Fallout: New Vegas - Every Permanent Companion, Ranked (2024)

Fallout: New Vegas holds a unique status within the Fallout franchise, mixing the more advanced technology and combative aspects of the newer Fallout 3 and 4, with the more story-focused and RPG elements of the original two Fallout games.

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However much Fallout: New Vegas does or doesn't hold up, it still has some of the most unquestionably unforgettable characters of the franchise, especially regarding companions. And it's time those companions were fully examined and ranked.

Updated June 6, 2024 By Ben Jessey: Since the release of the Fallout Amazon Prime show, the game series has become relevant once again. This includes the wonderful Fallout: New Vegas. It's a game that includes plenty of good companions. We've returned to our old ranking of them to clean it up a bit and re-rank them.

8 ED-E

A Great Companion For Extended Storage

Fallout: New Vegas - Every Permanent Companion, Ranked (2)

Prerequisites	Must be assembled in Primm through 65 Repair, 35 Repair, and 55 Science, or 3 scrap metals, 2 sensor modules, and scrap electronics.
SPECIALs	6(S), 10(P), 5(E), 5(C), 5(I), 7(A), 9(L)
Stats	Starts at level 10 and caps at 22. HP starts at 180 and caps at 396. Damage is capped at 8. Carry weight is capped at 210.
Perks	Enhanced Sensors: Makes enemies easier to detect, even when cloaked. Camarader-E: Weapon Repair, Energy ammo production, Increased DT, laser damage bonus, and accuracy bonus

This specialized Enclave eyebot certainly has an interesting story behind it. In fact, the same can be said about every companion in the Mojave, though ED-E being a pure machine certainly sets him apart from other allies.

Being a robot, his armor rating and weaponry cannot be modified, unlike other companions. His built-in laser weapon is fantastic to have, especially in early-game, and he has some decent perks. Also, if all else fails, at least he makes a good pack mule.

7 Rex

A Cyber-Dog With A Lethal Bite

Fallout: New Vegas - Every Permanent Companion, Ranked (3)

Prerequisites	Players must complete the "Nothin' But a Hound Dog" quest to unlock him as a follower.
SPECIALs	6(S), 8(P), 8(E), 4(C), 2(I), 8(A), 5(L)
Stats	Starts at level 8 and caps at 22. HP starts at 176 and caps at 484. Unarmed Damage starts at 40 and caps at 100. Damage Threshold starts at 10 and caps at 20.
Perks	Search and Mark: Items are marked when zoomed in. Faithful Protector: +25 attack damage for Rex Unshakeable Tracker: +50% movement speed for Rex Blood of the Legion: +10 damage threshold for Rex.

6 Rose Of Sharon Cassidy

More Merchant Access, Less Dialogue

Fallout: New Vegas - Every Permanent Companion, Ranked (4)

Prerequisites	Completing the "Heartache by the Number" quest unlocks her. Completing "Birds of a Feather" locks her out of companionship permanently.
SPECIALs	7(S), 6(P), 4(E), 4(C), 4(I), 6(A), 4(L)
Stats	Starts at level 5, caps at 22. HP starts at 210, caps at 295 (345 with Calm Heart). Guns and Sneak start at 47. Melee Weapons starts at 49.
Perks	Whiskey Rose: Removes negative effects from alcohol, whiskey, and wasteland tequila. Plus, it temporarily increases DT. Calm Heart: +50 hit points for Rose. Hand of Vengeance: Rose does 15% more damage with guns. Shotgun Surgeon: With shotguns, you ignore an additional 10 points of a target's damage threshold.

This former caravan owner has quite a bone to pick with both the NCR and the Legion. Lucky for you, she's a possible companion for any hardened Courier roaming the Mojave.

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Befriending Cassidy also gives better access to some of the Mojave's merchants via her caravans. Plus, if players want a less-talking, more-shooting type of ally, then Rose of Sharon Cassidy is a perfect pick. If not, it's best to mozy on to greener pastures ahead.

5 Arcade Israel Gannon

The Doc

Fallout: New Vegas - Every Permanent Companion, Ranked (6)

Prerequisites	Befriend the Followers of the Apocalypse, complete the "High Times" quest, pass a Speech check of 75, have the Confirmed Bachelor perk, or have an Intelligence of 3 or lower to unlock him as a companion. Joining the Legion locks him out of companionship.
SPECIALs	6(S), 6(P), 4(E), 6(C), 10(I), 6(A), 4(L)
Stats	Starts at level 5, caps at 22. HP starts at 170, caps at 255. 4 percent Critical Chance. 15 percent Poison Resistance. 6 percent Radiation Resistance. Unarmed Damage is 1.10. Carry Weight is 210. Energy Weapons starts at 50. Medicine starts at 59. Melee Weapons starts at 51.
Perks	Better Healing: All consumables give you 20% more health.

Within the Fallout universe, the Enclave - the last remnants of the US Federal Government - has been a recurring antagonist throughout almost every game. And it just so happens that seemingly good-boy Arcade has a not-so-clean past with them.

