fallout new vegas remaster companions guide: best followers, perks, quests, and DLC picks

A complete guide to Fallout New Vegas remaster companions, including perks, quests, upgrades, and the best follower choices.

Why Companions Matter in New Vegas

If you're searching for the best fallout new vegas remaster companions, you're really asking a bigger question: which follower gives your build the biggest edge in the Mojave? The answer matters because fallout new vegas remaster companions do far more than add flavor dialogue—they boost combat, unlock side stories, and can even change how smoothly you survive Hardcore Mode.

In Fallout: New Vegas, you can normally travel with one humanoid companion and one non-humanoid companion at the same time. That party setup alone makes companions one of the most important power multipliers in the game. They add damage, spotting, utility, inventory help, and some of the best-written questlines in the entire RPG.

For official store and version information, check the Fallout: New Vegas page on Steam.

Full Companion Overview: Permanent and DLC Followers

When players talk about fallout new vegas remaster companions, they usually mean the permanent base-game followers first. These are the companions you can recruit in the Mojave and keep as part of your regular rotation.

Base-game permanent companions

Companion	Type	Combat Style	Where You Find Them	Why Players Like Them
Arcade Gannon	Humanoid	Energy weapons	Old Mormon Fort, Freeside	Strong support perks, deep story, Enclave-related questline
Boone	Humanoid	Sniper/Guns	Novac	Incredible ranged damage and enemy spotting
Cass	Humanoid	Guns	Mojave Outpost area questline	Great for gun builds and anti-liquor perk utility
Veronica	Humanoid	Unarmed/Energy	188 Trading Post	Fast melee pressure and strong personality
Raul	Humanoid	Guns	Black Mountain	Excellent utility for weapon-heavy players
Lily	Humanoid	Melee	Jacobstown	Tanky melee bruiser with unique behavior choices
ED-E	Non-humanoid	Energy support	Primm	Superb utility and ranged support
Rex	Non-humanoid	Melee cyberdog	Freeside	Aggressive close-range pressure and easy early value

DLC and temporary companions

Some fallout new vegas remaster companions are only available during add-on content and won't return to the Mojave with you.

DLC	Temporary Companion	Role	Notes
Dead Money	Dean Domino	Survivalist/ranged	Story-focused temporary ally
Dead Money	Christine Royce	Support/combat	Important to the DLC narrative
Honest Hearts	Follows-Chalk	Scout	Helps early in Zion exploration
Honest Hearts	Waking Cloud	Warrior/support	Joins later in the DLC story
Lonesome Road	ED-E variant	Utility/combat	Exclusive to the Divide
Old World Blues	Various temporary followers	Utility/story	Not standard permanent companions

If you're building around long-term value, focus first on the eight permanent options.

Best fallout new vegas remaster companions by playstyle

Not every companion is best for every Courier. The smartest way to choose fallout new vegas remaster companions is by matching them to your build, difficulty, and quest priorities.

Best companion picks by build

Build Type	Best Humanoid Pick	Best Non-Humanoid Pick	Why It Works
Sniper/Guns	Boone	ED-E	Long-range damage plus strong battlefield awareness
Energy Weapons	Arcade	ED-E	Excellent synergy for energy-focused combat
Cowboy/Revolver	Raul	Rex	Raul benefits gun-centric play while Rex pressures close targets
Unarmed/Melee	Veronica or Lily	Rex	Heavy close-range control and distraction
Hardcore Mode	Boone or Raul	ED-E	Reliable output and excellent utility
Story/Lore Focus	Arcade or Veronica	ED-E	Strong dialogue, faction ties, and memorable companion quests

Quick ranking for most players

Rank	Companion	Best Use Case
1	Boone	Top-tier combat companion for general play
2	ED-E	Best utility non-human companion
3	Veronica	Great melee pressure and fun questline
4	Raul	Fantastic for guns-focused players
5	Arcade	Best for lore-heavy and energy builds
6	Rex	Strong early and mid-game support
7	Cass	Solid gun companion with a good perk path
8	Lily	Niche but very durable

That ranking reflects general usefulness, not character quality. Many players love Cass, Lily, or Arcade most for story reasons even if Boone and ED-E tend to dominate in raw performance.

Companion perks, quests, and upgrades you should not miss

A huge reason fallout new vegas remaster companions are so valuable is that each permanent follower comes with a personal quest and reward path. In practice, these quests often improve the companion directly or unlock a lasting perk bonus.

Companion quest rewards at a glance

Companion	Quest	Reward or Upgrade
Arcade Gannon	For Auld Lang Syne	Access to powerful Gannon family Tesla armor
Boone	I Forgot to Remember to Forget	1st Recon assault armor
Cass	Heartache by the Number	Hand of Vengeance-style gun damage bonus
Veronica	I Could Make You Care	Faster Unarmed attack rate bonus
Raul	Old School Ghoul	Faster firing for revolvers and lever-action weapons
Lily	Lily and Leo	Different tradeoffs based on medication choice
ED-E	ED-E My Love	Choose Brotherhood-style defense or Followers-style offense
Rex	Nothin' But a Hound Dog	Brain replacement options, including a strong damage upgrade

Best upgrades by practical value

Upgrade	Companion	Why It Matters
Followers examination	ED-E	Strong offensive improvement for many builds
Old Vaquero	Raul	Amazing for cowboy weapon users
Boone armor reward	Boone	Helps an already elite companion stay lethal
Rey's brain	Rex	Simple, direct damage bump
Veronica speed boost	Veronica	Makes her much deadlier in close combat

Best companion quest order for new players

Priority	Companion	Reason
1	ED-E	Easy utility payoff and strong early-game value
2	Boone	Huge combat help for difficult zones
3	Rex	Good early companion if you're in Freeside
4	Veronica	Useful across many builds
5	Raul	Great once your gear plan is clearer
6	Arcade	Best when you're also pursuing story-heavy faction content

If you only want the biggest practical gains, Boone plus ED-E is one of the most efficient pairings in the game.

