Companions in Fallout 4 can be encountered throughout the game. These are useful companions, getting close to whom you will gain some advantages, more or less useful. At the same time, each companion has their own principles and beliefs, on which you will build your relationship with them. If your actions contradict the views of the companion, they will express their dissatisfaction and may leave the party.

In this guide, we have compiled the best companions in Fallout 4 who possess the most convenient and practical abilities. Let's take a closer look at how to befriend and build relationships with each of them.

MacCready

MacCready, or RJ, is a seasoned mercenary, quite charismatic and interesting. Previously, you could meet him in the previous installment of the Fallout series, Fallout 3, where he appeared as a perpetually cursing and cheeky lad. In Fallout 4, his character has undergone some changes - MacCready has matured, become more responsible, curses less, and doesn't interrupt himself halfway through if he suddenly wants to curse.

You can hire the hero for 250 caps in Goodneighbor at the Third Rail bar. With a high Charisma, you can reduce the price to 200 caps.

After completing the quest "Long Road Ahead" and maxing out the relationship level with MacCready, the player will acquire the special ability Killshot, and as a gift, receive a small wooden soldier - a personal gift from MacCready, which he inherited from his wife.

The Killshot ability increases the headshot chance in V.A.T.S by 20%. The perk is not universal and will only suit those who enjoy playing in this mode. However, the increased accuracy is significant and will be useful when used strategically.

The main advantage of MacCready is that you don't need to strictly adhere to a limited line of behavior with him. For example, the companion doesn't mind stealing, threatening, blackmailing, or using sarcasm in the player character's speech. In most cases, he won't judge you for a violent path, killing, or asking for more money to complete a task. In general, MacCready encourages players for actions that give them advantages.

As for the negatives - to obtain the perk, you need to complete the aforementioned quest "Long Road Ahead", which itself takes quite some time, and parts of it are gradually unlocked depending on the relationship level with MacCready. But that's where the drawbacks end.

Deacon

Deacon is an agent and spy of the Railroad, a liberation movement from several parts of the Fallout series. The ability he awards the character is also related to stealth. This is the perk Cloak & Dagger, which increases damage in stealth mode by 20% and extends the duration of stealth by 40%. The ability is suitable for snipers and those who like to play in V.A.T.S.

Another plus of Deacon is that you don't need to complete additional quests to recruit him. Deacon likes it when the player hacks doors, infiltrates closed territories, and helps the Railroad in any way. It's simple and straightforward.

As for the unusual - Deacon likes to change clothes and change his appearance, even during an adventure. So don't be surprised if during the next battle you see him in a new, slightly extravagant outfit.

Preston Garvey

Preston Garvey is one of the most popular companions in Fallout 4. He is the leader of the Minutemen faction.

Preston grants a useful and even overpowered ability - United We Stand, which provides +20% damage and +20 damage resistance when facing three or more enemies. In Fallout 4, you'll often encounter groups of enemies, so the perk will be genuinely useful and suitable for characters of any role and build.

Preston definitely won't suit players who role-play as "bad guys". In such a case, Garvey will become a nagging moralizer who will scold and judge you for every immoral action, such as attempting theft or cruel murder if sparing the enemy's life was an option. Or conversely, Preston may criticize the player if they decide to spare an overtly evil character for their own selfish reasons.

In the end, you can simply obtain the perk and then remove Preston from the party and not interact with him further. Fortunately, the game allows for this possibility.

Ada

The companion Ada is only available with the Automatron add-on. You can find her near the Tucker Memorial Bridge.

There, Ada will be fighting other automatons. Your task: help Ada destroy them. After that, the robot will thank you, tell her story, and then teach you how to build a Robot workbench.

With it, you can turn Ada into a real killing machine that will destroy everything in its path. 

In terms of firepower, she surpasses all previous companions. She is more of a combat unit than a companion, but you probably won't perceive her as just a machine. After all, Ada has her own path, quite tragic, and you'll definitely empathize with her. By the way, Ada is immortal. You can modify her immediately after obtaining her.

Dogmeat

Dogmeat, like Ada, defaults to the player's maximum disposition level. At first glance, there's nothing remarkable about her abilities. But the main advantage of the dog is that she cannot judge the player for any action and won't decide to leave the party due to your wrongdoings. 

Moreover, if you travel with Dogmeat, the game will consider you a loner. This means that you can use all the benefits of the Lone Wanderer perk, which increases damage by 25%, reduces damage taken by 30%, increases maximum carry weight by 100, and at the last level of upgrade gives 25 action points (AP). 

And if you max out the Attack Dog perk, you'll receive 10% less damage while traveling with the dog. Plus, along the way, the dog will find useful items. It's the little things that count, right?

Overall, each companion on the list deserves attention and will be useful in specific situations. Even the seemingly unremarkable dog will be an excellent companion for lone wolf characters, where the main damage will be dealt by the player character. Ada, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of the dog - she takes on all the main damage and often destroys enemies faster than you can react to them. Choose a companion that best suits your playstyle.