Fallout 4 Guide: Recruit Companion & Start Love Story

Fallout 4 - Unlock all the teammates in the game. In this section of our comprehensive guide to Fallout 4, we'll show you how to recruit all in-game companions, increasing your affinity with them to start a love story and unlock the Unique Talents!

As in all chapters of Fallout, this fourth episode will give us a chance to recruit, bring along, and have a relationship with companions. These allies have different characteristics, both physical and ideological, and they may hold us in high esteem or resentment depending on what you do.

Our Quest Guide will show you how to recruit and maximize your connection with the various companions you'll find in the vast Commonwealth of Fallout 4 by guiding you through each companion's related quests for the Unique Talents!

IMPORTANT: To learn how to complete the missions listed below, please refer to Fallout 4 Guide to Major and Minor Missions.

DOGMEAT - THE DOG

RAZZA: Dog
Where to find him: Red Rocket service area, just outside Sanctuary.
HOW TO UNLOCK IT: Complete the SECOND DOG HEALTH MISSION.
UNIQUE TALENT: /
RELATIONSHIP: The affinity with Dogmeat is already at its best from the beginning and you won't be able to weave a "love story" with him.
RELATED MISSION: /

CODSWORTH - THE BUTLER

RAZZA: Robot/Mister Handy
WHERE TO FIND IT: Wander aimlessly through the ruins of Sanctuary.
HOW TO UNLOCK IT: Complete the MAIN MISSION OF MINUTEMENTS- THE CALL FOR FREEDOM and ask Codsworth to stay with you, after taking Preston Garvey and the other museum settlers to Sanctuary.
UNIQUE TALENT: Robot Compassion - +10 Resistance against robot energy weapons.
REPORT: You can't have a love story with this character but if you want you can maximize your affinity with him to unlock his Unique Talent. To strengthen the bond with CodsWorth you'll have to take him with you on a mission, make GENEROUS choices and be GENTILES, GIVE him an item, cure DOGMEAT, modify WEAPON, modify Weapon.
RELATED MISSION: /

CAIT - THE JUNKIE

RAZZA: Human woman
WHERE TO FIND IT: In the COMBAT ZONE, near BOSTON.
HOW TO UNLOCK IT: During the SECOND MISSION - FOR A GOOD CAUSE, choose her as a companion when offered by Tommy Lonegan.
SINGLE TALENT: Easy Trigger - Action Points regenerate faster when HPs are below 25%.
REPORT: You may have a love story with this character but you will have to maximize your affinity with her and also unlock her Unique Talent. It's better to have a high level of Charisma to make it easier to overcome the options to flirt with the characters. To bond with Cait you'll need to take her with you on a mission, make EGOISTE choices and be VIOLENT, DRINK alcohol, use Drugs (but this may bother her if you've convinced her to detox at the end of the mission), force a TIGHTENING, BAG people, walk around naked.
RELATED MISSION: /

CURIE - THE MEDICAL

RAZZA: Robot/Mrs. Handy, Synthetic Woman
WHERE TO FIND IT: In VAULT 81.
HOW TO UNLOCK IT: Complete the SECOND MISSION - A HOLE IN THE WALL.
UNIQUE TALENT: Doctor Fighter - You can treat your health by 100 points, for one time a day, if it falls below 10%.
REPORT: You may have a love affair with this character, but you'll need to maximize your affinity with her and complete her related mission, as well as unlock her Unique Talent. It's better to have a high level of Charisma to make it easier to overcome the options for flirting with characters. To bond with Curie you'll need to take her with you on a mission, make GENTLE choices and be PACIFIC, GIVE her an item, CURE Dogmeat.
CORRELATED MISSION: Complete the SECONDARY MISSION - EMERGENT BEHAVIOUR.

DANSE PALADIN - THE MAN OF STEEL

RAZZA: Human man
WHERE TO FIND IT: At the CAMBRIDGE POLICE STATION.
HOW TO UNLOCK IT: Complete the MAIN MISSION OF THE STEEL CONFRATERNITY - STEEL SHADE.
UNIQUE TALENT: Know your enemy - +20% Damage against Ghoul Ferali, Synthetics and Super Mutants.
RELATIONSHIP: You may have a love story with this character but you will have to maximize your affinity with him, you will also unlock his Unique Talent. It's better to have a high level of Charisma to make it easier to overcome the options to flirt with the characters. To bond with Paladin Danse you'll need to take him with you on a mission, make GENTILIAN choices and be VIOLENT, DO NOT use Drugs, wear ATOMIC ARMOUR, climb on the VERTIBIRD, MODIFY/REPARATE armour.
RELATED MISSION: /

DEACON - THE SPY

RAZZA: Human man
WHERE TO FIND IT: At OLD NORTH CHURCH, the RAILROAD base.
HOW TO UNLOCK IT: Complete the MAIN RAILROAD MISSION - THE ART OF SPIONAGE.
SINGLE TALENT: Cloak and Dagger - The duration of the Staelth Boy will increase by 40% and you will also get a 20% Damage bonus in stealth attacks.
REPORT: You may not have a love story with this character but you can maximize your affinity with him to unlock his Unique Talent. To strengthen the bond with Deacon you'll have to take him with you on a mission, make GENTILIAN choices and be HARD, DO NOT use DROGES, give him OBJECTS, HACKER the Terminals successfully, force the Locks successfully, be successful in dialogue thanks to CARISMA.
RELATED MISSION: /

