All Companion Quests Guide

Fallout: New Vegas★ 4 · 179 ratings4.9k views485 favorites18 min readby GoldSAWUpdated Dec 22, 2025View on Steam ↗

Introduction

Welcome, Courier.

This guide was created to help you find, recruit, and better understand all the companions in Fallout: New Vegas. Whether you're looking for step-by-step instructions, quest requirements, or just some cool trivia about your favorite allies, this guide has you covered.

If you find this guide helpful, please consider giving it a rating or award so more fellow Wastelanders can benefit from it.

Make some friends out there.

Who's Who

Arcade Israel Gannon is a member of the Followers of the Apocalypse, stationed at the Old Mormon Fort in Freeside.

He can be recruited by achieving high Fame with the Followers, having an Intelligence of 3 or lower, selecting the Confirmed Bachelor perk, or by completing High Times for Julie Farkas.

Faction alignment: Strongly aligned with the Followers of the Apocalypse; opposed to Caesar’s Legion.

Lily Bowen is a gentle yet unstable nightkin and former assassin from the Master’s Army.

She now lives in Jacobstown, caring for the local bighorners. She can be recruited during or after Guess Who I Saw Today.

Faction alignment: Safe for all factions; neutral and unaffiliated.

Craig Boone is a retired NCR First Recon sniper who harbors a deep hatred for Caesar’s Legion.

He resides in Novac, serving as the town’s night watchman atop the Dinky the T-Rex statue. He becomes available after completing One for My Baby and selecting certain dialogue options.

Faction alignment: Formerly with the New California Republic; openly opposed to Caesar’s Legion.

Raul Alfonso Tejada is a cynical ghoul mechanic and ex-gunslinger, discovered imprisoned at Black Mountain by Tabitha and the State of Utobitha.

He can be recruited after completing Crazy, Crazy, Crazy and visiting his shack later.

Faction alignment: Safe for all factions; neutral and unaffiliated.

Rose of Sharon Cassidy (Cass) is a sarcastic, hard-drinking former caravan merchant, and the daughter of John Cassidy from Fallout 2.

Found at the Mojave Outpost, she can be recruited during Heartache by the Number.

Faction alignment: Leans toward the NCR; dislikes Caesar’s Legion and the Crimson Caravan Company.

Veronica Santangelo is a disillusioned Brotherhood of Steel Scribe who operates independently outside the Hidden Valley bunker.

Found at the 188 Trading Post, she can be recruited if the Brotherhood of Steel still exists.

Faction alignment: Aligned with the Brotherhood of Steel; critical of their policies but loyal—dislikes the NCR.

ED-E is a Duraframe eyebot prototype intended for combat and recon. Its damaged shell lies inside the Mojave Express office in Primm.

To repair it, you'll need either 65 Repair (or 35 Repair with 55 Science), or 3 scrap metal, 2 sensor modules, and scrap electronics (obtainable from Lone Wolf Radio).

Faction alignment: Safe for all factions; neutral but holds hidden Enclave data.

Mk. III Cyberhound, LEO Support Model, Serial no. B955883, formally known as Rex, is a 209-year-old aging cyberdog cared for by The King in Freeside.

Due to neural degradation, he requires a brain replacement. Completing G.I. Blues and then Nothin’ But a Hound Dog allows you to recruit him.

Faction alignment: Aligned with The Kings; hostile toward Caesar’s Legion.

Rex

Step

Details

Step 1: Meet Rex

Complete G.I. Blues for The King in Freeside. Ask him about Rex afterward to learn about the dog's condition. He will ask you to consult Julie Farkas.

Step 2: Speak to Julie Farkas

Find Julie at the Old Mormon Fort in Freeside. She recommends speaking to Dr. Henry at Jacobstown about Rex’s brain issues.

Step 3: Get Permission to Take Rex

Return to The King. He allows the Courier to take Rex to Jacobstown, making Rex a permanent companion.

Step 4: Visit Doctor Henry

Travel to Jacobstown and speak with Dr. Henry inside the lodge. He offers to perform a brain transplant using one of three dog brains.

Step 5: Choose a Brain Source

Rey – Buy from Old Lady Gibson (700 caps or 70 Barter).
Violetta – Kill her at the Fiend camp near the Poseidon gas station.
Lupa – Fight her in the Legion arena with only a machete and no armor.

Step 6: Complete the Surgery

Return to Dr. Henry and choose which brain to transplant into Rex.

