Beginner’s Guide#
Controls Basics#
PC Default Keybinds#
| Key | Function |
|---|---|
| W/A/S/D | Move |
| Left mouse | Shoot |
| Right mouse | Aim |
| R | Reload |
| Space | Jump |
| Shift | Sprint (on foot) / accelerate (driving) |
| Ctrl | Crouch |
| E | Enter/exit vehicle |
| F | Melee |
| Caps Lock | Special ability |
| Q | Take cover |
| Z | Switch weapon |
| X | Use equipment |
| M | Interaction menu |
| V | Change camera |
| TAB | Pause menu |
Switching characters:
- Alt key: switch to the next protagonist
- Down arrow (↓): open the character wheel — see each protagonist’s current location and status
The Three Protagonists#
Michael De Santa#
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Background | Retired bank robber — in FIB witness protection |
| Special ability | Bullet Time — slows time while shooting for precise headshots |
| Ability traits | Highest Shooting skill, excellent driving |
| Starting property | Mansion in Rockford Hills, Los Santos |
| Story role | The planner — architects the heists |
Michael core tips:
- His special ability is extremely powerful in team fights — especially against large groups
- Once Michael’s identity is exposed, the FIB and gangs come after him
- Michael’s family relationships influence parts of the story
Franklin Clinton#
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Background | Street hustler — repo man by trade |
| Special ability | Driving Focus — slows time while driving for effortless drift corners |
| Ability traits | Highest Driving skill, excellent stealth |
| Starting property | Small apartment in Chamberlain Hills, Los Santos |
| Story role | The executor — youngest member, driver and muscle |
Franklin core tips:
- His special ability completely transforms racing and chase missions
- Franklin’s contact network is wide — his connections unlock extra jobs
- The final ending choice hinges on Franklin’s decision
Trevor Philips#
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Background | Ex-military pilot — a deranged madman and drug dealer |
| Special ability | Red Mist — halves damage taken, doubles damage dealt |
| Ability traits | Highest Flying skill, highest Strength |
| Starting property | Trailer in Sandy Shores |
| Story role | The violence specialist — does all the dirty work |
Trevor core tips:
- Red Mist mode is best for facing large enemy groups head-on
- Trevor has his own unique side quest lines and gang business
- For flight-related missions — Trevor is the best pick
Opening Guide#
What the First 10 Missions Do#
| Order | Mission | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prologue | North Yankton bank job — learn the basic controls |
| 2 | Franklin and Lamar | Repo mission — learn driving and basic combat |
| 3 | Repossession | Michael and Franklin meet — classic car chase |
| 4 | Complications | The trio defends a rundown apartment |
| 5 | The Jewel Store Job | First heist — unlocks the heist mission system |
| 6 | Trevor arrives | Switch to Trevor — see his desert life |
| 7 | Crystal Maze | Trevor reunites with old friends |
| 8 | Friend Rescue | Trevor finds Michael — the three officially reunite |
| 9 | The Paleto Score | Small-town bank robbery — classic gangster flick |
| 10 | The Meth Job | Choose a strategy — offshore vs docks |
Skill Leveling Guide#
| Skill | Max effect | How to level |
|---|---|---|
| Stamina | Unlimited sprint | Keep running / cycling |
| Shooting | Less recoil, tighter spread | Practice at Ammu-Nation shooting ranges or in combat |
| Strength | Doubles melee damage | Melee attacks, tennis, golf |
| Stealth | Faster stealth movement | Kill enemies while in stealth mode |
| Flying | Smoother aircraft handling | Practice at flight school or fly planes |
| Driving | Better steering and vehicle control | Drive fast on highways without crashing |
Fast 100% methods for all skills:
- Flying → complete all flight school courses at bronze or better
- Shooting → spray targets with an LMG at Ammu-Nation — but it costs money
- Strength → find a stranger at the Los Santos docks and melee indefinitely
- Stamina and driving → level naturally — run and drive a lot
Money-Making Basics#
Money Within the Story#
| Method | Income | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main story and heists | ~$40M per character | Complete all heists — pick your take split well |
| Assassination stocks | Up to $2B per character | Do the assassination missions only after the credits — pick the right stocks for maximum return |
| Random events | Thousands to tens of thousands | Roadside random events pay cash |
| Property investment | Passive income | Buy cinemas, taxi companies etc. and collect rent |
| Collectibles | $100K+ | All letter fragments = $100K |
Best Investment Timeline for the Story#
- Early (missions 1-20): skip the assassination missions — wait until after the credits and pour all money into BAWSAQ stocks
- Mid (missions 21-40): save before every assassination mission — buy the designated stock and sell for multiples
- Late (missions 40-69): after the credits, do every assassination → $2B+ for each of the three protagonists
- After the ending: buy all property, all car upgrades — what’s left is achievements
GTA Online Basics#
Note: Online characters are completely separate from the story — you create a new character.
