Maxing Out Strong’s Affinity in Fallout 4: A Comprehensive Guide

The best way to maximize affinity with Strong in Fallout 4 is to consistently engage in behaviors he approves of: generosity, helping others (especially non-hostile humans), and showing aggression against enemies. Specifically, he loves it when you give items to beggars, free slaves (if encountered), and demonstrate hatred towards enemies such as Super Mutants, Raiders, and Ghouls. Conversely, actions like picking locks, using Power Armor excessively, and siding with factions he dislikes (like the Brotherhood of Steel) will quickly lower his affinity. The key is understanding his primal values and reflecting them in your actions throughout the Commonwealth.

Understanding Strong’s Primal Perspective

Strong is a Super Mutant with a very particular worldview. He’s not interested in intricate moral philosophies or sophisticated societal structures. Instead, he operates on a basic principle: strength and loyalty matter above all else. He’s constantly searching for the “milk of human kindness” to understand why humans aren’t stronger, often misinterpreting kind acts as signs of weakness. This understanding forms the foundation for how you should interact with the world to gain his approval.

Actions That Will Increase Strong’s Affinity

To win Strong over, focus on the following types of actions:

• Acts of Generosity: Giving items to beggars in Diamond City or other settlements will please him. He sees this as a display of strength and resources.
• Helping Others: Completing quests that involve aiding settlers or rescuing individuals from danger will earn you positive affinity points. He respects those who protect the weak.
• Aggression Against Enemies: He loves it when you engage in combat with enemies, especially Super Mutants (his former brethren), Raiders, and Feral Ghouls. The more aggressive and decisive you are, the better. Using melee weapons during these encounters seems to grant a slightly higher affinity boost.
• Cannibalism (Sometimes): While morally questionable, eating corpses occasionally pleases Strong. However, overdoing it can have the opposite effect, especially if you’ve already built a strong relationship.
• Dismissing Dogmeat: Strong admires Dogmeat to a point, however, keeping him around doesn’t grant approval. He seems to dislike it, and telling Dogmeat to go to one of the settlements increases affinity.

Actions That Will Decrease Strong’s Affinity

Just as important as knowing what to do is knowing what not to do:

• Picking Locks: Strong disapproves of picking locks, as he views it as a sign of weakness and sneakiness, rather than direct confrontation.
• Using Power Armor Excessively: While he appreciates strength, Strong sees excessive reliance on Power Armor as a crutch. Use it sparingly when he’s around.
• Joining the Brotherhood of Steel: He vehemently dislikes the Brotherhood of Steel, as they represent a structured, technologically advanced society that goes against his primal instincts. Even associating with them can lower his affinity.
• Acts of “Weakness”: Any action he perceives as cowardly or overly cautious will likely trigger a negative reaction. This includes things like fleeing from combat or surrendering to enemies.
• Peaceful Solutions: While sometimes unavoidable, constantly choosing peaceful or diplomatic solutions to conflicts will often displease him.

Optimizing Your Approach

Here’s a step-by-step guide to efficiently maxing out Strong’s affinity:

1. Recruit Strong Early: Find him locked in a cell at Trinity Tower. Rescuing him starts your journey on the right foot.
2. Travel with Him: Keep Strong as your active companion as much as possible. This ensures he witnesses your actions and his affinity is constantly being updated.
3. Focus on Radiant Quests: Accept radiant quests that involve clearing out enemy locations, particularly those infested with Super Mutants, Raiders, or Ghouls.
4. Be Aggressive in Combat: Engage enemies directly, using melee weapons whenever feasible. Let Strong see you as a powerful and relentless warrior.
5. Strategic Acts of Kindness: Regularly visit Diamond City and give caps to beggars. This simple act provides a consistent boost.
6. Avoid Locking Things: Don’t pick any locks while Strong is with you.
7. Minimize Power Armor Usage: Leave your Power Armor in storage unless absolutely necessary.
8. Progress Through the Story (Carefully): Be mindful of your faction choices. Siding with the Brotherhood of Steel is almost guaranteed to tank your relationship with Strong.
9. Take Advantage of “Idolized” Conversations: Once you reach maximum affinity, you’ll unlock a special conversation with Strong. Complete this to receive his companion perk, “Berserk,” which grants +20% melee weapon damage when below 25% health.

