GTA 5 beginner tips: how to switch characters and use special abilities, how to level up skills, where to save, where to get weapons and cars, and how not to waste money early on.
Switching between characters
GTA 5 has three protagonists: Michael, Franklin and Trevor. You start as Franklin, and switching unlocks in the first story missions as Michael and Trevor join the story. Once all three are available, the game gets more convenient: instead of a long drive across the map, you can simply switch to the character who is already near the mission you want.
- PlayStation and Xbox: hold down on the D-pad, pick a character with the right stick and release.
- PC: hold Alt and pick a character with the mouse or the arrow keys.
Story missions are tied to specific characters: if the mission you need is not on the map, switch to someone else. Switching is locked during some tasks, and that is normal. More about the trio on the GTA 5 characters page.
Special abilities: when to use them
Each character has his own special ability, and the bar under the minimap shows how much is left. You trigger it by clicking both sticks (L3+R3 on PlayStation, LS+RS on Xbox) or with Caps Lock on PC.
| Character | What it does | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Michael | Slows time in gunfights | When there are many enemies and you need headshots |
| Franklin | Slows time while driving | In chases and on tight corners |
| Trevor | Rage: deals more damage, takes less | When he is surrounded and low on health |
The bar refills on its own over time and grows faster the more you use the ability, because that levels up the Special skill. If the bar is empty at a bad moment, the POWERUP cheat from GTA 5 cheats will help, but remember that cheats temporarily disable achievements and trophies.
Skills: how to level up each one
Skills in GTA 5 grow from what the character does. You do not buy them. Starting values differ: Franklin is the better driver, Michael the better shot, Trevor the better pilot. You can check them in the pause menu under Stats.
| Skill | What it gives | How to level it up |
|---|---|---|
| Stamina | Run, swim and cycle for longer | Run, swim, cycle, do triathlons |
| Shooting | Less recoil, faster reloads, more ammo | Ammu-Nation shooting range, headshots |
| Strength | Harder punches, less damage from falls and crashes | Fistfights, tennis, golf |
| Stealth | Quieter, faster movement in stealth mode | Sneak around, silent takedowns |
| Flying | Less turbulence, smoother landings | Fly, complete flight school |
| Driving | Better control in jumps, easier wheelies | Drive, land jumps on all four wheels |
| Lung Capacity | Longer underwater | Dive |
| Special | The ability bar grows faster | Use the ability more often |
The fastest options are the shooting range for Shooting and flight school for Flying: both also count toward 100% completion. Exactly what full completion requires is in the 100% checklist.
Saving, and what happens when you die
- Safehouse bed. Walk up to the bed in your character's home and go to sleep, and the game will offer to save. Sleeping also passes time, which you will need for the stock market.
- Quick save from the phone. Open the phone (up on the D-pad) and choose Quick Save. Handy before risky purchases and missions.
- Autosave kicks in after missions but does not replace manual saves: use separate slots before heists and before the final story choice.
If your character is killed or arrested during a mission, the game offers to restart from a checkpoint. According to the wiki, though, some gold medal conditions (time, accuracy) are then not counted. Outside missions, the character respawns near a hospital or police station and loses some cash.
On PS5 and Xbox Series X|S you can carry over saves from PS4 or Xbox One. How to do it is on the GTA 5 platforms page.
Where to get weapons
Weapons are sold by the Ammu-Nation chain, marked on the map with a pistol icon. The selection expands as you progress: the Carbine Rifle, for example, appears after the jewel store job, and the Sniper Rifle after the mission Nervous Ron.
| Weapon | Story Mode price |
|---|---|
| Pistol | $350 |
| Micro SMG | $850 |
| Assault Rifle | $1,400 |
| Carbine Rifle | $2,100 |
| Sniper Rifle | $5,000 |
| RPG | $6,500 |
Tips: buy body armor before tough missions, and do not spend money on expensive exotic guns like the $250,000 Railgun: a regular assault rifle and a sniper rifle will get you through the story. The full price list is on the GTA 5 weapons page.
Cars: how not to lose a vehicle
- Park valuable cars in the safehouse garage. Every safehouse has a garage, and it is the safest place for a car you want to keep.
- Buy through the websites on your phone. Legendary Motorsport, Southern San Andreas Super Autos, Elitas Travel, Docktease and Warstock deliver vehicles to your garage, hangar or dock.
- Franklin can buy Los Santos Customs on Route 68 for $349,000, and then modding at that shop is free for him.
- Do not spend a million on a supercar early on. Fast cars turn up on the streets, and the fastest models in Story Mode are listed on the GTA 5 vehicles page.
A few more time-saving tips
- Do not rush Lester's assassinations. The first one is mandatory, and the rest are better saved for the end of the story: that way you make many times more on the stock market. The plan is in the guide how to make money in GTA 5.
- Choose your heist crew carefully. Hires who survive get better and perform better on later jobs. Details in GTA 5 heists.
- Try first-person view. It is in the PS4, Xbox One, PC and newer versions; 15 hours in it unlocks the A New Perspective achievement.
- Question marks on the map are Strangers and Freaks, side storylines with their own rewards. The list is in Strangers and Freaks.
- Do not get lost. Districts and key locations are covered on the GTA 5 map page.
GTA 5 beginner FAQ
How do you switch characters in GTA 5?
On PlayStation and Xbox, hold down on the D-pad and pick a character with the right stick. On PC, hold Alt and pick with the mouse. Switching unlocks in the first story missions and is only locked during certain tasks.
How do you use the special ability in GTA 5?
Click both sticks together: L3+R3 on PlayStation or LS+RS on Xbox. On PC, press Caps Lock. Michael slows time in gunfights, Franklin slows it while driving, and Trevor goes into a rage.
How do you save in GTA 5?
Sleep in the bed at your character's safehouse, or open the phone and choose Quick Save. The game also autosaves after missions, but before heists it is better to save manually to a separate slot.
How do you level up skills in GTA 5?
Skills grow with practice: Shooting at the Ammu-Nation range, Flying at flight school, Stamina by running and swimming, Strength by fighting, tennis and golf, Lung Capacity by diving.
Should you start GTA 5 with Story Mode or GTA Online?
With Story Mode. It teaches you the controls, the map and how heists work, while GTA Online is a separate mode with its own money and progress. More on the GTA Online page.
Do cheats disable achievements?
Yes, but only temporarily: Rockstar says you can save with cheats on, while achievements are disabled. According to guides, they become available again after restarting the game or loading a save.
Read next
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Sources
- Official: Rockstar Games, Rockstar Newswire, Rockstar Support, Take-Two Interactive
- Databases and guides: GTABase, GTA Wiki, GTA BOOM, PowerPyx
- Press: GamesRadar, PC Gamer, IGN, VGC, Game Informer
Every fact is checked against official sources or at least two independent ones; player-sourced data is labelled in the text. Images are official Rockstar Games material. GTA Top is not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.