How to get started on GTA Online in 2024 (Complete beginner guide)

Grand Theft Auto 5 is considered one of the most complete online experiences in gaming. However, at the end of the day, the amount of time and content players can get out of the single-player experience is limited. Fortunately, that’s where Rockstar Games’ premium online experience fittingly called Grand Theft Auto Online comes into play.

GTA Online, as the name suggests, is Grand Theft Auto 5 but online. The game allows players to play with friends, family, and other loved ones, while also retaining what makes GTA games so loved worldwide. However, GTA Online initially came out back in 2013, the same year GTA 5 did. With so much content jammed into it, getting into the game in 2024, more than a decade after its release, may seem overwhelming.

Fortunately, we’re here with this complete beginner guide that’s here to go through the primary tips required for newcomers who are just jumping into GTA Online for the first time. From important investments to the best beginner missions, here’s how you can get started on GTA Online in 2024.

Navigating the tutorials and setting up your GTA Online character

Starting GTA Online can feel overwhelming as there are so many activities that you can do, from missions to the amount of options. To begin, ensure you’ve completed the prologue in the story mode as that’s mandatory for GTA Online. Once you’re in Online mode, take your time with the character creation process, as there are a bunch of cool customizations you can do.

You’ll then be guided through the tutorial led by Lamar Davis. Don’t skip this step, as it’s important for learning the basics of Online. In case you’ve already skipped the tutorial or feel unsure of what to do next, revisit some early missions marked on the map. These are straightforward and will ease you into the game.

Bankroll basics and understanding the GTA Online economy

In GTA Online, your starting bankroll can affect your early game experience. It can depend on a few things, like promotions or the version of the game purchased. The Career Builder for example gives you a $4 million headstart which will allow you to establish businesses or investments like a Bunker or Nightclub.

Understanding how to utilize your capital is key. Avoid unnecessary expenses or flashy vehicles or properties early on as they don’t help you get rich. Instead, spend your money or high-capacity vehicles for missions and weapons to defend yourself quickly during jobs. A steady income stream will make sure you have the resources to tackle more difficult operations.

The game’s economy is layered; heists and business operations give good opportunities but also need some hefty investments. Acid Lab and Bunkers help with passive income, while CEO and Motorcycle Club offer various goods to trade. Your goal should be diversifying your income with activities like Special Cargo or Vehicle Warehouses alongside passive resources.

The best beginner missions in GTA Online

GTA Online missions have a fixed minimum payout that increases with difficulty, added modifiers, and completion time. While this may change when GTA 6 comes out, the duration-based payout system makes it so longer missions will give you higher rewards. However, every mission also has a time limit and restricted replays, which is why you need to balance completion time with efficiency.

Talking about missions with the best simplicity-to-reward factor, “Pier Pressure” (unlocked at Rank 6) should be on your list as it has a decent payout of $15,000 while being easy to complete. For nostalgic car thefts, “Simeonomics” requires stealing different vehicles from the airport through stealth and skill, and offers a satisfying reward. At Rank 12, “Blow Up” should also be on your list, a mission that requires you to demolish cars at dealerships while avoiding cops.

Contact missions and adversary modes shouldn’t be overlooked either, as they help build capital, master gameplay, and offer good rewards. Be on the lookout for weekly double RP and cash promotions, and complete your daily objectives to earn consistent money and RP for a full month. Individual objectives also net your increasing payouts up to $100,000 for 100 tasks.

Must-have investments, vehicles, and weapons in GTA Online

The best investments for beginners that are easy to manage and have good returns are:

• The Acid Lab (free setup, good passive income)
• Kosatka (for solo Cayo Perico Heists)
• Agency (steady Payphone Hits)
• Bunker (passive income and Ammu-Nation deliveries)
• Nightclub (minimal upkeep and simple passive income)

For early-game vehicles, start with the free Elegy that’s good for races and general use. Then, aim for the Armored Kuruma ($525,000) unlocked after the Fleeca Job heist, as it’s irreplaceable for solo missions. The Zentorno is also a good choice for racing and balances performance and price. Also, invest in a low-cost garage to store your vehicles.

On the weapon front, eye the Combat MG Mk II for its firepower, and the versatile Carbine Rifle Mk II for precision. Also, add the Heavy Sniper Mk II to your arsenal for long-range combat, and the Assault Shotgun for close quarters. For sheer destruction, the RPG and Minigun are must-haves.

Are GTA Online crews worth it in 2024?

Joining crews in GTA Online is pretty simple through the Rockstar Social Club. In 2024, many console crews are still highly active, but PC crews can be harder to find. Crews provide tons of social experiences, help players grind, and complete missions. For Xbox users, some crews even span old and new generations which makes for a vibrant community. If you’re on PC however, you’re better off spending your time in roleplay.

The question of whether crews are worth it or not ultimately boils down to your goals and how much effort you’re willing to put in. They can be totally worth it if you seek an organized and social gameplay experience. However, the value of a crew depends on activity level; if the members are inactive then the crew becomes stagnated. If you can find a committed crew, it’s definitely worth it for a more fulfilling experience.

How to deal with griefers and scammers in GTA Online

The online experience is what makes GTA Online stand out from the other GTA games. However, it’s also one of the biggest reasons some players don’t play it. While playing with friends and family is naturally an extremely fun experience, some random players aim to disrupt the experience of other players.

Thanks to this, it’s crucial to know how to deal with griefers and scammers in GTA Online. Naturally, the first step for that is to understand how these griefers operate. Many players in GTA Online try to ruin the gaming experience for newcomers by repeatedly killing them, destroying their vehicles, or not letting them complete certain missions.

If you come across a player like this then Passive Mode may be a good idea. Passive Mode can be enabled through the interaction menu in GTA Online. While this ensures other players aren’t able to attack you, it also makes it so you can’t complete certain objectives and missions.

Therefore, this mode is essentially only useful for players who want to enjoy a nice ride with their friends or something similar. Rockstar Games didn’t want things to be too easy for players and it shows.

At the end of the day, there are only two primary methods to deal with grifers.

• The first is to look for a quieter lobby. Some lobbies have more players than others, so finding lobbies with fewer players is a good idea to lower the chances of you coming across a griefer.
• The second, on the other hand, is to invest in weapons and the best defensive vehicles as soon as possible. Griefers usually only prey on players if they think they’re safe from getting killed, so taking them down and showing you’re a force to be reckoned with will ensure they don’t return to mess with you.