The wastelands on the east coast of what was once the United States of America are teeming with all sorts of abhorrent monstrosities. Mutated beasts, hulking humanoids, mindless ghouls, and much more prowl the desolation. Guns, knives, and the like offer a great deal of protection but only against what a Lone Wanderer can see.
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Threats flanking or approaching from behind can be harder to detect when alone. Thankfully, Fallout 3 allows the player to team up with NPCs. This makes traveling safer and has many other benefits like companionship and interesting dialogue.
Updated July 19, 2021, by Reyadh Rahaman: The very best companions come with serious firepower or devastating melee capabilities in addition to better than average AI that can help players get that extra edge over particularly tricky foes. But guns and armor are not the only things to consider when making allies, as some companions are preferable to have around simply for their charming dialogue or other novel characteristics.
There are eight true companions in the game, though there are many other temporary ones as well who can be great fun to explore the wasteland with if the Lone Wanderer is interested in making friends with some of the quirkiest characters the post-apocalyptic United States can offer.
10 Sarah Lyons
A veritable badass, Sarah Lyons is a wasteland warrior who rose through the ranks of the Brotherhood of Steel at a young age and reached the renowned title of sentinel within the organization. Since then, she has formed her own elite squad of Brotherhood warriors known as the Lyons' Pride. The player can meet her during the quest "Following in His Footsteps", which can be picked up at the GNR building plaza.
During this quest, and others involving Lyons, players can team up with her and witness her combat prowess as she decimates incoming enemies with her AER9 laser rifle. Unfortunately, Sarah is only a temporary companion and cannot be convinced to travel with the player.
9 Paladin Hoss
Hoss, a member of the Brotherhood of Steel, is the best of all the temporary companions one could have. The player can find him near Falls Church, where he will be attempting to aid a trapped initiate named Pek. The Lone Wanderer can help him, though it is uncertain why such a well-armed paladin needs assistance.
Hoss wields a Flamer and a missile launcher, allowing him to decimate most enemies with ease. Furthermore, after he successfully rescues his ward, he will hang out with and fight alongside the player whenever they are in the area, though he will not follow them like a permanent companion elsewhere, unfortunately.
8 Butch DeLoria
The Tunnel Snakes have become a legendary meme, and it was Butch DeLoria's dialogue that started it all. This gangster wields a 10mm pistol and a unique melee weapon that he has dubbed "Butch's Toothpick".
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His combat potential may not be as great as many of the other permanent companions, but he can at least follow the player around and act as a meat shield during tougher fights.
7 Clover
Clover is another person enslaved in the horrid location of Paradise Falls. If one has enough Evil Karma and doesn't mind partaking in slavery, they can buy her from the foul Eulogy Jones for 1,000 caps.
She has average combat skills, wielding a sawed-off shotgun and a Chinese officer's sword, but is not as strong as other permanent companions, though she tends to compliment the player quite a lot, which can be great for a morale boost while traveling the arid landscape.
6 Jericho
This scumbag can be found in Megaton being rude to almost everyone he comes across, including the player. He will only follow the Lone Wanderer if they have Evil Karma, and for valid reasons. Jericho was once a raider who has likely murdered countless people before settling down in Megaton.
In addition to his dark past and unpleasant behavior, one can learn that he is also guilty of even more despicable crimes if they read about him on Colin Moriaty's terminal. However, he can be a useable hired gun for some missions due to his proficiency with his Chinese assault rifle and average Small Guns skills.
5 Paladin Cross
All Brotherhood of Steel paladins tend to make great allies when traversing the dangerous Capital Wastelands, and Cross is such an ally. They wield some unique arms, which can be novel to see. She is essentially second in command after Sentinel Lyons, and her power reflects this.
Her unique plasma pistol does more than a generic one, and she even also possesses a super sledge to smash foes in melee range. She can soak up quite a few hits thanks to her armor, which also makes her a great meat shield.
4 Seargent RL-3
Mister Gutsy robots are highly underrated as companions. They can take a beating, deal out great damage, and don't get caught up on terrain thanks to their ability to hover. If one has Neutral Karma, they can purchase "Sarge" from Tinker Joe between the RobCo facility and Tenpenny Tower.
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Capable of unleashing both plasma and fire attacks from their mechanical arms allows them to lend the player great aid in combat. While doing so, Sarge will also on occasion shout motivational phrases to spur the Lone Wanderer onward to battle.
3 Fawkes
Usually, Super-Mutants are hostile and aggressive foes capable of delivering high damage with both melee attacks, small guns, and big guns. However, Fawkes is a mutant even among mutants. For some reason, the experiments that had caused humans to turn into Super-Mutants did not affect his mind as severely as others. He was ostracized and imprisoned by his kin because of this.
The player can discover him within Vault 87, locked in a cell reserved for experiments, from which they can free him. Fawkes, as one would expect, has some of the highest stats in the game for a companion, including the best carrying capacity. He is also a force to be reckoned with, as he wields a devastating Gatling laser for ranged attacks and a mighty sledgehammer for close quarters.
2 Charon
This towering ghoul will loom over the player if they visit the Ninth Circle bar in the Underworld settlement. Intimidating yet quiet, Charon can be acquired as a companion via a couple of different methods, yet will always join the player regardless of their Karma.
In fact, he is the only permanent companion that does this besides Dogmeat. Another thing that makes him unique is his unparalleled skill with explosives. He is the only companion that will tactically throw grenades at enemies who are taking cover behind objects. Ruthless and efficient, Charon is one of the best allies that can be found.
1 Dogmeat
Everyone's favorite wasteland rascal is a staple in all Fallout games, although each title features a different dog that simply happens to go by the same name. Regardless, this jovial pup is pleasant to have around and can be immensely helpful. If the player rescues him from attacking bandits in the scrapyard south of Minefield, he will remain eternally loyal to the player and follow them regardless of Karma or other companions being present.
In combat, his bites exceed his barks, and because he is listed as "essential" in the game's files he cannot be killed. He will also growl to warn the Lone Wanderer of incoming enemies and can fetch loot through locked doors and containers, making him versatile, cute, and frankly overpowered.