Expert Tips GTA 5 Doesn't Tell You

Even though most seasoned Grand Theft Auto players have already spent countless hours causing chaos across the sprawling city of Los Santos, there is always more to learn when it comes to becoming a master criminal. Rockstar Games created such an incredibly extensive world when they developed GTA 5 that players are still discovering Easter eggs and new features to this day. 

With Grand Theft Auto Online experiencing a recent resurgence in popularity due to NoPixel's widely successful roleplaying mod, now is the perfect time to brush up on your GTA know-how and pick up a few new skills. This article is a collection of different pieces of advice designed to help players save money, improve their skills, become better criminals, and find the most obscure corners of the game. From game mechanics you never knew existed to hidden missions and discounts, these expert tips will let you fully experience all that Los Santos has to offer.

Even though players may develop a fondness for one of the three main characters based on their special abilities, if you exclusively play as your favorite protagonist, then you could potentially miss out on missions. Some of the quest-giving NPCs around Los Santos will react differently towards you depending on which character you are. Other NPCs will need to be visited several times, as they actually give each lead character their own mission.

Since a number of quests can only be activated by interacting with NPCs as a specific character, the best policy is to keep switching as you travel around Los Santos so that more opportunities will come your way. Even if you feel like you have explored the entire map with one character, random event quests are fickle and may not initiate during your first visit, so it is important to keep switching characters intermittently.

Another immersive feature Rockstar added to GTA 5 was the extensive internet you can browse via your character's cell phone. Although you may have already glanced at it briefly, you may not realize that one of these websites, the Lifeinvader page, can actually help save some in-game cash. By logging into the Rockstar Social Club and visiting the Lifeinvader site, you can find a wide selection of coupons to help save money. 

In order to access these discounts, just click "Stalk" on the website you wish to receive a discount for. These coupons can be used on expenses such as tattoos, hospital bills, weapons, vehicles, or car customization. Two of the most useful discounts to look for are 10% off the price of any vehicle from either Elitas Travel and Legendary Motorsport. It is important to note that although these discounts can be used in either single-player or online modes, they are one-time offers and should be used wisely.

If you want to be an effective thief, it is important to use every chance you get to keep your wanted level low. One of the best ways you can stay under the cops' radar is by hiding your identity when committing crimes. Before engaging in any robberies, make sure you are wearing a mask. After holding up a store, make a quick escape somewhere out of sight. As long as the cops cannot see you, removing the mask will knock a star off of your wanted level.

Another great tip to remember is to shoot the cashier's hand with a weak pistol or SMG after they empty the register. This will negate the chance of the cashier pulling a gun on you. It is also important to use a less powerful gun so you do not accidentally kill the cashier, which instantly adds extra stars to your wanted level. In order to speed things up, you can also shoot the cash registers, which triggers bags of money to fall on the floor.

Although activities like yoga or biking may seem like a waste of time at first, they can actually help permanently improve some of Michael's skills. Along with diving and swimming, practicing yoga will raise the amount of time Michael can hold his breath underwater. Michael's special ability bar will also increase slightly each time he performs yoga. Other physical activities such as running and biking will increase each of the character's stamina. 

In order to increase your character's weapon skill level, you can practice your aim at the shooting ranges located at larger Ammu-Nations. These gun ranges have different challenges for each type of weapon, and players can earn Bronze, Silver, or Gold Medals depending on their accuracy. Besides giving you a chance to hone your shooting skill and train with different weapons, completing these challenges will unlock discounts at Ammu-Nation locations. Earning Bronze Medals for all of the challenges discounts all Ammu-Nation items by 10%, while Silver discounts items by 15% and Gold takes off 25%. Each of the protagonists can earn their own Medals and the discount stacks, so practice your aim at the range with each character for the most savings. 

Players can encounter Random Events such as muggings while walking around Los Santos, and after stopping the criminals, they will have the option to either keep the money they stole or return it for a smaller reward. There is, however, a specific Random Event you should keep an eye out for that will reward you handsomely for being a good Samaritan. 

This event occurs in front of an apartment building in the East Vinewood neighborhood, where a young man's bicycle is being stolen. Quickly chase down the robber, who will try to make an escape across the soccer field, and knock him off of the bike. After stopping the criminal and returning the bike, its owner will thank you and be on his way. Several in-game hours later, the very same young man will send you an email revealing that he is the owner of the successful "Animal Ark" company. In order to thank you for returning his bike, the young man gifts you $100,000 worth of Animal Ark stock.

There are quite a few missions throughout Los Santos that players can miss out on because they do not originally appear on the map. Most of these missions require you to complete certain prerequisites before they become available. For example, one of the Strangers and Freaks missions named the "Death at Sea" will only show up on your radar after you have purchased a specific property and progressed far enough in the main story. This nautical-themed mission unlocks after players buy the Sonar Collections Dock property and complete the "Blitz Play" main story mission. 

Epsilon missions, on the other hand, will only begin after the player has visited the Epsilon website on Michael's cell phone and completed the "EVALUATE YOUR IDENTITY" questionnaire. Other hidden missions, such as "A Starlet in Vinewood" or "The Final Frontier," can only be triggered by collecting all 50 Letter Scraps or Spaceship Parts scattered around Los Santos. The most difficult secret mission to unlock in GTA 5 is "The Last One", which only becomes available after a player has reached 100% completion in the game.