Having some GTA Online tips to refer to will give you a boost, as you build up your criminal enterprises across the expansive regions of Los Santos and Blaine County. New players are still joining this world all of the time, in part due to the standalone release of GTA Online, but it can’t be overlooked that the game has been running since 2013. This means there have been almost nine years of updates, vehicles, weapons, properties, and more to stay on top of, which is a daunting prospect for fresh arrivals and a solid platform that existing players will have built on. Running into those experienced individuals can lead to some unforgiving experiences, but at least if your take on board these Grand Theft Auto Online tips then you give yourself the best chance of standing your ground.
1. Complete the GTA Online tutorial
To get going in GTA Online, you’ll first need to complete the tutorial section. If you’re playing the standalone GTA Online version, you should be able to jump right in, but players with the full GTA 5 game that includes GTA Online, might still need to complete the Prologue of the main single player game to get access.
You’ll be taken through a character creator to define your appearance and characteristics, before being launched into San Andreas to meet some familiar faces and learn the ropes. The new GTA Online Career Builder system has also been introduced to give you a nice cash injection into your wallet to get your criminal enterprise up and running.
2. Buy a decent car and a garage
We say ‘buy’, but you can actually pick up one of the bests sports cars in the game for the grand cost of ‘bugger all’. To get an Elegy RH8 completely gratis, just register for Rockstar’s Social Club (opens in new tab). Once you do, this two-door speedster (which resembles the Nissan GT-R) will be yours. Thanks to its great traction, it’s a superb choice for races. Make sure you invest in Loss/Theft Prevention to ward other users off nicking your shiny new motor, too. You’ll also want to invest in a garage to keep your cars safe. At $25,000, the Unit 124 garage on Popular St is probably the best bet for cash-poor beginners.
3. Keep cashing in at ATMs
Online Los Santos is a dangerous place. Any cash your up-and-coming crook is carrying on their person can be stolen by other players. To ensure you don’t lose all that moolah from your last job, make sure to cash your coin into an ATM. There are plenty of cash machines located around Los Santos and Blaine County, and you can use the Quick GPS on the Interaction Menu (hold down the touchpad) to direct you to the nearest one. Can’t get to an ATM? You can also visit the Maze Bank website via your phone’s web browser and make a deposit through there. In GTA Online, prudence pays.
4. Save up, then buy an underground facility
To partake in GTA Online’s Doomsday Heist, you’re gonna need a bigger boat/underground facility to hang your hat. These huge bunkers are one of several key requirements for playing the bonkers robbery (you’ll also need to become a CEO), and as such, they’re expensive. The cheapest can be found at Paleto Bay, and will set you back $1,125,000 from the Maze Bank Foreclosures site – funnily enough, $1,125,000 is just under what a $19.99/£11.99 Great White Shark Cash Card nets you. For that whopping fee, your criminal mastermind gets a security room, lounge, and sleeping quarters, among other luxuries.
5. Steal a chopper
San Andreas is one sizeable piece of real estate, so stealing a chopper can be a huge time-saver. Considering one of the cheaper ’copters from Elitas Travel (the $780,000 Buckingham Maverick) will still fleece your finances, your change purse really will thank you for nicking a whirly bird. Perhaps the easiest one to steal can be found at Los Santos International Airport, near the flight school. With skilful driving, you can vault the nearby fence and claim it for your own. Let skyward crime commence!
6. Purchase a high-end apartment
Before you can enjoy GTA Online’s superb heists, you’ll first need to hit level 12. Crucially, if you want to plan these multi-part jobs yourself – and thus have power over how the take is split up – you’ll also need to buy a high-end apartment. These fancy flats come with planning boards that are crucial to heist setups, and the ‘cheapest’ can be found in Del Perro Heights. Visit the Dynasty 8 Real Estate on your character’s phone, and the property yours for $200,000.
7. Keep your eyes peeled for Weekly Events
Rockstar does regular Weekly Events, which reward players with double RP and double cash rewards, like the recent shotgun-dodging Battle Week. Keep a beady peeper on Rockstar’s Newswire (opens in new tab) and the latest GTA Online patch notes for updates on these events, because participating in them often offers weekly discounts on cars and properties.
8. Play nice for Rep rewards
As in life, it pays not to be a dick in GTA Online… well, generally. If you frequently help out other players during jobs, and don’t try to screw them over by nicking their motor/money, you’ll receive a ‘Good Sport’ award. Said bonus usually comes in the form of extra Reputation Points or cash. See, it really does pay to play nice with the others in your session.
9. Complete story missions
Playing through GTA Online’s vast array of deathmatch types and races can feel generic. For something more bespoke, try some story missions. The likes of Lamar, Gerald, and Simeon Yetarian all cross over from GTA 5, and each has cutscene-laden missions to tick off. Most of these thieving tasks feel nicely personable, and finishing them nets you cash and Job/Reputation Points. To access them, bring up the mission list from the pause menu.
Find out how to get free extras for GTA Online with Amazon Prime as part of our Amazon Prime Day free games page!
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