If you choose to banish Katelyn Alden in Fallout 4’s NukaWorld DLC, you’re making a decision with permanent impact. As an informant and merchant tied to the raider leader Shank, Katelyn’s presence, dialogue, and access to unique items like the Throatslicer blade depend entirely on whether you spare her. This topic breaks down the consequences of banishing Katelyn, how her disappearance may be glitchy, and what you can do if things go wrong.
Who Is Katelyn Alden?
Informant and Trader
Katelyn Alden is an NPC introduced in the NukaWorld expansion. Operating in the NukaTown market, she sells unique items, including the rare Throatslicer melee weapon, and provides Shank with intel gathered from her travels. She’s marked by her pragmatic affiliation with raiders and occasional businesslike interactions with the Sole Survivor.
Key Dialogue Moments
After completing the main NukaWorld quest Open Season, you may witness a conversation between Katelyn and Shank. During this dialogue, you’re given the option to banish her from NukaWorld. The choice changes her availability permanently and determines whether you can access her goods, dialogue, or recruit her later.
What Happens When You Banish Katelyn?
Permanently Removed from Market
If you select the banish dialogue option, Katelyn is immediately removed from the NukaTown market and flagged as disabled. She will no longer be available as a trader, nor can she offer information services or unique items like the Throatslicer.
Unique Items Lost
Banishment prevents you from buying her signature gear. The Throatslicer is otherwise unobtainable, making this choice significant if you’re chasing unique equipment or completionists goals.
Bugged Disappearance or Real Banish?
Reports of Glitchy Behavior
Many players report that even after choosing not to banish Katelyn, she vanishes from the market days later. This seems linked to fast traveling into or out of the market area or scripted travel behavior postShank dialogue. In most cases it’s a bug, not the banish path, causing her to disappear.
Temporary vs Permanent Missing
Some users report that resting elsewhere or fast traveling again eventually brings her back. However, others say she never returned, suggesting the game may auto-disable her even when you didn’t trigger banishment choices. This inconsistency makes tracking down what’s intentional vs bugged tricky.
Can You Recruit or Recover Katelyn?
No Official Recruitment
Fallout 4 doesn’t allow Katelyn to become a companion by default. Even if she’s not banished, there’s no builtin path to recruit her as a follower.
Mods to the Rescue
A mod on Nexus Recruit Katelyn Alden as Settler offers an option to recruit her to your workshop. This mod includes console commands to restore or recruit her even if she has disappeared. For example, usingSetStage RecruitKatelyn 25can force the recruitment quest to complete. These tools can work even if the base game flagged her as nonexistent.
What If the Banish Dialogue Never Appears?
Dialogue Trigger Requirements
The banish choice only appears after specific triggers: the dialogue with Shank must occur, and you must visit the stall. If you skip or delay these steps, the script won’t fire, and Katelyn might behave as a vagabond vendor and never fully settle in the market.
Console Commands Help
If dialogue never happens, console commands likeCQF RecruitKatelyn DebugCheckcan show which script states are incomplete. Later setting the stage manually withSetStage RecruitKatelyn 10or 25 can force the quest chain forward, allowing you to either keep or banish her properly.
Pros and Cons of Banishment
Advantages of Banishment
- Removes a potential informant for Shank if you oppose his leadership
- Removes temptation to buy from her, preserving caps or gear choices
Disadvantages of Banishment
- Loses access to Throatslicer blade
- Cannot trade with her ever again
- Possible roleplay inconsistency if you want trader variety in Nuka-Town
When Katelyn Vanishes Unexpectedly
Troubleshooting Steps
If she disappears but you didn’t banish her:
- Wait in-game for a few days in different locations
- Fast travel to and from the NukaTown Red Rocket then return to the market
- Use console commands to check and repair her quest stages if on PC
Installing a Recruitment Mod
On PC you can install a mod to force recruit Katelyn. After installing, useSetStage RecruitKatelyn 25. Once restored, you can assign her as a settler or merchant. However, she won’t act as a companion in the traditional sense.
Tips for Players Who Value Katelyn
Avoid Triggering the Banish Option
Don’t choose the banish dialogue if you want her available later. If you accidentally choose, save before talking and reload if needed.
Limit Fast Travel Into Market Immediately
Fast traveling directly into the market after the Shank dialogue may trigger her scripted disappearance. Instead, travel to an external cell or wait elsewhere before returning.
Back Up Saves
Keep a save from before the Shank conversation or before any decision. If she disappears unintentionally, you can revert and try again.
Choosing whether to banish Katelyn Alden in Fallout 4’s NukaWorld can feel final: you’ll lose her presence and access to exclusive items forever. Even without choosing banishment, a bug may still remove her from the market unexpectedly. If that happens, players on PC can use mods or console commands to restore her. Whether you’re in it for lore, gear like the Throatslicer, or mere trader variety, understanding the mechanics and potential glitches will help you keep Katelyn in the Wasteland or remove her intentionally.
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