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Can You Let Danse Live in Fallout 4? A Definitive Guide

Yes, absolutely, you can let Paladin Danse live in Fallout 4. However, the path to saving him is fraught with tough choices and potential consequences for your relationships with the various factions in the Commonwealth. This article will delve into the specifics of sparing Danse, the repercussions of your choices, and frequently asked questions to help you navigate this complex situation. Understanding the nuances of this questline will allow you to make informed decisions that align with your desired playthrough.

Navigating Blind Betrayal: The Crossroads for Danse’s Fate

The quest “Blind Betrayal” is the pivotal point in determining Danse’s fate. This quest, initiated as part of the Brotherhood of Steel questline, tasks you with executing Danse after his synth status is revealed. This revelation throws the Brotherhood, particularly Elder Maxson, into a state of outrage. Your decision here directly impacts your relationship with the Brotherhood and Danse himself.

The Options: Kill, Refuse, or Convince

You have several choices when confronted with Danse in ArcJet Systems:

Kill Danse: This immediately satisfies the Brotherhood’s demands. You’ll be promoted within the ranks and inherit Danse’s quarters and belongings, including his power armor. This path solidifies your allegiance with the Brotherhood but ends Danse’s story.
Allow Danse to Kill Himself: If you leave ArcJet Systems after speaking with Danse, he will take his own life. This achieves the same outcome as killing him yourself, earning you the Brotherhood’s favor but sacrificing Danse.
Refuse to Kill Danse: This is the key to saving Danse. When you refuse to execute him, Elder Maxson arrives, expressing his disappointment and questioning your loyalty. This triggers a crucial dialogue sequence.

The Art of Persuasion: Convincing Maxson

After refusing to kill Danse, you have an opportunity to convince Elder Maxson to spare him. This requires a high Charisma skill and successful speech checks. You need to argue that Danse’s loyalty and service to the Brotherhood outweigh his synth status.

Successful Speech Checks: If you successfully navigate the speech checks, Maxson will reluctantly agree to let Danse live but will banish him from the Brotherhood. This allows Danse to survive, but he will become permanently exiled.
Failed Speech Checks: If you fail the speech checks, Maxson will insist on Danse’s execution. You can either comply (leading to Danse’s death) or attack Maxson and the Brotherhood, making them permanently hostile.

Life After Blind Betrayal: Keeping Danse Alive and Well

If you manage to convince Maxson to spare Danse, or if you choose to become enemies of the Brotherhood, Danse will need a new place to call home.

Finding Danse

After Blind Betrayal, Danse will typically return to the location where you left him, often in his power armor. If you sent him to a settlement, he’ll be there. If you dismissed him near ArcJet Systems, he’ll likely be nearby.

Settlements and Companionship

Danse can still be a companion after Blind Betrayal, provided you haven’t become permanently hostile with him. You can continue to travel with him, complete quests, and even pursue a romantic relationship if you haven’t already. However, be mindful of the following:

Brotherhood Hostility: Traveling with Danse in areas patrolled by the Brotherhood will trigger hostility. It’s best to avoid Brotherhood locations or settlements allied with them.
Isolation: Danse will likely express sadness and regret over his exile from the Brotherhood. Providing him with a supportive environment in a safe settlement can help.

Faction Considerations: Aligning with the Right Side

Your choice regarding Danse significantly impacts your standing with the Brotherhood. Sparing him can lead to animosity, while killing him solidifies your allegiance. Consider your desired ending for the game:

Brotherhood Ending: To achieve the Brotherhood ending, you must prioritize their goals, which often means sacrificing Danse. However, if you become enemies of the Brotherhood after completing Blind Betrayal, Danse remains alive and available.
Minutemen or Railroad Ending: These factions are less concerned with Danse’s synth status. Sparing Danse and siding with the Minutemen or Railroad allows you to maintain a positive relationship with him while working towards a different ending.
Institute Ending: Siding with the Institute necessitates the destruction of the Brotherhood, making Danse hostile toward you.

Maximizing Your Affinity: Getting the Danse Perk

Before undertaking Blind Betrayal, it’s highly recommended to maximize your affinity with Danse. This unlocks his companion perk, “Know Your Enemy,” which grants you a 20% damage bonus against synths, ghouls, and super mutants. This perk remains even if Danse becomes unavailable as a companion or even if you kill him after obtaining the perk.

Actions That Increase Affinity

Completing Quests Together: Bringing Danse along on quests, especially those involving fighting enemies he despises (like synths), increases his affinity.
Acts of Kindness: Helping settlers and defending settlements will impress Danse.
Using Power Armor: Danse appreciates seeing you use power armor.

