Story Missions

1. Overview

Story Mode in GTA 5 has 54 story missions. To finish the main story, you also have to complete two side missions. Finish the Strangers and Freaks mission Pulling Favors to unlock Chop and Marriage Counseling. You also have to clear The Hotel Assassination, one of Lester's assassination missions, before the story can continue.

The heists where you pick the approach yourself are The Jewel Store Job, The Merryweather Heist, The Bureau Raid, and The Big Score. The Paleto Score lets you pick only the crew, with no approach choice. Because the setup missions change with the approach you choose, one playthrough cannot finish every setup mission. You can pick an approach you skipped from Replay Mission. If you also want to play another approach inside the story itself, keep a separate save from just before the heist planning stage.

You can add heist crew members through random events. In the Crash Rescue random event after The Jewel Store Job, drive the injured Taliana Martinez to Sandy Shores before the timer runs out and you can hire her as a getaway driver. Taliana's cut is only 5%, so she is a cheap way to keep more of the heist payout. In the Getaway Driver random event, help the two fleeing robbers reach their destination and you can hire Packie McReary as a gunman, and Packie is a skilled gunman you can also use on The Jewel Store Job.

Michael's temporary red Premier in the middle of the story can be modified, but it disappears for good once you finish Monkey Business, and Michael's car goes back to the Tailgater.

Accept the optional missions Michael's family requests by phone when you can, because declining one may mean you cannot do it later. If you decline The Good Husband, the mission where Amanda asks for help, the lawyer fees come out of Michael's account.

At the end you choose ending A, B, or C. After you finish the game, you can watch the other endings from Replay Mission in the pause menu, but the ending you pick there does not change the story you are already playing. Choosing ending A kills Trevor, and choosing ending B kills Michael, so you cannot do that character's side missions after the ending. If you want to see how all three endings turn out, copy the save from just before the ending choice into several slots.

2. Gold Medal Tips

To earn a gold medal, you have to hit the goals set for each mission.

Replay Mission
It is more efficient to check the goals you missed last time and focus the plan on those.
You can bring the weapons and stats you built up through the story, so a replay can be easier than the first run.
Checkpoints
If you continue from a checkpoint after failing, the time and accuracy goals are void and you cannot get the gold medal.
If a mission has a time or accuracy goal, start over from the beginning when you fail.
Time-limit goals
On a mission with a time-limit goal, skip every cutscene.
Recommended weapon
The AP Pistol is a fully automatic pistol with high accuracy and light recoil, so it is useful for accuracy and headshot goals.
The magazine holds 18 rounds, and an extended magazine holds 36.
Holding the button fires in a burst, so tap one shot at a time if you need to protect your accuracy.
Special ability
It helps with accuracy goals, and some goals require you to use it for a set time, so do not save the bar.
Effects by character
Michael: Slows time during on-foot combat and raises your aim accuracy.
Franklin: Slows time while driving, and it also works when you shoot from inside a car.
Trevor: Slows time a little, doubles your damage, and you cannot die while it is active.
How to fill the bar
Michael: Fill it with headshots or stealth kills.
Franklin: It fills when you narrowly miss other cars at high speed or drive the wrong way.
Trevor: It fills when you land a headshot or take damage.

3. Story Missions

3.1. Prologue

This first mission switches between Michael and Trevor. It has no gold medal goals, and you cannot be arrested in this mission.

Inside the bank
The hostages go into the room one at a time, starting with the person you point the gun at.
If you shoot even one hostage, you fail.
The moment you grab the cash, a guard grabs Michael, so switch to Trevor and aim for the head.
If it is not a headshot, or if you hesitate, Michael dies.
Escape shootout
When you are told to take cover in front of the exit, take cover first so Brad can plant the bomb on the door.
If you get too far ahead of the crew, a message tells you to get back, and if you ignore it and keep moving away, you have to try again.
You do not have to kill the last two police blocking the getaway car yourself, and if you leave them the crew usually handles them.
You cannot get in the car until every officer is down.
Getaway driving
Follow only the minimap route.
If you turn back or leave the route, you fail, and if you get out of the car you fail 10 seconds later no matter the distance.
Final stretch
Whether Trevor fights the police or drops cover and runs, it leads into the same cutscene.
On replay
Cutscenes you could not skip on the first run can be skipped in Replay Mission.
Ways to fail
Getaway car destroyed, stuck in the snow, or abandoned
Leave the route or the helicopter pickup
Leave the crew behind
Michael, Trevor, or Brad dies
A hostage dies or escapes
Out of ammo

3.2. Franklin and Lamar

It starts right after the prologue. As Franklin, you repossess a car, race Lamar, and hand the car over to the dealership.

