Ranking All Companion Personal Quests in Fallout 4

Exploring the barren landscapes of the Commonwealth can be a lonely endeavor, but Fallout 4 brings companionship to the forefront, allowing the Sole Survivor to recruit an array of unique partners. Each companion comes with distinct personalities, preferences, and ambitions that may or may not coincide with the player’s choices throughout their journey. Building trust with these allies often leads to engaging personal quests, enriching the narrative and providing deeper insight into their backgrounds. However, the quality and depth of these companion quests can vary significantly across characters.

While companion quests have long been a feature of RPGs, they were introduced to the Fallout series in Fallout: New Vegas before making a return in Fallout 4. With a total of 16 potential companions the player can recruit, it is somewhat disappointing that not every character is granted a detailed personal mission. Only seven companions request the Sole Survivor’s assistance with their own quests, allowing players to explore their lives, histories, and future aspirations.

7 Old Longfellow – Shipbreaker

Take On A Deadly Far Harbor Foe

Old Longfellow’s quest is unique in that it is not initiated directly by him. While traversing the fog-shrouded Island in Far Harbor, the Sole Survivor can intercept a cryptic radio message. Utilizing this signal guides the player to confront a formidable foe known as Shipbreaker, a notorious fog crawler. Victory over this hidden boss is essential, and engaging her from a distance increases the odds of success.

Once Shipbreaker is defeated, Old Longfellow will share his emotional connection to a creature he has pursued for decades, citing its vicious nature and the friends he’s lost to it. As a token of gratitude, he rewards the player with Skipper’s Last Stand, a unique harpoon gun that boasts +150 damage resistance while reloading. Nevertheless, the quest’s hidden nature and the limited emotional depth relating to Longfellow himself may leave some players wanting more.

Skipper’s Last Stand	Unique harpoon gun offers +150 damage resistance while reloading.

6 Ada – Automatron DLC

Track Down The Mysterious Mechanist

Ada, introduced in the Automatron DLC, presents a more substantial personal quest compared to Old Longfellow. The storyline revolves around Ada’s quest for vengeance after the murder of her fellow caravan robots. Players accompany Ada on a path filled with clues leading toward the Mechanist’s Lair, highlighting the compelling mystery central to her arc.

In this quest, players engage in classic exploratory gameplay, collecting essential items and battling through mechanized foes. The Mechanist, an intriguing antagonist, leads to a climactic choice for the Sole Survivor: save or eliminate them. However, despite Ada’s compelling journey, her character remains somewhat disconnected from the broader narrative, being more of a facilitator for the robot workbench feature introduced in the expansion.

5 Cait – Benign Intervention

Help Cait Get Clean In Vault 95

Cait’s quest may come as a surprise to those who see her as a tough, hardened survivor. Although her journey is emotionally compelling, it suffers from narrative weaknesses. After establishing a rapport with Cait, who shares her struggles with addiction, she reveals a need to visit Vault 95 for help with her drug problem.

The mission involves battling through the Gunner-controlled Vault, ultimately leading to Cait’s detoxification. While this quest touches on sensitive issues surrounding addiction, the resolution feels rushed and simplistic, robbing her character of a deeper and more complex development that could have enriched her story arc.

4 Robert MacCready – Long Road Ahead

Take Down Some Gunners & Then Save A Young Boy

Reintroduced from Fallout 3, MacCready’s quest unfolds in two distinctive phases. Initially, players must assist him in dealing with a group of Gunners, which provides a backstory to MacCready’s past and his departure from the group. This quest serves as a gateway to further explore his complexities beyond just being a sarcastic mercenary.

3 Curie – Emergent Behavior

Help A Friend In The Next Stage Of Their Life

Curie showcases one of the most heartwarming character arcs within Fallout 4. After gaining her trust, she confides her desire to become human to enhance her capabilities as a researcher. This quest is initiated through a visit to the Memory Den, where players will encounter challenges that explore themes of identity and humanity.

The evolution of Curie introduces moral complexities, as players can shape her future—culminating in a unique romance option if they choose to transform her. The implications of her metamorphosis raise ethical questions about identity, ownership, and existence in the wasteland.

Literally A Choice Between Life & Death

Paladin Danse confronted by Elder Maxson

Paladin Danse’s quest is deeply intertwined with the Brotherhood of Steel’s main storyline and challenges players with a pivotal moral decision. Following vital plot developments, the Sole Survivor must confront Danse’s identity as a Synth after he is exposed. A morally complicated choice arises: to protect Danse by turning against Elder Maxson or to follow orders and eliminate him.

Reward	Rank of Paladin & full set of T-60 Power Armor.

This quest captures intense emotional and ethical dilemmas, culminating in one of the most memorable moments in Fallout 4, enhanced by stellar voice performances. Whether spared or eliminated, Danse’s fate leaves a complex landscape behind, lacking fuller character development opportunities that players might expect.

1 Nick Valentine – Long Time Coming

Help Solve A 200-Year-Old Cold Case

Nick Valentine, a standout companion, presents a captivating personal quest that requires the Sole Survivor to assist in unraveling a 200-year-old mystery tied to his former self. After reaching the necessary affinity, players embark on a journey to locate ten holotapes related to the original Nick Valentine’s investigation of mobster Eddie Winter, which culminated in tragedy for his love interest, Jenny Lands.

Eddie’s Peace	.44 Pistol with crippling effect to deal 50% extra limb damage.

Although primarily a collection quest, this narrative insight delves into Nick’s existential crisis as he grapples with his identity as a Synth. The quest’s resolution is bittersweet, allowing for a moving exploration of both loss and self-discovery, marking it as not only the best companion quest in Fallout 4 but also one of the most compelling narratives within the game itself.

Source & Images