Rey’s Brain – Faithful Protector (+25 Damage)
Violetta’s Brain – Unshakeable Tracker (+50% Movement Speed)
Lupa’s Brain – Blood of the Legion (+10 DT)

Step 7: Optional - Visit The King

Bring Rex back to The King. He’ll be happy to see Rex healed and confirms you can keep him.

Bonus

If Rex is your companion during You'll Know It When It Happens, he can detect the disguised Legion engineer.

Craig Boone

Step

Objective

Details

Start Boone's Companion Quest

Travel to Novac and speak with Manny Vargas during They Went That-a-Way. Meet Craig Boone during his night shift (10 PM to 9 AM) in the Dino Bite gift shop sniper's nest. Accept One for My Baby.

Investigate Carla's Kidnapping

Ask Novac residents about Carla Boone. Get a lead from No-Bark Noonan about Dino Dee-lite Motel. Enter the lobby and find the Easy-locked safe (or pickpocket Jeannie May Crawford for the key). Inside is a Bill of Sale implicating her.

Confront the Culprit

Lure Jeannie May in front of the dinosaur during Boone's shift. Equip Boone's beret to signal the target. If done correctly, Boone snipes her. Return to Boone with the evidence (or pass a 55 Speech check). He thanks you and becomes a companion.

Trigger Boone's Personal Quest

Complete at least 5 history triggers with Boone as your companion. Triggers include:
- Kill Vulpes Inculta
- Kill Silus at Camp McCarran
- Kill Caesar
- Rescue/kill hostages at Nelson
- Eradicate Legion at Cottonwood Cove (during Eye for an Eye)
- Complete Booted or Back in Your Own Backyard
- Kill the Legion spy in I Put a Spell on You
Once 5 points are accumulated and Boone opens up, unlock dialogue about Bitter Springs.

Begin I Forgot to Remember to Forget

After the final history point, Boone asks to go to Bitter Springs. Agree to travel with him to trigger the quest. At Bitter Springs:
- Go to Coyote Tail Ridge
- Stay overnight
- Repel three waves of Legion raiders
- Choose dialogue that shapes Boone's outlook
Rewards include NCR fame and upgraded armor.

Endings and Equipment

Final dialogue determines armor:
- "Try to make things better." = 1st Recon Survival Armor
- "This is war, people die." = 1st Recon Assault Armor
Note: Fame changes based on faction armor worn when quest completes.

Craig Boone's companion quest, I Forgot to Remember to Forget, is the final stage of his character arc in Fallout: New Vegas. Once you complete that quest, Boone's personal story and moral dilemma about Bitter Springs and his past with the NCR and Legion is resolved.

What happens after completing the quest:
Boone will receive a permanent armor upgrade depending on your final dialogue choice:

1st Recon Survival Armor – if you guide him toward healing and redemption.
1st Recon Assault Armor – if you encourage a hardened, war-driven outlook.

Boone's ending slide in the game is also determined based on your choices during this quest and your overall ending alignment (e.g., NCR, Legion, House, Independent).

There are no further quests or development triggers for Boone after this point—his arc is considered complete.

Raul Tejada

Step

Details

Step 1: Rescue Raul from Black Mountain

Climb Black Mountain and complete the quest Crazy, Crazy, Crazy. You can reach the summit and either kill Tabitha, trick her, or repair Rhonda to end the threat. Raul is imprisoned in the broadcast building. Free him to unlock him as a companion.

Step 2: Recruit Raul as Companion

After freeing Raul and completing the Black Mountain quest, ask him to join you. He will accompany the Courier and provide the Regular Maintenance perk (50% slower equipment degradation).

Step 3: Start "Old School Ghoul"

Begin Raul's unmarked companion quest by exhausting his dialogue about aging and usefulness. He will suggest visiting old veterans to help him reflect on his purpose.

Step 4: Visit Loyal at Nellis Air Force Base

Complete or progress Volare! to access Nellis. Find Loyal (hangar, mess hall, or his house). Let Raul observe and comment after the conversation.

Step 5: Visit Corporal Sterling

Find Sterling at Camp McCarran (or Camp Forlorn Hope if you've completed Three-Card Bounty). Talk to him and wait for Raul’s post-dialogue reflection.

Step 6: Visit Ranger Andy in Novac

Speak with Andy in his bungalow near Dinky the T-Rex. Key topics: what he does and what happened to his leg. Exit the house and wait for Raul to talk.

