What Should I Get First in GTA Online? A Comprehensive Guide
Starting out in GTA Online can feel overwhelming. The sprawling city of Los Santos is filled with opportunities, but knowing where to begin can be tricky. The short answer to “What should I get first in GTA Online?” is: a high-end apartment and the Acid Lab. A high-end apartment unlocks the original heists, providing a good source of early cash and experience. Simultaneously, completing the First Dose missions, which are free near the start of the game, will reward you with the Brickade 6×6 and the Acid Lab, a powerful and reliable early-game business. This combination sets you up with both heists and a solid passive income source. However, there is more to consider beyond just these two purchases so let’s dive deeper into optimal early-game strategies.
Prioritizing Your First Steps in Los Santos
1. High-End Apartment: The Gateway to Heists
The first major step after completing the tutorial is investing in a high-end apartment. These apartments aren’t just fancy pads; they’re essential for launching the original GTA Online heists. These multi-stage missions offer significant payouts and are excellent for leveling up your character and building a team. Choose an apartment wisely based on your budget, but any high-end property will do the job in the beginning. This is the beginning of your criminal empire in GTA Online.
2. The Acid Lab: Your First Business Venture
Arguably the best early-game business is the Acid Lab. The best part about this business is that the initial setup is free. You unlock it by completing the First Dose missions, which are relatively easy and give you the Brickade 6×6 vehicle which houses your Acid Lab. This gives you an immediate, low-maintenance source of passive income once you get its production running. You can then begin selling your product to make some decent profits.
3. Essential Weapons and Vehicles
Before diving deep into the business side, prioritize acquiring some decent weapons and vehicles:
- Weapons: A solid shotgun (the Pump Shotgun is great) and assault rifle (the Carbine Rifle or the Special Carbine) are crucial. A pistol with a suppressor is also very helpful for more stealthy missions. Check Ammu-Nation for these tools.
- Vehicles: At the start you won’t have many cars to choose from, but you can work towards saving up for a decent getaway vehicle like the Armored Kuruma. Its bulletproof windows and decent handling will help you significantly in most missions.
4. Initial Missions and Jobs
While working towards your high-end apartment and Acid Lab, take advantage of the various missions and jobs offered in-game:
- Contact Missions: These missions given by characters on your map are good for early cash and experience.
- Bonus Events: Rockstar often runs events offering bonus cash and RP (Reputation Points) for particular mission types or game modes.
- Spinning the Lucky Wheel: Head over to the Diamond Casino & Resort daily and spin the lucky wheel for a chance to win cash, RP, or even a new vehicle. This is free and a good habit to develop.
Progression and Long-Term Investments
Expanding Your Empire
After establishing your initial businesses and wealth, you can focus on more profitable long-term investments such as the Nightclub, Arcade, Crates Warehouse, Cocaine Lockup, Meth Lab, Counterfeit Cash Factory, Bunker, and Vehicle Warehouse. Each of these businesses has its unique benefits, but they do require further investments to set them up.
The Power of the Cayo Perico Heist
For solo players and those seeking substantial wealth, the Kosatka submarine and the Cayo Perico Heist are the best investments in the game. The heist offers huge payouts and can be completed solo, making it an extremely lucrative way to generate money. This should be one of your long-term goals.
Other Profitable Ventures
Consider also investing in the Agency which, despite its high purchase price, is one of the most profitable ventures in GTA Online. The Agency unlocks Security Contracts and Payphone Hits, which are lucrative sources of revenue.
You can also work toward the Import/Export business which provides great money and gives you a chance to acquire some cool vehicles.
Staying Active and Engaging
GTA Online is a living game, so keep an eye on new updates, events, and game modes. These can provide bonus cash and opportunities to make money quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is a high-end apartment really necessary to start making money?
Yes, absolutely. A high-end apartment is crucial to initiate the original heists, which offer significant payouts and are a good entry point for building your wealth in GTA Online.
2. What’s the best early-game business for beginners?
The Acid Lab is the best early-game business. Its setup is free, unlocked by completing the First Dose missions, and it provides a reliable passive income.
3. How important are vehicles in the beginning?
Very. An Armored Kuruma is highly recommended early on as its bulletproof windows and good handling will make most missions much easier. Having good getaway vehicles is very important.
4. Should I focus on heists early on?
Yes. The original heists are a good way to gain money and experience early in the game. This also allows you to learn about playing in a coordinated team.
5. What are the best weapons for early gameplay?
Prioritize a good Pump Shotgun and a solid Carbine Rifle or Special Carbine. A pistol with a suppressor is also beneficial.
6. How do I unlock the Acid Lab?
The Acid Lab is unlocked by completing the First Dose missions, which are freely available at the start of the game. Completing the first dose missions also rewards you with the Brickade 6×6 which is a mobile laboratory.
7. Is it better to sell bunker stock solo or with a team?
Selling bunker stock solo is only really recommended when it is at 25% full. For a full bunker, it is advised to have a team of at least two or more people.
8. What is the most profitable heist in GTA Online?
The Cayo Perico Heist is currently the most profitable heist, and it can be completed solo.
9. Should I invest in the Kosatka submarine early on?
Investing in the Kosatka submarine and doing the Cayo Perico Heist should be a long-term goal, especially for solo players. It’s the most lucrative way to make money, and can be done at your own pace without a team.
10. What is the Nightclub good for?
The Nightclub is excellent for generating passive income, especially when linked to other businesses. It is not the best for beginners, but should be considered later on.
11. How does the Vehicle Warehouse make money?
The Vehicle Warehouse lets you import and export cars, giving you the chance to make some solid income from selling the vehicles as well as storing unique and powerful cars.
12. Can I rob banks outside of missions?
No, you can only rob banks as part of specific missions and heists. You cannot just walk up to a bank and hold it up on your own accord.
13. What are some fun side activities for earning money?
Engage in activities like the daily spin at the Diamond Casino, Treasure Hunts, and Payphone Hits. These are good ways of mixing it up from doing the same missions over and over again.
14. Is it too late to start GTA Online in 2024?
Absolutely not! It’s never too late to start GTA Online. Rockstar constantly updates the game with new content and ways to earn money, making it enjoyable for new and veteran players alike.
15. What should my next big goal be after establishing the basics?
Once you’ve got the hang of basic heists and the Acid Lab, set your sights on the Kosatka submarine and the Cayo Perico Heist, or consider more passive businesses like the Nightclub. These are major investments that will help to elevate your earning potential exponentially.
By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to building your criminal empire in GTA Online. Start with the basics, then expand strategically, and you’ll soon be enjoying all that Los Santos has to offer. Happy gaming!