Summary

• Fallout 4 presents various factions with unique agendas, making it challenging to choose which to side with in the end.
• The Gunners, Children of Atom, and Raiders are significant groups in the Commonwealth with distinct characteristics and roles.
• ing the Institute, Railroad, Minutemen, or Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout 4 offers different benefits and gameplay experiences.

Throughout Fallout 4 the Sole Survivor will come across plenty of character who each will have their own agenda. While some in the Commonwealth might be out for themselves, there are a lot who belong to the various factions who vie for power. As the main questline progresses, the question of which the Sole Survivor should side with in the end will arise, with each faction having its own pros and cons.

There are plenty of groups that can be met in the Commonwealth, with many having great side quests in Fallout 4, and some of the smaller factions have some great characters. While there are far too many to list, some honorable mentions are the synths of Arcadia, who can be met during the Far Harbor DLC, the incredibly cool Atom Cats, and the recently added Enclave. Most of the major factions can be ed, with the possibility of being a member of multiple groups, but which ones are worth the time?

7 The Gunners - Headquarters At Gunners Plaza

Elite Mercenary Force With Few Scruples

Although the Gunners cannot be ed in Fallout 4, their presence in the Commonwealth is significant enough that they can be considered a major faction. The Gunners are a faction that can be encountered in many places across the Commonwealth, and their behavior will change depending on the individual group or circumstances. Based around a pre-war U.S. military structure, the Gunners are a brutal mercenary organization who will accept any contract with no regard for morals. However, despite their military uniforms, strict hierarchy, and combat training, the Gunners are little more than well-dressed raiders.

While some individual Gunners the Sole Survivor may encounter might be peaceful, the majority of Gunners will attack on sight to defend what they see as their territory. Potential companion MacCready is a former member of the Gunners who, when first met, has been having some issues with his former faction. MacCready is a great source of information about the Gunners, as he is most intimately familiar with how they operate. In Fallout 4, the Gunners are best known for the Quincy Massacre where they attacked and took over a civilian settlement, forcing the survivors to flee with Preston Garvey.

Large groups of Gunners will frequently have at least one robot with them to aid in their attack. Mister Gutsy robots, Assaultrons, and Sentry Bots are common sights at Gunner bases.

6 Church Of The Children Of Atom - Headquarters In The Nucleus

Religious Zealots Who Worship Radiation

The Church of the Children of Atom, or Children of Atom, as they are more commonly known as, are a returning faction in Fallout 4. First encountered in Fallout 3, the Children of Atom are a group of religious fanatics who have come to worship radiation itself. Children of Atom can often be found in areas of high radiation or around items of high radiation, such as barrels of nuclear waste or even atomic weapons. In the Fallout 4 base game, the Children of Atom can be found in the Glowing Sea, an area to the far south of the Commonwealth, worshiping at the impact crater for the nuke destined for Boston.

Other smaller groups can also be found throughout the Commonwealth, such as at Kingport Lighthouse and Jalbert Brothers Disposal. Although the group at the lighthouse will be hostile while the others have been killed by mole rats.

Another group from the Children of Atom can be met on the island during the Far Harbor DLC, and it is possible to the faction during this questline. Making their base in a pre-war submarine, this chapter of the faction is led by High Confessor Tektus, who wants to rid the island of all non-believers. If ed, the Children of Atom can be sided with or helped down a less violent path by the Sole Survivor, and they can share their technology, including gamma guns and unique armor.

5 Raiders - Headquarters At Nuka-World

A Mixture Of Violent Gangs Plaguing The Commonwealth

While there are many smaller raider factions dotted throughout Fallout 4, none can be ed, and they usually act as antagonists during Minutemen's radiant quests. However, during the Nuka-World DLC, the Sole Survivor has the option to become the raider Overboss and take over the pre-war amusement park. The area is ruled over by three raider gangs in a tenuous alliance, and the Sole Survivor has the choice to either find a balance between the three groups, favor two of them and eliminate the other, or betray them all and clear Nuka-World of raiders entirely.

The raiders in Nuka-World are made up of three distinct groups: the Disciples, the Pack, and the Operators. The Disciples are the closest to the regular raiders in the Commonwealth and are driven by extreme violence and sadism. The Pack follows the rule of survival of the fittest and, in many ways, looks to the animal kingdom for inspiration. Of the three raider gangs in Nuka-World, the Operators are the most reasonable, with their priority being profit. After Nuka-World has been conquered, the Sole Survivor can become a full raider boss and take over the Commonwealth.