| Level | Advice |
|---|---|
| 1-10 | Level up via jobs like “Death from Above” (NPC jobs), “Escape Los Santos” and “Peace Treaty” |
| 10-30 | Buy a bunker/nightclub — start passive income |
| 30-50 | Complete the Fleeca bank heist — four-player coordination |
| 50-100 | Pacific Standard heist, Doomsday Heist — big money |
| 100+ | Cayo Perico heist — solo 12-minute runs worth $1.5M |
Common New-Player Mistakes#
| # | Mistake | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spending freely early | Save your money — use assassination missions and stocks for the big win |
| 2 | Never leveling skills | You’ll hit 100% completion after the credits and find your skills lacking |
| 3 | Missing random events | See a blue dot/question mark on the road — always check it |
| 4 | Going into Online unarmed | Buy armor and snacks at Ammu-Nation — they are your life |
| 5 | Deleting the game after the story | The credits are the real start — collectibles, gold medals, Online |
Version History#
| Version | Date | Main content |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 2013-09-17 | Original release (PS3/Xbox 360) |
| 1.2 | 2014-11-18 | Current-gen version (PS4/Xbox One) |
| 1.5 | 2015-04-14 | PC release + GTA Online Heists |
| 2.0 | 2022-03-15 | Enhanced edition (PS5/XSX) with ray tracing at 60fps |
| 2.2 | 2024-06-11 | GTA Online: new story content update |
The Protagonists’ Special Abilities#
| Character | Ability | Effect | Usage advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael | Bullet Time | Slows time in combat — precise headshots | Activate in firefights and heists — maximize output |
| Franklin | Driving Focus | Slows time while driving — extreme steering | Use in races and chases — dodge traffic |
| Trevor | Red Mist |
FAQ#
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How do stocks make money? | Before Lester’s assassination missions, buy stock in the target’s competitor — after the hit, the target’s stock crashes and the competitor soars |
| How do I start Online? | Press M to open the phone → select Online → create a character → finish the tutorial jobs |
| Best early investment? | Buy Los Santos property — fixed weekly income — prioritize warehouses |
Beginner crash course: stocks unlock after the mission “Marriage Counseling” — use Lester’s assassination missions to net $2B — level Driving and Stamina first on every character to save huge time later.
Money tip: after buying all Los Santos property you collect $7K+ rent weekly — stockpile warehouse goods until prices spike, then sell in bulk for $500K+ a run.
Early Mission Priorities#
Side Quests and Random Event Priority#
Beyond the main story, the best early time investment is random events on the road — the blue question mark encounters. They pay cash and reputation, and some unlock vehicles or weapon liveries.
| Random event | Reward | Where they spawn |
|---|---|---|
| Robbery in progress | Hundreds to thousands in cash | Random streets |
| Runaway vehicle | A drivable vehicle or cash | Random intersections |
| Car theft | Recover the vehicle for cash | Suburban highways |
| Debt collection | Cash and reputation | Near bars |
Early Money Order#
- Don’t buy big-ticket items before the stock market unlocks — save every dollar for assassination stock plays
- Do one random event per session — it adds up
- Prioritize letter fragments among collectibles — all 50 grant $100K
- Save the assassination missions for after the credits — their returns dwarf the early game
Early Spending Advice#
| Item | Price | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Body armor | From $500 | Buy before any firefight |
| Snacks | A few hundred | Heal mid-combat |
| Car mods | Thousands | Early on, only upgrade brakes and engine |
When a Mission Fails#
Failing a mission never costs cash already earned — just retry without worry. Early on, prioritize missions with first-time completion bonuses; those pay noticeably more than repeat runs.