Fallout 4 Companion Affinity Guide: Maximize Relationships & Unlock Powerful Perks

Navigating the Wasteland with Allies: Mastering Fallout 4 Companion Likes & Dislikes

In the vast, irradiated expanse of the Commonwealth, few things are as crucial to survival and narrative depth as your companions. Beyond simply providing additional firepower, the intricate companion affinity system in Fallout 4 offers a rich layer of character interaction, influencing everything from dialogue options to powerful unlockable perks. Understanding what pleases or displeases your allies is paramount for any aspiring Sole Survivor looking to forge strong bonds and optimize their post-apocalyptic journey. This comprehensive guide delves into the specifics of each companion’s preferences, ensuring you can build the strongest relationships and gain every possible advantage in Bethesda’s epic RPG.

The companion system in Fallout 4 is more than just a follower mechanic; it’s a dynamic relationship simulator. Every significant action you take, from moral choices to quest resolutions and even lock-picking, is observed and judged by your current companion. Positive actions increase their affinity towards you, eventually leading to unique conversations, personal quests, and ultimately, a powerful perk that can significantly alter gameplay. Conversely, repeated negative actions can lead to disdain, refusal to follow, or even outright hostility, diminishing your potential for character development and strategic advantage. For players seeking an optimal Fallout 4 playthrough, mastering these social dynamics is as important as mastering combat.

General Principles of Companion Affinity

While each companion possesses a distinct personality and moral compass, some general guidelines apply to influencing their disposition:

• Good Deeds: Most ‘good’ companions appreciate acts of kindness, generosity, and helping others.
• Selfish Acts: Conversely, many dislike actions that are overtly selfish, cruel, or destructive.
• Faction Alignment: Actions benefiting certain factions (e.g., Minutemen, Brotherhood of Steel, Railroad, Institute) will appeal to companions aligned with those groups.
• Crafting & Modding: Many companions generally ‘Like’ when you craft items, modify weapons/armor, or build settlements.
• Addiction: Most companions, especially those with their own struggles, will ‘Dislike’ your addiction to chems.
• Violence: While combat is inevitable, unprovoked violence, especially against innocent NPCs, is almost universally ‘Disliked’.
• Stealing: Taking ‘owned’ items is generally frowned upon by ‘good’ companions.

Detailed Breakdown: Every Companion’s Preferences

Codsworth: The Loyal Mr. Handy

Your steadfast robot butler from Sanctuary Hills values civility, kindness, and heroic actions. He embodies the classic ‘good’ archetype.

• Likes: Healing others, donating items, crafting, modifying weapons/armor, joining the Minutemen, making positive moral choices.
• Dislikes: Murdering innocents, stealing, addiction, being rude, siding with factions like the Institute.

Preston Garvey: The Minutemen General

Preston is the embodiment of helping settlements and rebuilding the Commonwealth. His affinity directly ties into your dedication to the Minutemen.

• Likes: Helping settlements, joining the Minutemen, donating items, crafting, building settlements, showing generosity, making morally good choices.
• Dislikes: Murdering innocents, stealing, addiction, destroying settlements, siding with the Institute or Nuka-World Raiders.

Piper Wright: The Investigative Journalist

The outspoken reporter from Diamond City appreciates courage, truth, and standing up for the underdog. She dislikes cowardice or cruelty.

• Likes: Donating items, healing Dogmeat, picking owned locks (sometimes), joining the Minutemen, making morally good choices, showing generosity, successful persuasion.
• Dislikes: Murdering innocents, stealing, extortion, addiction, joining the Brotherhood of Steel, refusing quests that help others.

Nick Valentine: The Synth Detective

The synthetic private eye has a strong sense of justice and fair play. He appreciates cleverness, compassion, and righting wrongs.

• Likes: Healing others, helping synths, picking owned locks, hacking terminals (especially for good reasons), showing kindness, solving mysteries, making morally grey or good choices.
• Dislikes: Murdering innocents, stealing, addiction, extortion, lying for selfish gain, joining the Institute.

Deacon: The Railroad Agent

The enigmatic spy from the Railroad is a proponent of synth freedom and subterfuge for a greater cause. He appreciates cleverness and discretion.

• Likes: Hacking terminals, picking owned locks, crafting, modifying weapons/armor, using stealth, helping synths, siding with the Railroad, making morally ambiguous choices for a good outcome.
• Dislikes: Murdering innocents, addiction, joining the Brotherhood of Steel or Institute, being overly confrontational when stealth is an option.

Robert MacCready: The Mercenary with a Heart of Gold

Initially cynical, MacCready is driven by his desire to protect his son. He respects tough decisions, self-interest, but also hidden kindness.

• Likes: Hacking terminals, picking owned locks, stealing, successful haggling, demanding more money, making morally ambiguous choices that benefit you or him, showing occasional kindness.
• Dislikes: Murdering innocents, addiction, generosity, donating items, joining the Brotherhood of Steel, being overly naive.

