Story Mode missions are the letter jobs on the map that move Michael, Franklin, and Trevor through Los Santos and Blaine County. Colored icons show who can start each job, heist letters split into setups and approaches, and gold medals sit on named objectives you can replay for.
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Story chapter
Prologue
Prologue
Michael and Trevor rob a Bobcat Security depot in Ludendorff, North Yankton, nine years before the Los Santos story.
- Availability
- Required
- Type
- Story
- Protagonists
- Michael De Santa, Trevor Philips
- Location
- Bobcat Security Depot, Ludendorff, North Yankton
| Image | Name | Description | Availability | Type | Protagonists | Giver | Location | Approach | Prerequisite | Gold objectives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prologue | Michael and Trevor rob a Bobcat Security depot in Ludendorff, North Yankton, nine years before the Los Santos story. | Required | Story | Michael De Santa, Trevor Philips | - | Bobcat Security Depot, Ludendorff, North Yankton | - | - | - |
How Story Mode missions work
Letter icons are colored by the character who can start them: blue for Michael, green for Franklin, orange for Trevor. Heist letters and some FIB jobs can be started by any involved protagonist. Switch characters from the character wheel between missions, and during a few jobs when the script lets you.
After Father/Son, the story waits on Pulling Favors, a Strangers and Freaks job. Chop and Marriage Counseling do not open until that is done. It is required, and it is not a story letter.
The mission roster is the same on Original, Enhanced, and Expanded & Enhanced. Some Ammu-Nation stock and later grants only appear on enhanced editions.
Several letters can sit on the map at once. Nervous Ron and Trevor Philips Industries both open after Mr. Philips, and later FIB, Devin, and Lester jobs overlap the same way. This order is a workable sequence, not the only legal one.
Approaches, endings, and extra missions
Intel jobs pick the plan. Only that plan's setups and finale play on that save. Minisub is required for both Merryweather plans. Roof Entry has no extra Bureau setup. Gauntlet is one setup that steals three cars. Getaway Vehicle stashes have no gold medal and no fail state, so stash the car and walk away. The Wrap Up always follows The Bureau Raid.
After The Big Score, Franklin starts one of three official ending missions: Something Sensible, The Time's Come, or The Third Way. The other two stay on Replay Mission. The original save choice does not change.
Crew cuts, hired specialists, and take ranges belong with Heists. These missions stay the order, who starts the job, and the gold objectives.
Gold medals
Finish a mission and it lands on Pause > Game > Replay Mission. Gold is cumulative: each named objective can be earned on a different attempt. Bronze is finishing with no extra objectives, silver is at least one, and gold is all of them. Restarting from a checkpoint can void some gold objectives for that attempt.
Optional jobs
The Hotel Assassination is required and sits with the FIB stretch. The four later Lester assassinations count toward 100% and the in-game mission statistic, but you can reach an ending without them.
Amanda, Tracey, and Jimmy can each call Michael for a family job. Those phone missions are missable, have no extra gold objectives, and are not needed to finish the story.
Common mistakes
- Do not treat the in-game mission statistic as the only Story Mode jobs. It follows one path and collapses heist approaches.
- Do not skip Pulling Favors after Father/Son and assume the story is stuck.
- Do not mix GTA Online Contact Missions or Online heist setups into this Story Mode order.
- Do not hunt gold on Getaway Vehicle or the family phone jobs. There are no extra objectives there.
- Do not use these missions for crew cuts or take ranges. Use Heists for that.
Nervous Ron and Trevor Philips Industries both open after Mr. Philips. Crystal Maze waits on both.
Blitz Play Intro is a planning setup with no extra gold objectives. Getaway Vehicle (Blitz Play) has no gold medal and no fail state.
Planning the Big Score is required and is where you pick Subtle or Obvious. The setups sit with The Big Score.
Franklin picks Something Sensible, The Time's Come, or The Third Way after The Big Score. The other two stay on Replay Mission. The original save choice does not change.
Surveying the Score is Big Score intel. Architect's Plans is where you pick Fire Crew or Roof Entry for the Bureau Raid.
Minisub is required for both Merryweather plans. Cargobob is Offshore-only. The Hotel Assassination is required to continue the story.
Mr. Richards and I Fought the Law... both open after Blitz Play. Deep Inside and Minor Turbulence both open after Caida Libre.
After Father/Son, Pulling Favors (Strangers and Freaks) is required before Chop and Marriage Counseling. That job is not a story letter.
The Hotel Assassination is required and sits earlier, with the FIB stretch. These four later Lester jobs count toward 100% and the in-game mission statistic, but you can finish an ending without them.
These are missable phone missions for Michael. They have no extra gold objectives.
Subtle uses Stingers and Gauntlet. Obvious uses Driller, Sidetracked, and Getaway Vehicle (The Big Score). Gauntlet is one setup that steals three cars.
Fire Truck and Getaway Vehicle (The Bureau Raid) only appear on Fire Crew. Roof Entry skips those setups. The Wrap Up always follows the raid.
Casing the Jewel Store is required. Loud then uses Carbine Rifles and The Jewel Store Job (Loud). Smart uses Bugstars Equipment, BZ Gas Grenades, and The Jewel Store Job (Smart).
Predator is a story hunt that sits with the Paleto setups. This heist has one scripted plan, not two approaches.
FAQ
Does this include GTA Online missions?
No. It covers GTA 5 Story Mode letter jobs, heist setups, heist approaches, endings, optional Lester assassinations, and optional family missions. Contact Missions, Freemode events, and Online heist setups stay out.
Why is the in-game mission statistic smaller?
That statistic follows one playthrough and collapses heist approaches. Extra missions exist because the other plan, extra endings, and some setups are their own jobs. Optional Lester and family work also sits off the shortest path.
Can I play both heist approaches on one save?
No. Approach-exclusive setups and finales only play for the plan you picked. The other approach does not unlock beside it.
Do I need gold medals to finish the story?
No. Finishing a mission with no extra objectives is enough to continue. Gold is all named objectives, and you can earn them across replays.
Can I replay the other endings?
Yes. After any ending, the other two stay on Pause > Game > Replay Mission. The original save choice does not change.
Is The Hotel Assassination optional?
No. It is required to continue the story and unlocks Franklin's Whispymound Drive safehouse. The four later Lester assassinations are the optional 100% jobs.