Yet, it's easy to look past that because he has a perk that improves your healing, which can be useful. On top of that, he's a guy with good brains and good aim, so he might be a good fit if that's what you look for in a companion.

4 Veronica Renata Santangelo

A Good Combatant With A Complex Backstory

Fallout: New Vegas - Every Permanent Companion, Ranked (7)

Prerequisites	Speak to her at the 188 Trading Post, and do not be an enemy of the Brotherhood of Steel at the time.
SPECIALs	7(S), 5(P), 6(E), 3(C), 6(I), 7(A), 3(L)
Stats	Starts at level 5, caps at 22. HP starts at 235, caps at 320. Has a critical chance of 3 percent. Unarmed damage is 2.9. Has 25 percent poison resistance and 10 percent radiation resistance. Has a carry weight of 220. Has a 46 in Energy Weapons and 48 in Science and Unarmed attacks.
Perks	Scribe Assistant: She crafts items that can only be crafted at workbenches. Bonds of Steel: +4 DT to Veronica. Causeless Rebel: Veronica's unarmed attack rate increases by 30%. Elijah's Last Words: 25% chance for melee attacks to knock down enemies for Veronica and +150% melee attack speed Elijah's Ramblings: +50% melee weapon critical damage

Fallout New Vegas is an RPG where you can be evil, so there's a lot of moral greyness to go around.

As a Brotherhood of Steel Scribe, Veronica should know all about moral greyness, as they aren't known as the most noble group. But as long as you don't badmouth or do any damage to the Brotherhood, she will be a loyal ally. More importantly, she will be a solid companion who is handy in a firefight and has a few nice perks.

3 Craig Boone

An Ex-Ranger Not Far Off The Beaten Path

Fallout: New Vegas - Every Permanent Companion, Ranked (8)

Prerequisites	Complete the quest "One for my Baby" with the correct culprit, or pass a speech check. Do not become enemies with the NCR, or friends with the Legion.
SPECIALs	7(S), 8(P), 5(E), 1(C), 3(I), 7(A), 6(L)
Stats	Starts at level 5, caps at 22. HP starts at 230, caps at 315. Has a 48 in Sneak and a 50 in Guns and Melee Weapons.
Perks	Spotter: While aiming down sights, enemies are highlighted.

Craig Boone is a former NCR ranger who has one of the most heartbreaking backstories of any of the companions. It involves him murdering people who didn't really deserve it. It is something that pains him to this day.

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So, he's not a barrel of laughs to have around, but he is an excellent sharpshooter who can help you in a fight. Also, his spotter perk often helps you see hard-to-find enemies, which can be useful at times.

2 Raul Alfonso Tejada

A Powerful, Techy Ghoul

Fallout: New Vegas - Every Permanent Companion, Ranked (10)

Prerequisites	Complete the quest "Crazy, Crazy, Crazy." Don't become enemies with the State of Utobitha.
SPECIALs	6(S), 6(P), 4(E), 2(C), 7(I), 8(A), 5(L)
Stats	Starts at level 14, caps at 22. HP starts at 280, caps at 320. Guns start at 92, Science at 90, and Repair at 95.
Perks	Regular Maintenance: Slows down the decay rate of equipment. Old Vaquero: Raul's rate of fire with lever-action firearms and revolvers increases by 33%. Full Maintenance: Further slows the decay rate of equipment.

Raul is among the few Fallout characters to have been alive before the Great War, kept alive through his ghoulification from radioactive Fallout. And like many other Ghouls or Super Mutants, his longevity means he has a rich, extensive, and somewhat tragic background.

If you want another gun by their side, then Raul isn't the best fit. But if you want a powerful techie to counterbalance their own gunslinging, this vaquero is a perfect fit.

1 Lily Marie Bowen

A Powerful Super Mutant Bestie

Fallout: New Vegas - Every Permanent Companion, Ranked (11)

Prerequisites	Complete the quest "Guess Who I Saw Today." Don't become enemies with Jacobstown.
SPECIALs	9(S), 3(P), 8(E), 5(C), 3(I), 10(A), 6(L)
Stats	Starts at level 10, caps at 22. HP starts at 240, caps at 529. Six percent Critical Chance. 35 percent Poison Resistance and 14 percent Radiation Resistance. Can do 3.5 Unarmed Damage. 240 Carry Weight. Has 100 in Sneak and 80 in Energy Weapons, Explosives, Guns, Melee Weapons, and Unarmed Attacks.
Perks	Stealth Girl: Stealth Boys last twice as long and +10% Sneak Attack Criticals.

Lily Bowen joins the ranks of Fawkes and Strong as her respective game's recruitable Super Mutant. But what sets Bowen apart from the latter two - aside from being the only female Mutant of the three - is her long, tragic background. And if you want to help her with the struggle of apocalyptic life, you should head on over to Jacobstown to find and help her out.

It's worth it, as she's one of the best Super Mutants in the series. And like every Super Mutant, she's big, strong, and tough to take out, which makes her a nice buddy to have in battle.

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