Fallout 4 Companion Guide: Ultimate Guide to Likes, Dislikes, and Maximizing Affinity Perks in the Commonwealth

As the Fallout 4 ecosystem continues to expand its reach—bolstered by the enduring popularity of the console and PC versions and the recent surge of new players driven by media interest—mastering the complex Companion Affinity System remains crucial for optimal gameplay progression. Developed by Bethesda Game Studios, this system dictates your relationship with your allies, leading to unique, game-changing perks upon reaching maximum trust. Understanding the intricate balance of “Likes” and “Dislikes” is paramount for any player seeking to maximize their XP gain and secure the most valuable Fallout 4 companion perks.

This ultimate guide provides a focused, actionable breakdown of the key companions, their personalities, and the actions required to quickly unlock their maximum Affinity Level (1000 points), a highly searched topic that continues to drive significant Organic Search Traffic and High-CPC advertising revenue for gaming sites.

The Core Affinity Mechanics: Actions and Timing

The Affinity system in Fallout 4 is based on actions the Sole Survivor takes in the Commonwealth while the companion is actively following them. The key to rapid affinity gain is identifying high-frequency actions the companion loves and performing them repeatedly.

• Affinity Events: These are specific actions (e.g., locking a terminal, successfully persuading an NPC, modifying a weapon) that trigger a status message: “[Companion Name] Liked That.”
• Cooldown: There is a cooldown timer (usually 1 hour of in-game time) on repeatable affinity actions. Performing a loved action during this cooldown will have no effect. This necessitates alternating between different types of positive actions or waiting.
• The Key Conversation: At every 250 affinity points, a companion will initiate a private conversation. You must complete these chats to progress toward the next threshold and ultimately unlock their unique perk.

Max Affinity Perk Breakdown: The Critical Builds

The true value of maximizing companion affinity lies in the powerful, permanent perks they grant. These are essential for high-level survival and specific character builds (e.g., stealth, melee, hacking).

Strong Focus Point: The Piper Wright and MacCready perks are arguably the most impactful for long-term character development, significantly boosting XP efficiency and combat effectiveness, respectively. Players are highly advised to prioritize building affinity with them early on.

The Dislikes Matrix: Actions to Strictly Avoid

Just as certain actions raise affinity, others can quickly lower it, potentially costing hours of in-game time. To maintain efficiency, players must be acutely aware of what each companion finds morally objectionable.

• Cait (Pre-Redemption): Dislikes acts of altruism, generosity, and non-violent solutions. She Loves stealing, consuming alcohol, and aggressive behavior. Once her companion quest is complete, her preferences flip to reflect her sobriety.
• Preston Garvey: Strongly Dislikes all chemically-driven actions, including taking drugs or consuming alcohol. He also strongly dislikes malicious, self-serving, or excessively violent behavior. Stick to Minutemen quests and helping settlements.
• Nick Valentine: The most balanced of the group, Nick Dislikes outright theft and malicious violence but tolerates most actions. He Loves helping innocent people, successful hacking, and showing mercy.
• Hancock: Surprisingly moral for a ghoul mayor, Hancock Dislikes outright murder of innocent people but Loves charitable acts, stealing from the powerful (but not the poor), and taking Jet. His tolerance for violence is high.

Maximization Tip: To quickly gain a specific perk, alternate between a companion who Loves a certain behavior (e.g., Cait for theft/drugs) and a companion who Dislikes it, ensuring you only perform the action they favor.

The Quick-Affinity Strategy for MacCready (Killshot Perk)

MacCready’s Killshot perk is often prioritized for its massive V.A.T.S. accuracy boost. To quickly max his affinity, focus on the following high-frequency, repeatable actions:

MacCready Loves:

• Stealing: Stealing items, especially cheap ones, is a reliable way to get a “Liked That” message. Do this on the hour (in-game time) to bypass the cooldown.
• Successful Pickpocketing: Similar to stealing, pickpocketing is a consistent trigger for him.
• Asking for More Money: During any settlement or quest dialogue option where you can demand more payment, choose the greedy option. MacCready consistently approves of this.
• Pick Locking: While he doesn’t love it, successful master-level lockpicking often triggers a positive response.

By alternating between these actions and prioritizing his unique companion quest (Long Road Ahead) upon its availability, players can secure the Killshot perk in the shortest possible timeframe, significantly boosting their character’s Combat Effectiveness and securing a competitive edge in the Survival Mode playthroughs.