GTA Online: A Beginner's Guide to Getting Started
2025-04-14 10:18
This content is prepared for friends who are new to the online mode of "GTA5," a pure beginner's guide to getting started. Whether you bought the game on sale, were recommended by a friend, or suddenly had the urge to experience the free world of Los Santos, this article hopes to help you avoid detours and smoothly start your online life.
After opening the game, we will initially see two options: "Online Mode" and "Story Mode." If this is your first time entering the game, you may only have Story Mode available. At this point, it's recommended that you don't rush into online mode, but instead play the story mode first, completing the prologue and the first mission before entering online mode from story mode. The biggest benefit of doing this is that it can significantly reduce loading time, because directly clicking into online mode can take a long time to load, and sometimes it even gets stuck. Switching to online mode after entering offline mode is not only faster but also more stable.
After you complete the first mission in story mode, which is the part where you steal a car with Franklin and Lamar, you can officially consider entering the online world. At this point, you can press the ESC key to bring up the menu, select "Online," and then enter "GTA Online." Here, it is recommended that beginners choose "Invite Only Session," which will put you in a private session with only yourself. In contrast, "Public Sessions" have many other players, and the network can be very laggy when there are fluctuations, and you will often encounter cheaters who interfere with the game experience.
It is important to note that GTA5 online mode has high network requirements, and especially domestic players in China usually need to use a VPN to play stably. As for which VPN to use, you can choose according to your budget and usage habits. After entering online mode, the system will ask you to create a character. You can customize the appearance according to your preferences, or you can search online for other people's character creation data and follow it to more easily achieve a satisfactory result. After creating your character, you will be prompted to skip the tutorial. My suggestion is to skip it directly, because this tutorial will not bring you any substantial help. Completing it only changes your level from 1 to 5, and if you don't skip it, you will remain at level 1.
After entering online mode, the first thing you need to do is familiarize yourself with the game interface. Pressing the Z key will show you the map and your current status. Pressing it multiple times will switch between different display modes. The top of the screen shows your level, and the top right shows your cash balance and bank savings. Pressing the M key will open the personal menu, where you can manage vehicles, clothing, interaction options, and other content. Using the middle mouse button will open your phone, and the various functions in the phone basically cover everything you need to buy and manage in the game. For example, "Finance and Services" is used to purchase various properties and is the core of making money, while "Travel and Transportation" allows you to buy various vehicles, from sports cars to airplanes, and even boats and bicycles.
Speaking of properties, in GTA5 online mode, properties are not just decorations or collectibles; they are important tools for you to make money in the future. The casino is nice, but it's not cost-effective. Properties like the Clubhouse, Bunker, Nightclub, Facility, Office, and Arcade can all generate stable income through missions or operations. Among these properties, a recommended starting choice is to purchase a high-end apartment, such as Apartment 7 at Del Perro Heights, which costs only $200,000, is reasonably priced, and has comprehensive functions. There are also many types of vehicles in the game. Beginners are advised to prioritize vehicles that are cost-effective and versatile, such as the "Karin Kuruma (Armored)." This car is not only resistant to damage but can also handle most early-game missions, making it very suitable for your starting phase.
Of course, no matter how good the properties are, you need money to buy them. So, how to make money in the early stages becomes the most important issue. If you purchased the premium edition of the game, you will usually receive $2,000,000 in starting funds. The most recommended thing to do at this point is to directly spend $2,200,000 to purchase the "Kosatka submarine" and then unlock and complete the "Cayo Perico Heist." This mission is currently one of the most profitable solo missions, and a successful completion can bring in nearly a million dollars in profit. However, if you don't have the premium edition and have little or even no starting funds, don't worry. You can still earn your first pot of gold step by step through solo missions.
Open the "Jobs" option in the online menu, and you will see some small missions made by Rockstar. These missions do not require starting funds, can be completed solo, and although the rewards are not high, they are enough to get you started. If you want to earn money faster, you can find the NPC "Vincent" on the map. He will provide a series of missions, with first-time completion rewards as high as $750,000, which is very suitable for beginners to challenge. After completing these missions, you will have a relatively considerable amount of savings, which you can use to purchase suitable properties and gradually start your money-making journey.
In the early stages, your equipment is relatively simple. The game will give you a basic pistol, and the number of bullets is also limited, but it is still one of your starting capitals. You can also try "zero-cost shopping" at convenience stores—that is, robbing stores. Although this is not recommended for frequent use in the early stages, it can indeed help you out in the poorest times. After robbing, it is recommended to walk out of the store backward, otherwise, you may be counterattacked by the clerk, who might even kill you with a shotgun. Don't panic after being wanted. Avoid police sight, take small roads to go around, or enter alleys to shake off the pursuit, and you can escape safely.
Gradually, you will become familiar with the rhythm of this world, understand how to allocate resources, choose sessions, accept missions, upgrade equipment, and you will also realize that in the world of GTAOL, the real fun is not just about making money, but about building your own online life. Every property you purchase, every car you choose, and every mission you complete is a part of your growth.
Of course, in addition to gradually developing by accumulating through missions and properties, many players also encounter so-called modded accounts. These types of accounts have been modified by third-party means and usually have a huge amount of money, a max-level character, all properties unlocked, and even rare vehicles and clothing as soon as you enter the game, which looks like a fast track to success. For beginners who are new to GTAOL, modded accounts are indeed tempting. They can save a lot of time doing missions and grinding money, allowing you to directly experience the mid-to-late game content. If you want to directly experience the mid-to-late game content, you can consider it.
Alright, today's beginner's guide will stop here for now. I hope this content has given you a clear understanding of the online mode of GTA5. If you can't wait to start your adventure in Los Santos, then hurry up and enter the game to do missions and earn money!
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