Actions That Decrease Affinity

Stealing: Danse disapproves of stealing.
Killing Non-Hostile NPCs: Attacking innocent people will anger Danse.
Joining the Institute Early: Aligning with the Institute before completing his personal quest can negatively impact your relationship.

The Final Choice: Is It Worth It?

Ultimately, the decision to let Danse live depends on your personal preferences and desired gameplay experience. Sparing him adds depth to the story, offering a poignant narrative about loyalty, identity, and the complexities of morality. However, it can also complicate your relationship with the Brotherhood and limit your faction choices.

Consider the following before making your decision:

Your Roleplaying Goals: Do you want to play a character who values compassion and loyalty, even in the face of adversity?
Your Desired Ending: Which faction ending aligns with your vision for the Commonwealth?
The Gameplay Consequences: Are you willing to face the repercussions of defying the Brotherhood?

By carefully weighing these factors, you can make an informed decision about Danse’s fate, crafting a unique and memorable experience in Fallout 4.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Danse

1. Is Paladin Danse actually a synth?

Yes, Paladin Danse is revealed to be a synth during the “Blind Betrayal” quest. He is unaware of this fact until the Brotherhood uncovers his true identity.

2. Will Danse turn hostile after Blind Betrayal?

Danse will only turn hostile if you become an enemy of the Brotherhood of Steel before Blind Betrayal. If you become an enemy after completing the quest, he will not turn hostile, but he will no longer be a companion.

3. Can you get Danse back after Blind Betrayal?

Yes, if you convince Maxson to spare him, you can find Danse at the location where you dismissed him. He will be in his power armor and ready to rejoin you as a companion.

4. How do you romance Danse after Blind Betrayal?

Once you’ve completed “Blind Betrayal” and Danse lives, he will unlock romance dialogue options after traveling with you for a while. Be mindful of your actions towards the Brotherhood, as they can affect his availability.

5. Can you convince Maxson to spare Danse?

Yes, you can convince Elder Maxson to spare Danse, but it requires successful speech checks and a high Charisma stat. You must argue that Danse’s loyalty and service outweigh his synth status.

6. What happens if you refuse to kill Danse?

If you refuse to kill Danse, Elder Maxson will arrive and question your loyalty. You’ll then have the option to convince Maxson to spare Danse through speech checks, attack Maxson (making the Brotherhood hostile), or comply with the order and kill Danse.

7. What happens if you take Danse to the Railroad?

Taking Danse to the Railroad after Blind Betrayal won’t have a negative effect. The Railroad may not necessarily endorse Danse, but they will not turn hostile or act against him. They could help him escape the Commonwealth if the situation ever arises, but there is no specific quest that deals with taking Danse to them for protection. However, completing Railroad quests that make the Brotherhood permanently hostile before Blind Betrayal will make Danse hate you.

8. Can you side with the Institute and keep Danse?

If you side with the Institute, Danse will eventually become an enemy as you are forced to wipe out the Brotherhood of Steel. There is no way to keep him friendly while siding with the Institute.

9. What is the best ending in Fallout 4 for keeping Danse alive?

The Minutemen ending is generally considered the best for keeping Danse alive and not making any faction permanently hostile towards you. You can also achieve a similar result with the Railroad ending, but this involves making the Brotherhood hostile.

10. What if I kill Maxson?

If you kill Maxson, the Brotherhood will become permanently hostile towards you. You can then keep Danse alive without worrying about your Brotherhood rank, but you will have to contend with Brotherhood patrols.

11. Can you become Sentinel without killing Danse?

Yes, you can become a Sentinel and still spare Danse. This involves completing Blind Betrayal, convincing Maxson to spare Danse, and then continuing with the Brotherhood questline while keeping your distance from Danse.

12. Is Elder Maxson evil?

Whether Elder Maxson is “evil” is a matter of perspective. He’s a complex character driven by his belief in the Brotherhood’s mission to protect humanity from dangerous technology. His actions can be seen as ruthless but necessary in his eyes. Depending on the choices you make and the faction you side with, Maxson can become the main antagonist in your Fallout 4 playthrough.

13. What is the Elder Maxson weapon?

Elder Maxson carries a unique Gatling laser called “Final Judgment.” It’s an incredibly powerful weapon with a rapid fire rate and high damage output.

14. What are some actions that Danse approves and disapproves of?

Danse Approves: Helping settlers, using power armor, fighting synths and ghouls, being generous.
Danse Disapproves: Stealing, killing innocent people, being selfish, siding with the Institute early.

15. Where can I learn more about game-based learning?

To explore the intersection of games and education, consider visiting the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society offers valuable insights and resources for understanding how games can be used as powerful tools for learning and engagement.

Can I let Danse live?