Recruitment tips, mechanics, and hidden companion rules

Understanding the rules behind fallout new vegas remaster companions can save you hours of frustration.

Core companion mechanics

Mechanic	How It Works	Why It Matters
Party limit	One humanoid + one non-humanoid	Plan your pairings carefully
Essential status	Active permanent companions are usually protected, except in Hardcore Mode	Hardcore players must be more careful
Waiting	Waiting companions can still grant perks for a time	Useful for stealth or solo sections
Dismissal	Companions typically return to their home location or Lucky 38 if assigned there	Makes retrieval easier
Weapons	Default companion weapons have unlimited ammo	Great for low-maintenance setups
Armor restrictions	Many companions refuse faction gear not tied to them	Prevents some easy min-maxing

Smart recruitment path for a fresh run

Pick up ED-E early in Primm for utility.
Recruit Boone in Novac if you want the easiest combat spike.
Visit Freeside later for Arcade and Rex.
Grab Veronica at the 188 Trading Post for an easy and flexible companion option.
Save Raul and Lily for mid-game exploration.
Work on companion quests as soon as their triggers appear.

A note on Charisma and “Nerve”

Community guides often mention a hidden companion stat called Nerve. Based on player experience and community reports, Charisma is intended to improve companion damage and survivability. However, community reports also say the system does not fully function as expected, with the damage bonus being more noticeable than any defensive increase.

That means a high-Charisma build is not as essential for companion use as some older advice suggests.

Best pairings and loadout advice

The best fallout new vegas remaster companions are even better when paired intelligently. Think in terms of coverage: long-range damage, scouting, survivability, and weapon compatibility.

Best companion pairings

Pairing	Best For	Why It’s Strong
Boone + ED-E	Most players	Superb long-range pressure and target awareness
Veronica + ED-E	Aggressive runs	Veronica rushes while ED-E supports from range
Raul + Rex	Cowboy builds	Great flavor and strong sidearm synergy
Arcade + ED-E	Energy users	Clean thematic and combat synergy
Cass + Rex	Mid-range gunfighters	Balanced pressure at multiple ranges
Lily + ED-E	Durable frontliner setup	Lily tanks attention while ED-E chips away

Weapon and gear tips

Tip	Benefit
Keep companions on their default weapon unless your replacement is clearly better	Saves ammo management
If you give a custom weapon, carry spare ammo and monitor usage	Prevents awkward weapon swaps
Match weapons to companion strengths	Some followers perform best with preferred weapon classes
Avoid giving restricted faction armor	Some companions drop it immediately
Use high-damage ammo strategically	Companion weapon durability is very forgiving

A few practical notes:

Boone shines with wide sightlines and open desert fights.
Veronica is strongest when enemies close quickly.
ED-E is one of the best scouting tools in the game.
Rex is better than many players expect in the early and mid-game.

Bugs, quirks, and community-reported issues

Any guide to fallout new vegas remaster companions should mention that companion behavior in New Vegas can be quirky. Some issues come from the original game and may still appear depending on platform, patch state, or mod setup.

Common problems players report

Issue	What Happens	Workaround
Missing weapons after entering certain casinos	Companion gear may vanish or transfer strangely	Tell followers to wait outside
Lucky 38 odd behavior	Dismissed companions may not appear where expected	Check the spot where you last dismissed them
Companion infighting	Stored companions may attack each other in rare cases	Avoid leaving loose weapons around shared spaces
Veronica disappearing	Player experience says she can bug out in certain interiors	Save before entering problem zones
Hardcore deaths	Active companions can die permanently	Use positioning and frequent saves

These should be treated as player experience and community reports, especially if you're playing a modern modded or unofficially “remastered” setup rather than a true official remaster.

Practical bug-prevention checklist

Save before major companion quest steps.
Avoid cluttering the Lucky 38 with random weapons.
In Hardcore Mode, never assume a companion is safe.
Dismiss carefully and confirm where the follower was sent.
Test new armor and weapons one at a time.

Final verdict: who should you recruit first?

If your goal is simple efficiency, the best opening path is ED-E first and Boone second. That combo gives you excellent scouting, strong ranged damage, and one of the smoothest difficulty curves in the Mojave.

If you care more about story than pure optimization, prioritize Arcade, Veronica, and Cass. Their quests and dialogue add a lot of personality to the world. If you want a more specialized build, Raul is one of the strongest long-term choices for gun-focused players.

The best fallout new vegas remaster companions are the ones that fit your build and make exploration more fun. But for most players, Boone and ED-E remain the safest recommendation, while Veronica and Raul are close behind for versatility and memorable character writing.

FAQ

What are the best fallout new vegas remaster companions for beginners?

For most beginners, Boone and ED-E are the easiest recommendation. Boone provides elite ranged damage, while ED-E offers utility, scouting, and reliable support from early in the game.

Can you have more than one companion in Fallout: New Vegas?

Normally, yes—but only in a specific split. You can usually travel with one humanoid companion and one non-humanoid companion at the same time.

Which companion has the best personal quest reward?

That depends on your build. ED-E’s upgrade path is broadly useful, Raul’s reward is excellent for cowboy weapon users, and Boone’s reward supports one of the strongest companions in the game.

Are DLC followers part of fallout new vegas remaster companions?

Yes, but most DLC followers are temporary. They matter during their add-on stories, but they do not function like the permanent Mojave companions you can keep for regular exploration.