Picking a car
The story is the same whether you take the red convertible or the white one, and only the talk inside the car changes.
If you keep moving away from Lamar without picking a car, you fail.
The race with Lamar
If you fall too far behind Lamar, you fail. Getting out of the car during the race also fails you.
Hitting the actor at the movie studio, or losing the race, does not fail the mission, and you only miss the gold medal.
Losing the police
When you reach the finish, you get a two-star wanted level.
The easiest way is to get out of the police's sight and hide in the alley near the dealership.
Wrap-up
After you hand the car to the dealership, get in Franklin's personal car and park it in his home garage to finish, and the payout is $250.
Gold medal
Deliver the repossessed car with almost no damage
Use the special ability for at least 7 seconds
Win the race against Lamar
Of the two tunnels in front of the finish, go in the left one instead of the right one Lamar takes, and use the special ability to pass him.
Do not hit the alien actor at the movie studio
Fail conditions
Franklin dies or is busted, or Lamar dies
You drive off without Lamar or lose him
The police are called, or you bring the police to the dealership
The repossessed car is destroyed, abandoned, or stuck, or Lamar's car is badly damaged
You cause a scene at the dealership, drive into the dealership, interrupt Simeon's deal, or Simeon dies

3.3. Repossession

With Lamar, you repossess a Vagos member's motorcycle. You can take any of the three cars in front of the dealership, or drive your own car to Vespucci Beach.

Alley and garages
Follow Lamar over the fence and walk to the end of the alley. If you cause a scene in the alley or break a door, you fail.
There are three garages. Open the largest one first and you go straight to the next step.
Shootout with the Vagos
If you have no weapon, pick up the pistol on the ground first.
It is better to take cover by the garage exit for the first two.
The enemy with the pump shotgun hits hard, so be careful.
When the blue car drives off leaking fuel, shoot the fuel trail to blow up the car with it.
Motorcycle chase
Near the exit, shoot the owner off the bike the moment he turns and you skip the whole chase.
If you miss him, you have to chase across the city, and leaving Lamar behind then fails the mission.
Drive the motorcycle to the car wash in Strawberry to finish.
Gold medal
Finish within 6 minutes 30 seconds
Shoot the fuel trail
Kill 6 enemies with headshots
Keep your shot accuracy at 70% or higher
Ways to fail
Franklin dies or is busted, or Lamar or Simeon dies
You leave Lamar behind
You cause a scene at the showroom, or the police are called
You break a door and a neighbor notices
The motorcycle's owner escapes, or the motorcycle is destroyed or abandoned

3.4. Complications

This is a stealth mission where you enter the mansion unseen and take Jimmy's car. Later, as Michael, you fight Simeon with your fists. When you finish, you can control Michael.

Entering the mansion
After you climb the wall, sneak up on the gardener and knock him out with a stealth attack.
You do not need to touch the door. Climb straight onto the truck and go into the house.
Inside the house, running while aimed lets you move fastest without being seen.
Pass the kitchen and take the car out of the garage.
Michael in the back seat
Michael, who was hiding in the back seat, tells you to go to the dealership. If you do not follow him, you fail.
When you arrive at the dealership, the next order is to drive the car through the glass.
The fight with Simeon
From here it is Michael's turn. Beat Simeon down.
If you leave during the fight, you are told to get back to the dealership before the police arrive, and if you keep running you fail.
Gold medal
Finish within 5 minutes
Finish the fight without Simeon landing a single hit
Turn on the special ability just before the fight and keep throwing punches without a break, and Simeon never gets a counter in.
Knock out the gardener with a stealth attack
Reasons for failure
Franklin or Michael dies or is busted
The family spots you, or you kill a family member or the tennis coach
Jimmy's car is destroyed
You ignore Michael's orders, or you run from the fight
You interrupt Simeon's deal, damage the dealership, the police are called, Simeon calls the police, or Simeon dies

3.5. Father/Son

It opens after you finish Complications, and you can start as either Michael or Franklin. This is a chase where you save Jimmy, trapped on a stolen yacht, from the freeway.