Strong: The Super Mutant Companion

Strong’s simple philosophy revolves around strength and loyalty. He likes aggressive actions, cannibalism, and ‘milk of human kindness’ (when understood).

• Likes: Murdering innocents (sometimes), cannibalism (with Cannibal perk), aggressive actions, attacking Super Mutants, making strong, decisive choices.
• Dislikes: Lock-picking, hacking, crafting, building, stealth, being polite, showing weakness, joining the Brotherhood of Steel.

Curie: The Robot-Turned-Synth Scientist

Curie is an innocent, intellectual synth dedicated to scientific discovery and helping humanity. She values curiosity, kindness, and non-violence.

• Likes: Healing others, donating items, crafting, modifying weapons/armor, building settlements, discovering new locations, making morally good choices, showing empathy.
• Dislikes: Murdering innocents, stealing, addiction, being rude, unprovoked violence, siding with the Institute or Brotherhood of Steel.

Cait: The Raider with a Redemption Arc

Initially a drug-addicted raider, Cait respects self-sufficiency, violence, and actions that demonstrate strength, but also begins to appreciate honesty and kindness as her story unfolds.

• Likes: Picking owned locks, stealing, demanding more money, drinking alcohol, using chems (early game), fighting naked (sometimes), making aggressive choices.
• Dislikes: Donating items, healing others, being generous, addiction (after her personal quest), being overly passive or polite.

Paladin Danse: The Brotherhood Zealot

Danse is a dedicated member of the Brotherhood of Steel, valuing discipline, technology, and exterminating abominations. His loyalty is unwavering to the Brotherhood’s ideals.

• Likes: Modifying weapons/armor, crafting, joining the Brotherhood of Steel, making morally good choices that benefit humanity, using power armor, destroying synths/mutants.
• Dislikes: Murdering innocents, stealing, addiction, joining the Railroad or Institute, being overly diplomatic with non-human factions.

X6-88: The Institute Courser

X6-88, a loyal Institute Courser, values efficiency, logic, and actions that serve the Institute’s goals. He is largely devoid of emotion.

• Likes: Hacking terminals, crafting, modifying weapons/armor, joining the Institute, making logical choices, demonstrating competence, being pragmatic.
• Dislikes: Murdering innocents (unless ordered), stealing (unless sanctioned), addiction, joining other factions, showing weakness or excessive emotion.

Dogmeat: The Faithful Canine Companion

Dogmeat is unique among companions as he does not have a measurable affinity system. He is always loyal and will never abandon the Sole Survivor. He is a constant source of companionship without the need to manage his likes or dislikes, making him an ideal choice for players who prefer a simpler partnership.

DLC Companions: Far Harbor and Nuka-World

Old Longfellow (Far Harbor): The Grizzled Hunter

Longfellow, the old guide of Far Harbor, appreciates survival skills, directness, and actions that protect the residents of the island.

• Likes: Crafting, modifying weapons/armor, helping the people of Far Harbor, making tough survival choices, fighting dangerous creatures, drinking alcohol.
• Dislikes: Being overly diplomatic, showing weakness, making choices that destabilize Far Harbor.

Porter Gage (Nuka-World): The Raider Overboss

Gage, the pragmatic raider from Nuka-World, thrives on intimidation, self-interest, and expanding the power of the raider gangs. He dislikes weakness and generosity.

• Likes: Stealing, demanding more money, killing innocents (especially in settlement raids), taking over settlements for Nuka-World, crafting, modifying weapons/armor, drinking alcohol.
• Dislikes: Donating items, healing others, being generous, refusing to raid, siding with the Minutemen or other ‘good’ factions.

Strategic Companion Management for Optimal Gameplay

Understanding these preferences allows for a highly strategic approach to Fallout 4 character development. For instance, if you plan a philanthropic Minutemen playthrough, Preston Garvey or Codsworth would be ideal companions. If a stealthy, hacking build is your focus, Nick Valentine or Deacon might be better suited. Each companion’s unique perk, unlocked upon reaching maximum affinity, can provide significant combat advantages, utility bonuses, or even enhance dialogue options, making them invaluable assets in any scenario.

Maximizing companion affinity is not just about unlocking perks; it deeply enriches the narrative experience of Fallout 4. By aligning your actions with their values, you uncover more about their backstories, motivations, and personal struggles, adding layers of emotional depth to your journey through the devastated Commonwealth. From the loyal devotion of Codsworth to the complex moral compass of Cait’s redemption, these relationships are a cornerstone of the game’s immersive world. Mastering these social mechanics ensures a more rewarding and powerful adventure for every Sole Survivor, offering an unparalleled level of replayability and strategic decision-making in one of the most beloved open-world action RPGs.