having trouble picking the best buff from the companion perks list? Well then you should check out our guide on the subject

Companions are an integral part of the Fallout 4 experience. If you ask one of these companions to join your party, they offer valuable information and combat assistance and automatically give you buffs that are unique to their character. But when they leave your side, so do these perks. So, with this companion perks guide, we’ll show you all the buffs granted by characters in Fallout 4.

Key Takeaways
  • Fallout 4 has 13 base companions, increasing to 17 with DLCs.
  • Each companion offers unique buffs; for instance:
    1. Cait: 50% faster HP regen when Action Points drop below 25.
    2. Codsworth: +10 damage resistance against robot enemies.
    3. Dogmeat: Various buffs, including damage reduction at Level 4.
    4. Curie: Heals 100 HP when health is below 10%.
    5. Paladin Danse: +20% damage against specific enemies.
    6. Hancock: Critical meter fills 20% faster at 250 Radiation.
  • Others have specific benefits tied to their abilities.
  • Companion perks unlock progressively based on affinity points.
  • The most valuable overall perk is from Preston Garvey, providing extra damage and resistance in specific conditions.

All Companion Perks In Fallout 4

There are a total of 17 companions in this game. 13 of these are available in the base game, while the remaining 4 are only available through the game’s various DLCs.Almost all of these characters have their unique perks except Ada and the Automatron. These are the two robotic teammates that were introduced in the Automatron add-on.

Here’s the complete list of Fallout 4 Perks, along with everything you need to know about them:

PerkDescriptionGiven byHow to get it
Trigger RushWhen a player’s Action Points are below 25, they regenerate 50% faster than normal.CaitPlayers have to gain 1000 affinity with Cait.
Robot SympathyThis perk gives players +10 damage resistance against energy attacks from robot enemies.CodsworthPlayers have to get 1000 affinity with Codsworth.
Attack DogThe dog will occasionally bite and incapacitate individual enemies.DogmeatYou gain access and upgrade it in perk tree.
Combat MedicPlayer can heal themselves for 100 HP if their current health is below 10%CurieGet maximum affinity with companion
Know Your EnemyAllows players to inflict a bonus +20% damage against Ghouls, Super Mutants, and SynthsPaladin DanseMaximum affinity with Paladin Dense.
IsodopedV.A.T.S. critical hit meter fills up 20% faster, but only if you have a 250 Radiation value.HancockMaximum affinity with Hancock.
KillshotKillshot gives you a 20% increased chance to land headshots while using the V.A.T.S. system.Robert MacCreadyReach maximum affinity with Robert MacCready
Close to MetalGives players one additional chance at breaking into computer terminals.Nick ValentinePlayers must reach maximum affinty with Nick Valentine
Gift of GabGives players a +100% experience bonus for each successful charisma checkPiper WrightMaximum affinity has to be reached with Piper Wright
Shield HarmonicIncreases the player’s energy resistance by +20X6-88It is unlocked by reaching maximum affinity with X6-88
United We StandPlayer’s damage resistance increased by 20 points
Deal additional +20% damage when outnumbered by 3 to 1
Preston GarveyPlayers have to reach maximum affinity with Preston Garvey
BerserkDeal +20% melee damage if their HP is below 25%StrongReach maximum affinity with the Super Mutant Strong
Cloak & DaggerGives players a +20% bonus to sneak attacks and +40% duration of Stealth BoysDeaconReach maximum affinity with Deacon
Hunter’s WisdomInflict more damage on animals and reduce their damage by 25%Old LongfellowMaximum affinty must be attained with Old Longfellow
Lessons in BloodPlayer gain +5% experience per kill, but they also get +10 increase to their damage resistance.Porter GageAffinity with Porter Gage must be maximum
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Trigger Rush

Fallout 4 companion perks
Cait [Screenshot by eXputer]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Cait When a player’s Action Points are below 25, they regenerate 50% faster than normal. Players have to gain 1000 affinity with Cait before using the perk.

The official description of this perk implies that the player’s Action Points regenerate +25% faster if their HP is below 25% of the maximum value. This is incorrect.