Chasing the yacht
Michael drives Amanda's car to Pacific Bluffs.
Pull the car alongside the yacht on the trailer and Franklin steps onto the hood and crosses onto the yacht.
When you are told to shoot the thieves, shoot then.
Saving Jimmy
The boom swings out and Jimmy hangs over the road. Pull the car tight underneath and Jimmy drops into the back seat.
Then stay tight behind the yacht so Franklin can jump down onto the hood.
If you do not save both of them in time, or you lose the yacht before that, you fail.
Repairs and the ride home
The engine dies and the chase stops here, and you head to the nearby Los Santos Customs.
Then, as Franklin, fix Amanda's car and take Jimmy to Michael's house to finish. The $2,000 payout goes to Franklin only.
Gold medal
Save Jimmy within 10 seconds
As soon as you see Jimmy, get under the boom and hold that spot steadily while avoiding other cars.
Deliver Amanda's car with almost no damage
Reasons for failure
Michael or Franklin dies or is busted, or Jimmy dies
Franklin falls behind
Amanda's car is destroyed, abandoned, or stuck, or the repair fails
You do not save everyone in time, or you lose the yacht before the rescue

3.6. Marriage Counseling

It opens only after you finish both Father/Son and Pulling Favors. Michael chases the tennis coach with Franklin, then pulls a house down with the truck winch.

Chasing the tennis coach
Get in the truck and follow the coach's car.
You lose him for a moment, then find the coach's car again in front of a nearby house. Then go to that house in the canyon.
If you attack the coach or scare him, you fail.
The house in the canyon
Franklin ties the winch cable to the house's support pillar and you get back in the truck. When Michael accelerates, the pillar gives way and the house comes down.
Madrazo's men
On the way back to Michael's house, Madrazo's men chase you. You have to lose all of them.
Gold medal
Drive the truck with almost no damage
Do not ram other cars, and do not take a shortcut.
Finish within 5 minutes 30 seconds
Kill 3 enemies from inside a vehicle
Killing them as Franklin during the chase counts, and a sticky bomb is fine if you have one. Kills as Michael count too.
Ways to fail
Michael or Franklin dies or is busted
Franklin falls behind
The truck is destroyed or stuck
The tennis coach is attacked, scared, or killed

3.7. Chop

This Franklin mission opens after you finish Pulling Favors. With Lamar and Chop, you catch D. There is no cash payout, and when it ends Chop stays at Franklin's house.

Walking with Lamar
The map does not mark the destination, so follow Lamar on foot to the alley.
If you draw police attention while walking, or you keep moving away from Lamar, you fail.
Once you get in the van, wait until Lamar loads Chop, then drive to Vinewood Boulevard.
Chasing D
D flees on a motorcycle, and you cannot knock him off or pass him with the van.
When a bus hits D at the bus terminal and he goes down, chase him on foot to the rail yard. At the terminal, watch that moving cars and buses do not hit you.
Searching the freight cars
The first two freight cars are empty.
If Chop gets distracted by another dog, calling him does not bring him back. Walk over and pull them apart yourself.
D is hiding in the northernmost freight car of the last three, the one Chop barks at.
In this stretch you can switch to Chop and see his view, but you cannot control him.
Going home
After Lamar makes the ransom call, you have to stop the van and let D out. If you keep driving, you get a two-star wanted level, and you have to lose the police before you can let D out.
Drop Lamar off at the recreation center to finish.
Gold medal
Drive Lamar's van with almost no damage
Several buses show up during the chase. Use the special ability to avoid crashes.
Watch from Chop's view for at least 10 seconds
Switch while Chop is searching the freight cars, and leave it that way until he runs at the other dog.
Use the special ability for at least 7 seconds
Fail conditions
Franklin dies or is busted
Lamar or Chop dies, or you leave one of them behind
D notices you, dies, or escapes
The van is destroyed, abandoned, or stuck
You draw police attention near Franklin's house

3.8. Daddy's Little Girl

This Michael mission opens after you finish both Marriage Counseling and Chop. After a bike race with Jimmy you bring Tracey back from a yacht offshore, and finishing the mission unlocks the triathlon.

