Navigating the post-apocalyptic wasteland of the Commonwealth can be a dangerous endeavor, but players do not have to explore it alone. Bethesda's acclaimed role-playing game features a diverse cast of allies who can accompany you, offer unique combat benefits, and unlock special perks. Understanding how many companions are available in Fallout 4 helps players maximize their gameplay experience and faction relationships.
Total Number of Companions in the Base Game
In the standard version of Fallout 4, there are 13 unique companions available for recruitment throughout the Commonwealth. These allies include recognizable figures such as your faithful dog Dogmeat, the loyal Mr. Handy robot Codsworth, and the synth detective Nick Valentine. Each companion brings distinct personality traits, backstory quests, and specialized combat capabilities to your journey.
Building strong relationships with base game companions awards players with powerful passive abilities known as companion perks. To earn these perks, players must gain high affinity by making choices that align with each companion's moral values and preferences. Traveling with different allies across various missions adds significant depth and narrative replayability to the main story.
Expansions and DLC Companions
With the release of official downloadable content expansions, the overall roster expands beyond the original thirteen allies. The Automatron expansion introduces Ada, a skilled mechanical ally, alongside the ability to build custom robot companions. Players who venture to Far Harbor can recruit Old Longfellow, while the Nuka-World add-on allows players to team up with the raider leader Porter Gage.
Including all expansion content, there are 17 distinct permanent companions available across the entire Fallout 4 experience. Each DLC companion integrates seamlessly into their respective regions while offering new questlines and unique perk rewards. This expanded roster ensures that players have specialized companions for every style of play and faction alignment.
How Companion Management and Mechanics Work
While you can unlock and recruit every companion over the course of a single playthrough, you can generally travel with only one companion at a time. When dismissed, companions can be sent to any of your unlocked settlements to reside until you need their assistance again. Managing settlement locations makes it easy to swap companions depending on your tactical requirements for specific quests.
Companions also provide practical advantages beyond combat support, including extra inventory carrying capacity and interaction options during key story dialogues. Additionally, several human and synth companions offer romance options once maximum affinity is achieved. Choosing the right companion for your character build is one of the most rewarding aspects of exploring the wasteland.