HANCOCK - MAYOR GHOUL

RAZZA: Ghoul man
WHERE TO FIND IT: In GOODNEIGHBOR is the mayor of the city.
HOW TO UNLOCK IT: Complete the SECOND MISSION - APPRECIATE ART by agreeing to help the Mayor get an item back from the PICKMAN GALLERY.
UNIQUE TALENT: Isodopate - Increase your Critical's chance of Critical by 20% but you will need to be affected by at least 250 radiation points.
REPORT: You can have a love story with this character but you will have to maximize your affinity with him, you will also unlock his Unique Talent. It's better to have a high level of Charisma to make it easier to overcome the options to flirt with the characters. To bond with Hancock you'll need to take him with you on a mission, make GENEROUS choices and be VIOLENT/PACIFICANT, use Drugs, DO NOT walk around Naked, DO NOT RUBY and DO NOT kill innocent NPCs.
RELATED MISSION: /

MACCREADY - THE MERCENARY

RAZZA: Human man
WHERE TO FIND IT: In GOODNEIGHBOR in the place called THE THIRD BINARY, look in the VIP area.
HOW TO UNLOCK IT: Talk to us in the VIP area of the THIRD BINARY and pay for its services, then pick up another partner and send Maccready to Sanctuary.
SINGLE TALENT: Death Strike - Increase the accuracy of the Head Strike by 20% with the S.P.A.V.
REPORT: You can have a love story with this character but you will have to maximize your affinity with him and complete the related mission, you will also unlock his Unique Talent. It's better to have a high level of Charisma to make it easier to overcome the options to flirt with the characters. To bond with Maccready you will need to take him with you on a mission, make GENERAL choices and be VIOLENT/PACIFICANT, NOT be addicted to Drugs (but you can use them from time to time without falling into addiction), DO NOT give him objects, RUBY, FORCE locks to be successful in dialogue using CHARISM.
CORRELATED MISSION: Complete the SECOND MISSION - A LONG TRAVEL

PIPER - THE JOURNALIST

RAZZA: Human woman
WHERE TO FIND HIM: IN DIAMOND CITY.
HOW TO UNLOCK: Complete the SECONDARY MISSION - THE HISTORY OF THE SECONDARY or the MAIN MISSION - MEETINGS.
UNIQUE TALENT: Talking - You will receive double experience in conversation or when you discover new places.
REPORT: You can have a love story with this character but you will have to maximize your affinity with him, you will also unlock his Unique Talent. It's better to have a high level of Charisma to make it easier to overcome the options to flirt with the characters. To bond with Piper you'll need to take her with you on a mission, make GENEROUS choices and be HARD, give her OBJECTS, cure DOGMEAT, break into DOORS and DO NOT steal from the unlucky ones or ask for a FULL RATE thanks to CHARISM.
RELATED MISSION: /

PRESTON GARVEY - THE MINUTEMEN

RAZZA: Human man
WHERE TO FIND IT: The FREEDOM MUSEUM at CONCORD.
HOW TO UNLOCK: Finish the SECOND MISSION OF MINUTES - THE FIRST STEP
SINGLE TALENT: Remain United - By facing 3 or more opponents you inflict 20% Extra Damage and your Resistance to blows increases by another 20%.
REPORT: You can have a love story with this character but you will have to maximize your affinity with him, you will also unlock his Unique Talent. It's better to have a high level of Charisma to make it easier to overcome the options to flirt with the characters. To bond with Preston Garvey you'll need to take him with you on a mission, make GENEROUS choices and be PACIFIC, NOT take Drugs, DONATE items, NOT RUBY, modify Weapons.
RELATED MISSION: /

STRONG - THE SUPERMUTANTE

RAZZA: Supermutante man
WHERE TO FIND IT: The TRINITY TOWER.
HOW TO UNLOCK: Finish the SECOND MISSION - TURNING CALL
SINGLE TALENT: Berserker - +20% Damage with melee weapons when your health is below 25%.
REPORT: You won't be able to have a love story with this character but you'll have to maximize your affinity with him to unlock his Unique Talent as well. To strengthen the bond with Strong you will have to take him with you on a mission, make GENEROUS choices and be PACIFIC/VIOLENT, devour CADAVERS, DO NOT RUBARE, DO NOT Hack computers, DO NOT get on the VERTIBIRD, DO NOT FORCE LOCKS, DO NOT use CARISMA in dialogue, kill innocent NPCs.
RELATED MISSION: /

NICKNAME VALENTINE - THE DETECTIVE

RAZZA: Synthetic man
WHERE TO FIND IT: In the depths of PARK STREET.
HOW TO UNLOCK IT: Complete the MAIN MISSION - POCO SAN, MOLTO VALENTINO.
SINGLE TALENT: Heart of Metal - The waiting time when you can't get through a hack, and a terminal freezes, decreases by 50% plus you have an extra attempt at Hacking.
REPORT: You won't be able to have a love story with this character but you'll have to maximize your affinity with him to unlock his Unique Talent as well. To strengthen the bond with Nick Valentine you'll have to take him with you on a mission, make GENTILIAN choices and be HARD, give him OBJECTS, hack TERMINALS, cure DOGMEAT.
CORRELATED MISSION: Complete the SECOND MISSION - HOW MUCH TIME...

X6-88 - THE PREDATOR

RAZZA: Synthetic man
WHERE TO FIND IT: IN THE INSTITUTE
HOW TO UNLOCK IT: Complete the INSTITUTE'S MAIN MISSION - REDEFINED HUMANITY.
UNIQUE TALENT: Defence Harmonies - +20% Resistance to Energy.
REPORT: You won't be able to have a love story with this character but you'll have to maximize your affinity with him to unlock his Unique Talent as well. To strengthen the bond with X6-88 you'll have to take him with you on a mission, make EGOISTE choices and be PACIFIC, you won't have to use Drugs or give him OBJECTS, hack TERMINALS, wear the ATOMIC ARMATURE or modify it together with the Weapons.
RELATED MISSION: /