Understanding Affinity Checks

Fallout 4 uses a hidden system of affinity checks. Every time you perform an action, there’s a chance that Strong will react, either positively or negatively. The frequency of these checks and the magnitude of the affinity change depends on several factors, including your current affinity level and the severity of the action. Minor actions, like giving a single cap to a beggar, might trigger a small positive response. Major actions, like joining the Brotherhood of Steel, will result in a significant negative reaction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Strong’s Affinity

Q1: What is Strong’s companion perk, and how do I get it?

Strong’s companion perk is called “Berserk”. It grants you a permanent +20% melee weapon damage bonus when your health is below 25%. You unlock it by reaching maximum affinity with Strong and completing his final dialogue.

Q2: How do I know what Strong likes or dislikes?

Pay attention to his dialogue cues. When you do something he approves of, he’ll often say something like, “Good! Crush them!” or “That is good kindness!”. Disapproval is usually marked by comments like “What a silly waste!” or “You are weak.”

Q3: Can I max affinity with Strong and still side with the Brotherhood of Steel?

It is extremely difficult to max out Strong’s affinity while siding with the Brotherhood of Steel. His hatred for the Brotherhood is deeply ingrained, and their actions often contradict his values. You would need to heavily optimize your positive actions and minimize exposure to the Brotherhood.

Q4: Does Strong like me using chems?

Generally, Strong dislikes most chem use. He views it as a crutch and a sign of weakness. However, he may not react negatively to all chems all the time. It’s best to avoid using them around him.

Q5: Can I repair affinity loss with Strong?

Yes, affinity loss can be repaired. By consistently performing actions he approves of, you can gradually increase his affinity back to where it was. However, significant negative actions may take a considerable amount of effort to recover from.

Q6: Does Strong approve of stealing?

Strong generally disapproves of stealing, especially from innocent individuals or settlements. He prefers direct and forceful acquisition of resources rather than sneaky tactics.

Q7: Does Strong like it when I build settlements?

Strong is generally indifferent to settlement building. He doesn’t actively approve or disapprove of it, as it doesn’t align with his primal focus on combat and survival.

Q8: Does Strong like me giving stimpaks to downed settlers?

Yes, Strong approves of you helping settlers in need, especially by giving them stimpaks when they are injured. This is seen as an act of strength and protection.

Q9: What are some easy ways to quickly gain affinity with Strong?

Consistently clearing out enemy locations (especially those with Super Mutants or Ghouls), giving items to beggars, and helping settlers in distress are the easiest and most reliable ways to quickly gain affinity.

Q10: How can I see Strong’s current affinity level?

Unfortunately, Fallout 4 doesn’t provide a direct numerical display of companion affinity. However, you can gauge his affinity by paying attention to his dialogue and body language. The closer you are to maximum affinity, the more positive and supportive he will be. Console commands can also be used to check numerical values, but this is not available on all platforms.

Q11: Is there a “reset” for companion affinity?

No, there is no official way to reset a companion’s affinity in Fallout 4. Once affinity has been gained or lost, it’s permanent for that playthrough unless you reload an earlier save.

Q12: Does Strong’s affinity affect his combat effectiveness?

No, Strong’s combat effectiveness is not directly affected by his affinity level. However, reaching maximum affinity unlocks his companion perk, which can significantly enhance your own combat abilities, indirectly improving Strong’s overall usefulness.

Q13: Can I romance Strong?

No, Strong is not a romanceable companion in Fallout 4. He has a purely platonic relationship with the Sole Survivor.

Q14: Does Strong dislike the Institute?

While Strong’s primary dislikes are the Brotherhood of Steel and excessive reliance on technology, he generally views the Institute with suspicion. Their secretive nature and advanced technology clash with his primal worldview.

Q15: What happens if Strong’s affinity gets too low?

If Strong’s affinity drops too low, he will eventually leave your party. He may also become hostile towards you, especially if you consistently engage in actions he strongly disapproves of. It’s crucial to maintain a positive relationship to keep him as a loyal companion.