Should I ally with the Minutemen, Brotherhood of Steel, or Railroad in Fallout 4?
Deciding who to side with in Fallout 4 can be tricky. The choices you make will determine who your enemies are, which factions remain peaceful, and the ending you get. This guide compares the Minutemen, Railroad, and Brotherhood of Steel to help you choose the best allies.
The Minutemen seek to protect and unite the people of the Commonwealth. The Railroad wants to free synths from the Institute. The militaristic Brotherhood aims to horde technology and eliminate threats like super mutants.
Each faction has valid motivations, but siding with one often means fighting another. With careful balancing of questlines though, you can prevent some factions from becoming enemies.
An Overview of the Factions
| Faction | Beliefs | Enemies | Unique Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minutemen | Help and protect the people of the Commonwealth | Institute, Brotherhood of Steel (optional) | Artillery strikes |
| Railroad | Free synths from the Institute | Institute, Brotherhood of Steel | Ballistic weave, Deliverer pistol |
| Brotherhood of Steel | Control technology, eliminate mutants | Institute, Railroad | Power armor, airship |
What Happens When You Side With Each Faction?
Minutemen – Taking out the Institute with the Minutemen allows the Railroad and Brotherhood to remain friendly, leading to the most peaceful ending. You get help defending settlements and can still do some quests for the other factions without conflict. The downside is the Minutemen lack the firepower of the Brotherhood.
Railroad – Siding with the Railroad forces you to take down the Brotherhood and Institute. You‘ll get access to powerful ballistic weave upgrades and the unique Deliverer pistol. But the Brotherhood‘s advanced weapons and power armor will be lost.
Brotherhood – Joining the Brotherhood turns the Railroad and Institute against you. You get a Vertibirdsignal grenade, power armor, and the firepower to take down your enemies. But you‘ll miss out on what the other factions offer.
Maintaining Multiple Alliances
With care, you can prevent some factions from becoming hostile even if you directly side with their enemy:
- Don‘t progress too far in the Brotherhood quests if siding with Railroad or Minutemen
- Don‘t start the Minutemen quest to defend the Castle until finishing the Brotherhood story
- Don‘t attack factions you want to remain peaceful
This allows you to unlock rewards and benefits from multiple factions, at the cost of a perfect ending for any one side.
Choosing Your Path
Overall, siding with the Minutemen is best for a peaceful resolution. If you prefer the advanced equipment of the Brotherhood or the cloak-and-dagger feel of the Railroad, balance questlines carefully to avoid unnecessary conflict. There‘s no right answer – go with the faction that best fits your character!
