There are eight different permanent companions in Fallout: New Vegas for players to choose from. However, each of them has unique skills and combat abilities that are exclusive to them. Each follower also has their own backstory, and most of them have a quest that The Courier can complete.
There are many different types of builds that players can create in Fallout: New Vegas, and each of them will have The Courier leveling up specific stats and using a different type of weapon. Certain followers should be used depending on the type of combat build The Courier is using, so that they can get the most out of their Fallout: New Vegas playthrough.
Melee Build - Lily Bowen
Lily Bowen was a sweet old woman that was turned into a super mutant and who eventually found her way to Jacobstown. Although Lily might have a powerful appearance, she is a caring woman at heart that simply wants to protect those close to her.
Lily uses melee weapons as her primary weapon type, which makes sense, considering that she is a super mutant and has a high strength stat. To obtain Lily as a companion, the quest "Guess Who I Saw Today" must be completed after traveling to Jacobstown.
Unarmed Build - Veronica Santangelo
The personalities of the companions in Fallout: New Vegas are all quite interesting, but one of the most interesting in the game is Veronica. Veronica is a Brotherhood of Steel agent that can become a follower fairly early on in the game.
Veronica is skilled in using her fists to fight, which is why she makes the perfect traveling companion for an unarmed build that relies either on fighting with fists or with other unarmed weapons. This impressive follower also happens to have a higher than average strength stat, which is beneficial for unarmed attacks. Veronica is located at the 188 Trading Post on the path to New Vegas.
Pistol Build - Raul Tejada
Raul is a ghoul character that is found while raiding Black Mountain in Fallout: New Vegas. Following becoming a ghoul, Raul traveled from Mexico to the Mojave Wasteland and became one of the strongest gunslingers in the entire area.
What makes Raul most perfect for a pistol build is his unique combat experience with revolvers. Raul is described in Fallout: New Vegas as a gunslinger and his choice of weapon is a .44 Magnum Revolver. This weapon deals a lot of damage when he wields it.
Energy Weapons Build - ED-E
ED-E is arguably the best companion for an energy weapons build because it fits the role better than any other companion. ED-E isn't a living creature or human, unlike the majority of followers in Fallout: New Vegas. Instead, ED-E is an eyebot that is able to produce lasers and float alongside The Courier during their adventures around the Mojave Wasteland.
ED-E mainly uses laser attacks when attacking enemies, which pairs it up nicely with energy weapons. ED-E can be found early in the game on a table inside one of the houses in Primm. However, repairing this robot will require a repair stat of 65, a science stat of 55 with a repair stat of 35, or three pieces of scrap metal.
Ballistic Guns Build - Cassidy
Cassidy is one of the best companions in Fallout: New Vegas and it's no surprise that so many wastelanders would love to have her fighting by their side. Cassidy is skilled with the use of ballistic weapons. Specifically, she uses rifles, however, she would also be the best companion for a shotgun build. Another skill that Cassidy has acquired throughout her life is stealth, which makes her fit right in with a build that requires sneaking around enemies.
Cassidy has a high perception stat, which makes her aim quite impressive while using ballistic guns like rifles. To recruit Cassidy as a companion, The Courier must travel to the Mojave Outpost on the road between Primm and Nipton.
Sniper Build - Craig Boone
Boone is one of the first followers encountered in Fallout: New Vegas, residing in the town of Novac. There aren't many characters that use snipers in the Mojave Wasteland, which makes Boone a man with a rare talent.
Boone uses his signature sniper to defeat enemies that stand in the way of The Courier, and he is able to deal more damage in a single shot than most of the other followers in the game. Boone can be recruited after completing the quest "One For My Baby."
Explosives Build - Arcade Gannon
Arcade Gannon is arguably the smartest companion that can be recruited in the Mojave Wasteland, which doesn't come as a surprise, since he is also a doctor alongside being a follower. The doctor is found at The Old Mormon Fort, and he can be obtained as a companion through various methods, including passing a speech check of 75 or having the "Bachelor" perk activated.
Arcade Gannon should be used for an explosives build since he is also quite intelligent and he can finish enemies off quickly using his signature ripper weapon after the player has lowered an enemy's health using explosives. Arcade Gannon can also be used as a companion for a melee build, since he is skilled with using melee weapons, such as his ripper.
Suitable For Every Type Of Build - Rex
Rex is the only permanent animal companion in Fallout: New Vegas and he takes the form of a cyberdog. Rex uses his teeth to attack by lunging at enemies and biting them. He can be obtained as a follower by completing the quest "Nothin' But A Hound Dog".
The best thing about Rex is that he can be used by any build, since taking him as a companion doesn't fill up a slot for one of the other human companions, similar to ED-E. Rex should be kept in any party, with the exception of sneak builds since he isn't quite as skilled in sneaking as other characters, like Cassidy.