In reality, when a player’s Action Points themselves are below 25, they regenerate 50% faster than normal. This perk is fantastic for those players who constantly use the V.A.T.S. system and lack the power to keep going.

Players must first gain 750 affinities with Cait to gain access to Trigger Rush. Once this is done, the character will talk to the player and tell them about her history with chem addiction. This will then begin the quest ‘Benign Intervention,’ where you have to travel to Vault 95 to seek treatment for Cait. Once completed, affinity with this companion will reach 1000 points, and the perk will be unlocked.

Robot Sympathy

Fallout 4 companion perks
Codsworth [Screenshot by eXputer]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Codsworth This perk gives +10 resistance against energy attacks from robot enemies. Obtaining this perk does not require you to do any quest. You just need maximum affinity with the companion.

Codsworth’s Robot Sympathy perk provides +10 resistance against energy attacks from robot enemies. You can obtain it by reaching maximum affinity with Codsworth, which requires gaining 1000 points by performing actions he likes.

This perk benefits against various robotic foes, including Synths and Turrets. It’s particularly useful in missions with many robotic enemies, especially in the Automatron add-on content.

A quick way to build affinity with Codsworth is by modifying weapons or armor at a workshop, which grants you 35 affinity points each time. No quest is required to unlock this perk.

Attack Dog

Fallout 4 companion perks
Dogmeat [Screenshot by eXputer]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Dogmeat When this perk is active, Dogmeat sometimes incapacitates or bites the enemy. This perk is unlocked through affinity; you can purchase it in your perk tree and upgrade it.

Your trusty pet bestows you with the beginner-oriented Attack Dog perk. With this active, Dogmeat will occasionally bite and incapacitate individual enemies, allowing the player to get some good shots. If you decide to use the V.A.T.S. system when this happens, you gain far greater accuracy than usual.

Unlike most other perks on this list, Attack Dog does not have to be unlocked via affinity. You gain access to this as you level up and purchase it in your perk tree.

There are four levels to this:

  • Level 1: Dogmeat bites and holds an enemy, giving you greater accuracy with V.A.T.S.
  • Level 2: When biting an enemy, there is a chance that the enemy’s limb will be crippled.
  • Level 3: Biting may also cause the enemy to start bleeding.
  • Level 4: With Dogmeat in your party, you gain a 10% damage reduction.

Level 4 was introduced with the Nuka-World add-on.

Combat Medic

Fallout 4 companion perks
Curie [Screenshot by eXputer]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Curie When player’s health drops below 10%, they can heal themselves for 100 HP. It can only be used once a day. You must complete two quests, ‘Emergent Behavior’ and ‘Dangerous Minds’. After that, you can reach maximum affinity, which is required to obtain this perk.

With Combat Medic active, the player can heal themselves for 100 HP if their current health is below 10% of the total amount. This can only be used once per day.

This is not a particularly useful perk to bring with you into combat. The health recovery is good, but you can easily replace it with other health recovery items like Stimpaks. To get this perk, players must first gain 250 affinity points with the companion Curie to unlock the quest ‘Emergent Behavior.’ To progress, you must have met the NPC Amari in Goodneighbor and completed the main story quest ‘Dangerous Minds.

See both of these quests to completion, after which Curie will be transferred into a Synth body. Finally, reach maximum affinity with the companion to unlock Combat Medic.

Know Your Enemy

Fallout 4 companion perks
Paladin Danse [Screenshot by eXputer]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Paladin Danse This is perfect for people who side with the Brotherhood of Steel Faction. This perk allows you to inflict an extra 20% damage to ghouls, Super Mutants, and Synths. You have to reach maximum affinity but for that, you have to complete the ‘Blind Betrayal’ quest.

The Know Your Enemy perk allows players to inflict a bonus of +20% damage against Ghouls, Super Mutants, and Synths. This is perfect for anyone who intends to side with the Brotherhood of Steel faction in the main questline.