4 Institute - Headquarters Under CIT Ruins

Group Of Scientists Who Put Research Ahead Of People

Founded by survivors of CIT, this group of scientists has created a vast underground society built around the advancement of science above all else. Most of their more recent work has gone into creating and perfecting synths, artificial lifeforms that perform various tasks for them both in their headquarters and above ground. The Institute views the rest of the world coldly and firmly believes that only with their guidance will humanity survive. Because of this, they have been conducting experiments on the population, primarily by kidnapping people and replacing them with exact synthetic copies.

For the first couple of acts of Fallout 4, the Institute are the main bad guys, seen by many in the Commonwealth as boogeymen to be feared. However, after a certain point in the main quest, the Sole Survivor will find themselves meeting the of the Institute and will be made an offer to them. If sided with, the Institute will destroy the Brotherhood and Railroad, and potentially the Minutemen. ing the Institute grants access to powerful weapons and free healthcare, but otherwise, there is little else to be gained.

ing the Institute is more beneficial when playing in Survivor mode, as it unlocks fast travel to the Institute due to their teleportation.

3 Railroad - Headquarters Under Old North Church

Small Underground Movement Wanting To Free Synths

The Railroad is one of the major factions the Sole Survivor will have to work with to progress the main questline in Fallout 4. The secretive group aims to help free the human-like Gen 3 synths created by the Institute and give them new lives after giving them new faces and memories. The Railroad is founded on the argument that the Gen 3 synths are sentient lifeforms, and under Institute control, they are used as slaves that deserve freedom. ing the Railroad will anger the Institute and Brotherhood, but they have a good relationship with the Minutemen.

While the Railroad is naturally met as part of the main quest, it is up to the Sole Survivor how involved with the faction they become and how much they rise through the ranks. The Railroad also has an option for the Sole Survivor when they need to build the teleporter to get into the Institute, and if sided with, the Railroad will seek to destroy the Institute and the Brotherhood. There are several great armor upgrades if the Railroad is ed, such as ballistic weave, and the faction is perfect for more stealth-focused character builds.

2 Commonwealth Minutemen - Headquarters At The Castle

Aims To Help The Commonwealth But Involves A Lot Of Building

The Minutemen are the first faction many Sole Survivors will meet in Fallout 4 when Preston Garvey asks for help in Concord, the first town often ed through. It is soon revealed that the faction is a shadow of its former self, having collapsed after the Quincy Massacre, leaving Preston the last man standing. Preston will quickly appoint the Sole Survivor as the new faction leader, giving them the rank of General, and asking them to help rebuild the Minutemen. From there, Preston will send the Sole Survivor to aid settlements and clear areas for new settlements to be built.

After three settlements become allied with the Minutemen, a quest will trigger to retake their former headquarters, after which the radiant quests will continue. Although the Minutemen are easily the best option for the people of the Commonwealth, the gameplay limitations of the faction in Fallout 4 keep them from the top spot, however this can be overcome with some useful Fallout 4 mods to enhance the faction. Otherwise, the Minutemen are a nice idea in theory, but in practice, they often annoy players with their never-ending quests to defend settlements.

1 Brotherhood Of Steel - Headquarters At The Prydwen

Returning Fallout Faction With Morally Questionable Motives

The Brotherhood of Steel is perhaps one of the best-known Fallout factions and returns in Fallout 4 with the same chapter seen in Fallout 3. At first, the Brotherhood presence in the Commonwealth is limited, with Paladin Danse's team seemingly being the only living in the area. Upon meeting and helping Danse, the Sole Survivor can the faction and perform various radiant quests for the recon team. It isn't until after "Reunions" has been completed that the Prydwen will arrive with the rest of the Brotherhood.

ing the Brotherhood will grant access to a full suit of T-60 power armor and the rank of Knight after the Prydwen's arrival, Danse as a companion, and Boston Airport as a settlement or base. From there, the Sole Survivor can complete quests that further the Brotherhood's goal to collect technology to keep it out of the hands of those who might misuse it. Whether their agenda is genuine is up for debate. The Brotherhood offers many benefits if ed in of great gear and, in of Fallout 4's world, the most realistic chance of defeating the Institute entirely.