Step 7: Make Raul’s Final Decision

After all three interactions, Raul reflects on his life. Influence his decision:

Old Vaquero: Convince Raul to embrace his gunslinging past (or pass Speech 66). He gains 33% faster rate of fire with revolvers and lever-action rifles.
Full Maintenance: Convince Raul to stay a mechanic. He keeps his overalls and upgrades Regular Maintenance to Full Maintenance, reducing equipment degradation by 75%.

Ending Impact

Your choice influences Raul's fate in the end slides of Fallout: New Vegas.

If he picks Old Vaquero, he continues traveling and protecting Mojave settlers.
If he picks Full Maintenance, he sets up a workshop and repairs gear to help those in need.

Rose of Sharon Cassidy

Step

Details

Step 1: Recruit Cass

Find Cass at the Mojave Outpost sitting at the bar in the barracks.
To recruit her, complete You Can Depend on Me by persuading her to sell Cassidy Caravans:

50 Speech – Convince her to leave the outpost
50 Barter – Pay 750 caps
75 Barter – Whiskey challenge (needs 12 whiskey & 6+ Endurance)
75 Speech – Guilt her over pride and caravan loss

Cass becomes a companion once the deal is made.

Step 2: Avoid Killing Cass

If working with the Van Graffs (Birds of a Feather), Jean-Baptiste Cutting will offer caps to lure Cass to her death.

Bringing Cass to Silver Rush will trigger her execution.
Letting her live disables this option permanently.

Note: Completing Heartache by the Number first makes the Van Graffs hostile.

Step 3: Begin Heartache by the Number

After recruiting Cass, she will request to investigate her destroyed caravan.
Visit these caravan wrecks with her:

Cassidy Caravans – west of Grub n' Gulp
Griffin Wares – southwest of Horowitz Farmstead
Durable Dunn – east of the Gun Runners

The evidence at each site reveals a conspiracy between Crimson Caravan and the Van Graffs.

Step 4: Choose Vengeance or Justice

Cass will propose revenge. You can:

Help her kill Gloria Van Graff & Alice McLafferty (Hand of Vengeance perk)
Convince her to gather legal evidence and turn it into the NCR (Calm Heart perk)

Both options complete the quest and reward XP.

Step 5a: Vengeance Path

Kill Alice McLafferty at Crimson Caravan
Kill Gloria Van Graff at Silver Rush
Cass gains Hand of Vengeance: +15% damage with Guns weapons

Step 5b: Justice Path

Steal or hack safes from both locations to find letters/contracts
Deliver them to Ranger Jackson at Mojave Outpost
Cass gains Calm Heart: +50 Max HP

Note: Requires non-Evil Karma to complete this path.

Rewards

500 XP
Cass becomes a permanent companion
Either Hand of Vengeance or Calm Heart based on choice
Cass’ moonshine recipe

Reward / Bonus

How to Unlock

Effect

Calm Heart (Perk)

Complete Heartache by the Number peacefully by turning in evidence to Ranger Jackson

+50 HP to Cass. Emphasizes survivability and lawful justice

Hand of Vengeance (Perk)

Help Cass kill Alice McLafferty and Gloria Van Graff directly

+15% damage with Guns-based weapons. Focused on revenge and combat power

Cass’ Moonshine Recipe

Recruit Cass as a companion

Allows crafting a unique moonshine at campfires. Temporarily boosts Strength and Charisma

Cass Crafting Moonshine

Have Cass as an active companion and carry ingredients

Cass can make moonshine for you without a campfire or hot plate

Drinking Contest Dialogue

Pass a 75 Barter check and bring 12 bottles of whiskey

Unique dialogue based on Endurance stat (esp. 8–10), unlocks alternate Barter check success

Companion Dialogue & Commentary

Bring Cass to major game locations and events

Cass comments on quests, places, and Courier choices (limited to 1 every 24 in-game hours after patch 1.4.0.525)

No Alternate Outfits

—

Cass does not receive any armor or clothing changes during her questline

Arcade Gannon

Step

Details

Step 1: Recruit Arcade Gannon

Find Arcade at the Old Mormon Fort in Freeside. You can recruit him through:

75 Speech check
Confirmed Bachelor perk
Liked reputation with the Followers
Complete High Times or Short-Term Treatment
INT 3 or lower (he joins out of pity)

Note: He won’t join if you have a positive Legion rep unless wearing NCR disguise.