If you decide to take this route, you will encounter many Synths and other non-human enemies. Keep this active at all times to get an advantage whenever possible. Know Your Enemy is unlocked after the player reaches a maximum affinity with Paladin Danse. Regardless of the player’s actions, this value will not exceed 999 until the ‘Blind Betrayal’ companion quest is completed.

Should you decide to side with either the Minutemen, Railroad, or Institute factions before completing this quest, the perk will be locked away permanently. So attempt this before you reach a critical point in the main questline.

Isodoped

Fallout 4 companion perks
Hancock [Screenshot by eXputer]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Hancock If you have a Radiation Value of 250, the critical meter of V.A.T.S. fills up 20% faster. There is no quest that has to be completed. You just have to get maximum affinity.

With Isodoped active, the V.A.T.S. critical hit meter fills up 20% faster, but only if you have a 250 Radiation value. Essentially, this locks off a quarter of your health bar in exchange for gaining access to critical hits more often.

Maximum affinity has to be reached with the companion named Hancock in order to unlock this perk. And once again, there is no quest that has to be completed. You must do things this companion likes, such as being violent or using chems often.

Killshot

Fallout 4 companion perks
Robert MacCready [Image by Us]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Robert MacCready This perk gives you a 20% more chance to get headshots when using the V.A.T.S. System. You have to get maximum affinity to obtain this perk. Which requires you to complete the ‘Long Road Ahead’ quest.

Killshot gives you a 20% increased chance to land headshots using the V.A.T.S. system. It’s a fairly simple Fallout 4 companion perk that lets you deal massive damage from much further away than would otherwise be possible.

To unlock it, players must first be anywhere between 250 to 500 affinity with Robert MacCready. While in this range, the companion will talk to you and initiate the quest ‘Long Road Ahead.’ He wants you to assassinate two NPCs named Barnes and Winlock.

Once this is done and you reach 750 affinity, the second part of the quest will begin. MacCready’s son is sick and wants you to visit the Med-Tek Research facility and find a cure. Until this quest step is complete, the affinity value will not exceed 999.

Close to Metal

Fallout 4 companion perks
Nick Valentine [Image by Us]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Nick Valentine This is perfect for hacking since it gives the player a fourth chance to hack into a terminal. The wait time is also reduced by 50%. You must complete two quests, ‘Dangerous Minds’ and ‘Long Time Coming’. After that, you can reach maximum affinity with the companion.

This perk is perfect for hacking since it allows players to break into computer terminals. You’re only allowed three attempts by default, but this gives you four instead.

Additionally, when you use up your turns and get locked out of a terminal, the amount of time you have to wait before attempting hacking again is reduced by 50%.

To get this perk, players must reach 750 affinity with Nick and complete the main quest ‘Dangerous Minds’ to begin the ‘Long Time Coming’ companion quest. Once complete, players can reach maximum affinity with Nick Valentine and unlock the Close to Metal perk.

Gift of Gab

Fallout 4 companion perks
Piper Wright [Image by Us]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Piper Wright When you discover a new location or when you have a successful charisma check. You get a +100% experience bonus. Maximum affinity must be reached with this companion.

Gift of Gab gives players a +100% experience bonus for each successful charisma check they make. This bonus is also applied to the experience of discovering new locations worldwide. Maximum affinity has to be reached with Piper Wright before this perk can be unlocked. You do not have to complete any quest; you must do things the companion approves.

Shield Harmonic

Fallout 4 companion perks
X6-88 [Image by Us]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
X6-88 Increase the player’s energy resistance by 20. You need to have maximum affinity with X6-88.

Shield Harmonic increases the player’s energy resistance by +20, and that’s about it. In my opinion, this is perhaps the weakest perk on this list, and I don’t see any point in trying to get it.

But if you feel differently, it can be unlocked by reaching maximum affinity with X6-88. He’s a Synth loyal to the Institute, so he enjoys actions related to tech and his faction.

United We Stand

Fallout 4 companion perks
Preston Garvey [Image by Us]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Preston Garvey This perk increases the player’s damage resistance by 20 points. When outnumbered by a ratio of 3 to 1, they also get 20% extra damage. There is no quest you have to complete beforehand. You have to get maximum affinity with him.

