It’s been a long time coming, but one of the most eagerly anticipated features of Grand Theft Auto Online has finally landed. Yep, that’s right, Heists are now available for you to dive into with your ragtag crew of friends and, so far, they’ve proven to be just what the doctor ordered. But once you’ve got past the first introductory Heist that Lester has carefully laid out for you, you and your crew are on your own.
And depending on how you play, you’ll either be laughing all the way to Maze Bank, or drowning your sorrows at the Vanilla Unicorn. It’s make or break, but don’t worry: we’ve got your back. We’ve put together a few handy hints on how to make the most of GTA Online’s brand new Heists – and you’ll soon be dropping in and out of these missions and making the big bucks like a pro.
Communication is king If you’ve been playing GTA Online without a headset – we don’t blame you for skipping out on the “banter”, honestly – now’s the the time to start. Communication is crucial in these brand new Heists, and a quick chat with your crew before you pull the trigger could be the difference between a successful bank job or the FIB swarming you before you even take one step out of the door. Get chatty with your crew, let them know where you are, what you see, and if you’re a lookout high in the sky, be sure to say if there’s anything incoming to your boys on the ground. Let’s face it, you don’t want to be fronting wads of cash for these Heists with no reward. And if you have a headset, at least you can blame your team-mates.
Know your team-mates If you already have a group of close mates playing GTA Online, you’re pretty much set. But if you’re a lone wolf looking for his wolfpack, getting into Heists may prove to be a little bit more troublesome. It’ll be tough to understand your new crew-mates if they don’t have a microphone, but even if they do, getting to know the way they tick is important: are they run-and-gunners, or the best drivers around? And remember: your unknown Heist leader might take a huge cut of the cash for themselves and leave you with mere cents and quarters. So choose your team carefully.
Save your cash for actually starting Heists
The Wu-Tang Clan famously said “Cash rules everything around me,” and that’s equally true in GTA Online. You need some GTA$ to get your Heists off the ground, as you’ll need to front up some bills to cover a few costs. But you can save a bit of money if you and your crew are smart. Only the Heist leader needs to have an high end apartment with a planning room, so once you’ve hit level 12, only one of your group needs to splash out for a lavish crib. That way, the rest of your crew won’t have to flush money down the drain investing in property that could better be spent going towards a Heist – and if you do already own a place, why not downgrade to just a garage? If you’re looking for a few more ways to make some quick cash in the run-up, YouTube gamer JoblessGarrett runs through a few ways you can make some easy bucks to put towards your missions in the video above.
Be prepared in a big way If you’re hoping to get down and dirty with a Heist, be prepared to bring your own equipment to the party. Some missions might require you to steal some specialised bits and pieces, or you may be lucky enough to be gifted some, but for the most part, you’ll be bringing your own gear – and that includes your own custom vehicles and weapons. That means be sure to grab silencers for the guns that can be equipped with them, and tune up your getaway vehicles to Fast & Furious levels.
Add some zeros to your final cheque Want to hit the motherlode? You’ll need to be a top player with a dedicated team and plenty of focus, but if you’re up to the task, you’ll soon be cashing cheques with more zeros than you know what to do with. You’ll find each Heist has its own Elite Challenge, and if you’re up to the task of finishing it, your risk will be rewarded with a lovely bonus payout. Be prepared to fail though. A lot. That’s not all either, as there are some Special Heist Completion bonuses that each person can only grab once – but it’ll be well worth the challenge. Finishing all the Heists in order, for example, will net you a $1 million bonus, while doing the same with your crew will get you another big bag filled with $1 million notes. And, if you’re really skilled, completing every Heist in sequence with the same crew, without losing any lives, will earn you a huge $10,000,000 bonus. Bring on the benjamins.
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