Step 2: Gain His Trust

Keep Arcade as an active companion and:

Progress the main story far enough (e.g. Boulder City or faction HQ)
Trigger at least 5 unique conversations or reactions

This will eventually unlock his personal quest: For Auld Lang Syne.

Step 3: Trigger Trust Dialogue (Need 5 Minimum)

Knowledge / Technology Triggers:

Visit HELIOS One (That Lucky Old Sun) – choose non-violent ending
Visit REPCONN HQ
Visit Brotherhood of Steel bunker

Medicine / Followers Triggers:

Complete or visit The White Wash in Freeside
Speak to Dr. Hildern at Camp McCarran
Visit Jacobstown

Enclave / Historical Figures:

Talk to Cannibal Johnson
Talk to Orion Moreno
Talk to Daisy Whitman
Talk to Judah Kreger

Note: These four must be spoken to after Arcade opens up about his past.

Step 4: Accept the Quest

After enough trust, Arcade will ask you to help him rally the Enclave Remnants for the upcoming battle at Hoover Dam. Accept to begin For Auld Lang Syne.

Step 5: Complete For Auld Lang Syne

Track down the 5 Enclave Remnants:

Cannibal Johnson – west of Jacobstown
Daisy Whitman – Novac
Judah Kreger – Old Mormon Fort
Orion Moreno – Sharecropper Farms
Doctor Henry – Jacobstown

Meet at Remnants Bunker and decide if they fight for the NCR or go Independent.

Arcade joins them in battle (gets Enclave armor)
Or stays behind as a doctor if persuaded

Rewards

Remnants Power Armor or Remnants Tesla Armor
Arcade gets upgraded Enclave armor

Veronica Santangelo

Step

Details

Step 1: Recruit Veronica Santangelo

Find Veronica at the 188 Trading Post. She'll ask about your thoughts on the Brotherhood of Steel. If you're respectful, she'll ask to join you as a companion.

Note: If the Brotherhood bunker is destroyed before speaking to her, she will attack on sight.

Step 2: Trigger 3 Brotherhood Commentary Events

Travel with Veronica and visit locations that trigger her philosophical thoughts about the Brotherhood's direction. Triggers include:

Camp McCarran (entrance and Hildern's speech)
Vault 3
REPCONN test site
Old Mormon Fort
Casa Madrid Apartments (Tom Anderson)
Nelson or Cottonwood Cove
Nellis Boomer Museum
Silver Rush (Gloria Van Graff's greetings)

Step 3: Return to Hidden Valley

Veronica will ask you to accompany her to the Brotherhood bunker to speak with the Elder. He dismisses her concerns. Veronica suggests gathering technology to prove the need for change.

Step 4: Choose a Tech Solution

Choose one of the following:

Pulse Gun – Vault 34 (Very Hard lock or key from Nellis)
Vault 22 Data – Complete There Stands the Grass without deleting the research
Euclid’s C-Finder – From Max in Freeside (requires ARCHIMEDES II power-up)

Bring it back to the Elder.

Step 5: Veronica’s Decision

After the Elder rejects her findings, Veronica asks if she should leave or stay. You can:

Tell her to leave (she’ll try joining the Followers)
Tell her to stay (she tries changing things from within)
Let her choose (default: she stays)

Step 6A: Veronica Leaves the Brotherhood

Visit the Followers’ outpost. Return in 24 hours to find it destroyed by rogue paladins.

Kill them (no Brotherhood infamy)
Veronica gains Causeless Rebel perk: +30% attack speed with Melee and Unarmed

Step 6B: Veronica Stays with the Brotherhood

Exit the bunker. Paladins threaten Veronica. Resolve it by:

Passing 95 Speech
Using Terrifying Presence
Letting them attack first, then kill them

Do NOT initiate violence or the quest fails.

Veronica gains Bonds of Steel perk: +4 DT

Optional: You Make Me Feel Like a Woman

Give Veronica White Glove Society Attire or Formal Wear via her inventory.

She teaches you Scribe Counter, a special unarmed technique
You can remove the outfit after

Other Notes

Equipping NCR armor around her may trigger warnings
Offering her to Mortimer in Beyond the Beef leads to her death
She grants easier Hidden Valley access early-game

Rewards

Bonds of Steel: +4 DT (if she stays)
Causeless Rebel: +30% Melee/Unarmed speed (if she leaves)
Scribe Counter technique (from dress event)
1,000 XP for completing I Could Make You Care

ED-E

Step

Details

Step 1: Find and Repair ED-E

Go to the Nash residence in Primm and examine the broken eyebot on the counter. Repair it by either:

65 Repair skill
55 Science + 35 Repair
2 scrap electronics, 3 scrap metal, 2 sensor modules

ED-E becomes a companion.