With United We Stand active, the player’s damage resistance is increased by 20 points. They also deal an additional +20% damage when outnumbered by a ratio of at least 3 to 1. This is one of the most useful bonuses in the game, especially for players who like to run into the thick of combat.

No quest is involved, but players must reach maximum affinity with Preston Garvey to unlock this Fallout 4 companion perk.

Berserk

Fallout 4 companion perks
Strong [Image by Us]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Strong This is perfect for melee builds. When a player’s health drops below 25% of their total health, they are given a buff of +20% melee damage.  You have to gain maximum affinity by doing things with Strong likes.

For players who like to play melee builds, the Berserk perk is the perfect buff to have. With this, players deal +20% melee damage if their HP exceeds 25% of the total amount. So, as you get closer to death, this allows you to finish the fight even more quickly.

To unlock this perk, you must reach maximum affinity with the Super Mutant Strong. This is another companion with no required quest, but you must still perform strong likes.

He approves killing enemies, eating corpses with the Cannibal perk, making aggressive dialogue choices, etc. Surprisingly, for a murderer, he dislikes lock picking, stealing, and pickpocketing.

Cloak & Dagger

Fallout 4 companion perks
Deacon [Image by Us]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Deacon This is good for assassin players. This perk gives +20% to sneak attacks and increases the duration of Stealth Boys by 40%. You have to reach maximum affinity with the companion.

Cloak & Dagger gives players a +20% bonus to sneak attacks and increase the duration of Stealth Boys by +40%. This perk is made specifically for those who prefer to play as a sneaky assassin.

To unlock this, all players must do is reach maximum affinity with Deacon. This process has no quest; you simply have to behave like this character likes. Be sneaky, stay loyal to the Railroad faction, and make decisions that benefit Synths.

Hunter’s Wisdom

Fallout 4 companion perks
Old Longfellow [Image by Us]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Old Longfellow This perk lets you reduce the damage and energy resistance of land animals and sea creatures by 25%. It allows you to inflict more damage on them. for this perk, You have to get maximum affinity with Longfellow. 

This Fallout 4 companion perk lets you inflict more damage on land animals and sea creatures by reducing their damage and energy resistance by 25%. This is unique on this list because this debuff affects your enemies instead of a buff that affects you.

You have to get maximum affinity with Old Longfellow for this perk, which is introduced with the Far Harbor add-on. He enjoys drinking alcohol, accepting quests to help settlements, and asking for more reward money during quests, among other things.

Stealing, committing cannibalism, using chems, murdering non-hostile NPCs, and generally doing bad things is a good way to lose affinity with this character. So avoid being excessively evil with him at the party.

Lessons in Blood

Fallout 4 companion perks
Porter Gage [Image by Us]
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Given by Companion Effect How to obtain it
Porter Gage Players get +5% experience by killing and have 10 points more in their damage resistance.  Maximum affinity must be reached with Porter Gage. There is no quest you have to complete beforehand.

With Lessons in Blood active, not only does the player gain +5% experience per kill, but they also get a +10 increase to their damage resistance.

To get this perk, players must reach maximum affinity with Porter Gage, a part of the Nuka-World add-on. This character is a raider, so he picks locks, steals, pickpockets, and other violent actions.

Joining the Minutemen, using friendly dialogue options, using chems, or drinking alcohol are some actions he disliked.

This has been eXputer’s guide companion perks in Fallout 4. At the same time, while you’re here, why not also check out our article on Aluminum Farming in the game?

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Huzaifa is eXputer's Review Editor, who’s all about RPG games. He’s got several years of experience critically judging games and writing his unbiased thoughts on them. You can also find his content published on sites like Twinfinite & GearNuke. Huzaifa has been gaming for 23+ years, during which he managed to amass 400+ hours on Elden Ring! You can follow his gaming activity on his Xbox and Steam Profiles.

Experience: 5+ years || Previously Worked At GearNuke & Twinfinite || Mainly Covers RPG Guides & Latest Games Reviews || Education: Bachelors in Hospitality.

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