Bike race
At the rental shop on Vespucci Beach, pick a bike and race Jimmy to the pier.
You do not have to win the race. It is better to ride slowly so you do not fall.
If you startle the rental clerk or wreck the bike, you fail.
Swimming to the yacht
Jump off the pier and swim to the yacht. Going underwater is faster than swimming on the surface.
Seashark getaway
When you flee on the Seashark with Tracey, the yacht owner's party shoots at you as they chase.
Lose the chasers or kill them, then return to the beach to finish.
Gold medal
Reach top speed on the Seashark
Lean forward and you stay on the water and keep accelerating. Run parallel to the shoreline and the waves will not bounce you up.
Focus on losing the chasers rather than shooting them.
Do not fall off the bike
Do not hit pedestrians, and pass walls, obstacles, and stairs carefully.
Swim to the yacht within 1 minute
Raise Michael's stamina stat and it gets easier.
Reasons for failure
Michael dies or is busted
Jimmy or Tracey dies, is hurt, or is scared, or you leave them behind
The rental clerk dies or is scared, or the bike is damaged
Michael's bike is abandoned, stuck, or becomes unrideable
The Seashark is destroyed or beached, or you leave the area

3.9. Friend Request

It opens after you finish Marriage Counseling. On Lester's request, Michael enters the Lifeinvader office and plants a bomb on the prototype phone. Finishing it unlocks clothing stores, and after Lester's email you can also use the stock market.

Clothes for the disguise
Buy the specified clothes at the Suburban clothing store in Vinewood.
If you have no money at all, Lester sends you $200. If you cannot get the clothes, or you do not have enough money to buy them, you fail.
Entering the office
Wait at the back door and the programmer who steps out for a cigarette lets you in. Follow him inside.
You have to close every pop-up before the antivirus shortcut shows. While a window is still up, pressing the antivirus does not run it.
Plant the device on the prototype in the demo room and leave the building. If you leave before planting it, or your cover is blown, you fail.
The demo
Watch the presentation from home, and when Jay Norris takes out the prototype, make the call.
If you fail to blow up the phone, you fail. Shooting without a suppressor near the house and startling Tracey does the same.
Gold medal
Finish within 8 minutes 30 seconds
Using the back door on the way out of the office lets you start running sooner.
Close every pop-up within 32 seconds
If you turn the special ability on just before the cutscene, time slows down. Even if you do not see the effect while closing the windows, it still counts on the record.
Ways to fail
Michael dies or is busted
You cannot get the disguise clothes, or you do not have enough money to buy them
The break-in is spotted, or you leave before planting the device
The phone fails to explode
The police heat gets too high to do the job, or you startle Tracey

3.10. The Long Stretch

It opens after you finish Chop and Father/Son. If you did Chop after Father/Son, you also have to finish Friend Request. Franklin goes to a deal with Lamar and Stretch, then fights out of a Ballas ambush.

Ammu-Nation
You have to buy a pump shotgun and a flashlight attachment. If you are short on money, Lamar lends you $1,500.
If you do not have enough money to buy them, you startle the clerk, or you are banned from Ammu-Nation, you fail.
Escaping the recycling plant
The deal is a Ballas ambush. Kill the enemies inside the plant as you make your way out.
A police helicopter is hovering outside. Deal with the helicopter and get out of the scrapyard.
Losing the police
Steal a car on a nearby road, lose the police, and return to Franklin's house to finish.
Look for a good hiding spot, such as the subway tunnel beside the Mile High Club or the tunnel under Mirror Park.
Gold medal
Keep your shot accuracy at 60% or higher
A shotgun spreads its shot, so it is easy to land hits.
Kill 10 enemies with headshots
Aim for the head with the shotgun. A hit on the neck still counts as a headshot.
Finish with as little health and body-armor damage as possible
Until you reach the last wide room, drop enemies with automatic fire before they can shoot.
In the last room, sticking to the right wall in cover is the safest.
Finish within 10 minutes 30 seconds
After you steal a car, use the special ability and you can lose the police faster.
Reasons for failure
Franklin dies or is busted
Lamar or Stretch dies, or you leave them behind
You do not have enough money for the pump shotgun and flashlight
You are banned from Ammu-Nation, or you startle the clerk
You abandon the deal and leave