Step 2: Trigger Audio Log 1

Bring ED-E near someone who references the Enclave or advanced tech, such as:

Old Lady Gibson
Doctor Henry (Jacobstown)
Ignacio Rivas (HELIOS One)
Thomas Hildern (OSI)
Brotherhood of Steel members
Michael Angelo (Strip)

ED-E will play its first log from Whitley.

Step 3: Trigger Audio Log 2

Wait 5 in-game days, then visit another character from the above list. ED-E will play its second log from Navarro scientists.

Step 4: Receive Upgrade Requests

After 2 more in-game days, ED-E receives radio messages:

Brotherhood (Lorenzo) – meet at Hidden Valley or REPCONN HQ
Followers (April Martimer) – meet at Old Mormon Fort

Choose one faction to upgrade ED-E.

Step 5: Upgrade with the Brotherhood

Give ED-E to Lorenzo at Hidden Valley. ED-E will:

Be gone for 3-4 in-game days
Return to Primm with upgraded armor (DT +12)
Appearance: polished metallic shell

Step 5 (Alternate): Upgrade with the Followers

Give ED-E to April Martimer at Old Mormon Fort. ED-E will:

Be gone for 3-4 in-game days
Return to Primm with a powerful new laser blaster
Appearance: same chassis, cleared stickers

Step 6: Re-Recruit ED-E

After the upgrade, return to the Nash residence in Primm to recruit ED-E again and complete the quest.

Upgrade Differences

Brotherhood Upgrade: +12 DT, heavily armored
Followers Upgrade: +5 Damage, faster rate of fire, improved criticals

Neither upgrade affects faction reputation. Choose based on playstyle preference.

Lily Bowen

Step

Objective

Details

Travel to Jacobstown

Located in the northwest Mojave. Speak to Marcus at the gate, then Doctor Henry inside the lodge.

Start "Guess Who I Saw Today"

Talk to Doctor Henry about nightkin schizophrenia and Stealth Boy research to begin the quest.

Recruit Lily Bowen

Available outside the lodge after starting the quest. Bring her as a companion for Charleston Cave.

Investigate Charleston Cave

Northwest of Jacobstown. Retrieve evidence of night stalkers’ stealth mutation and the chewed Stealth Boy.

Return to Doctor Henry

Give him the evidence. He chooses to continue tests with the Mark II prototype on Lily.

Start the Experiment

Speak with Lily to confirm. She participates in the test inside the lab.

Handle Keene’s Confrontation

Choose how to deal with Keene:
- Pass 80 Speech: Convince him to stay
- Agree: Give specs, he leaves
- Refuse: Fight breaks out

Make a Final Decision

Talk to Doctor Henry:
- Continue testing
- Pass 90 Science: Safer method
- Cancel testing

Trigger Lily’s Personal Dialogue

As companion, trigger these:
- Ask about "Leo"
- Witness a psychotic break
- See her take her medicine

Trigger Lily’s Holotape

Wait or sleep after midnight. Lily plays the recording of her grandchildren.

Choose Lily’s Dosage

- Full: No psychosis, Melee 60
- Half: Psychosis at 25%, controllable
- None: Psychosis at 50%, Melee 100
Affects Lily's personal ending.

Lily's Ending Slides

Full Dosage: Lily’s psychotic episodes stop, but her memories of her grandchildren fade. She lives peacefully in Jacobstown, no longer hearing Leo’s voice.
Half Dosage: Lily continues to wander with the Courier, hearing Leo occasionally but maintaining memories of her past.
No Medicine: Lily gives up the medication completely. Her psychosis worsens, but she remembers everything. She is feared but respected by others in the Wasteland.

Conclusion

Thanks for traveling with me, Courier.

This guide was created with the hope of helping fellow Couriers (myself included) check off every last companion across the Mojave. If it helped you make some new friends, brought your old allies back into the spotlight, or simply kept you company on your journey, please consider giving it a thumbs up or an award—it really helps this guide reach more Wastelanders like you.

Looking to complete every quest in the Mojave with your new crew? Check out my full quest guide here: ★ Complete Mojave Quest Guide ★
or if you want to venture into the Capital Wasteland here's my Fallout 3 quest guide:
★ Complete Fallout 3 Quest Guide ★

See you on the Strip, Courier.