GTA VI Gold Medal Guide: How to Get 100% Completion on Every Mission

Gold medals are the ultimate test of mastery in GTA VI. Each mission — from the 5 prologue tutorials to the 72-story campaign — includes a set of performance objectives that must be met to earn the coveted gold rating. This guide breaks down every standard objective type, provides universal strategies that apply across all missions, and highlights the specific missions where gold requirements demand exceptional preparation.

Understanding the Gold Medal System

How Objectives Work

Every mission in GTA VI has 5-6 gold medal objectives, typically structured as:

Cumulative Tracking

GTA VI introduces cumulative objective tracking — a massive quality-of-life improvement over previous Rockstar titles. Here is how it works:

• You do not need to earn all objectives in a single mission run
• Each objective is tracked independently across all replays of the mission
• The game remembers your best performance for each category
• When all objectives are met (over any number of replays), the gold medal is awarded

This means you can do a fast run for the time objective, then a careful run for headhunter and accuracy, then a stealth-focused run for the undetected objective — and receive gold when the last missing objective is met.

Universal Gold Medal Strategies

These strategies apply across all mission types and should become second nature as you pursue gold medals.

The Time Objective

The time objective is the most common gold requirement and often the most challenging for players unfamiliar with a mission’s layout.

General Tips:

• Skip cutscenes — Replays allow cutscene skipping. Every second counts, and cutscenes can add 2-5 minutes to a mission.
• Memorize routes — On a first attempt, drive the GPS route. On a gold run, know the shortcuts. Off-road cuts, alleyway passages, and bridge jumps can save 30+ seconds per segment.
• Use fast vehicles — If the mission allows vehicle choice, always bring your fastest personal vehicle. The Grotti Turismo Classic and Pegassi Ignus are top choices.
• Pre-park escape vehicles — On missions where your escape vehicle is pre-determined, park it facing the exit direction before starting the objective that triggers the escape sequence.
• Minimize combat — Killing every enemy wastes time. Focus on enemies blocking your path and suppress the rest with blind fire while moving forward.
• Character-switch for speed — In dual-protagonist missions, switch to whichever character is closer to the next objective rather than running across the map.

Most Demanding Time Limits:

• “Breaking the Bank” — 40:00 (Aggressive approach)
• “The Last Shipment” — 12:00
• “Federal Heat” — 18:00

The Headhunter Objective

Headhunter objectives require a specific number of headshots during a mission. These range from 5 (early missions) to 50 (Federal Reserve Aggressive approach).

General Tips:

• Aim high — Obvious but essential. Train yourself to aim at head level by default, not center mass.
• Use Jason’s Eagle Eye — Jason’s special ability slows time while aiming. Pop Eagle Eye, line up headshots, and release. Each activation should yield 3-5 headshots.
• Weapon choice matters — For headshot farming:
  • Pistol (with suppressor): Best for single, precise shots against stationary targets
  • Marksman Rifle: Ideal for distance headshots during outdoor segments
  • Assault Rifle (single-fire mode): Switch to semi-auto for more controlled headshots
  • Avoid shotguns and explosives: These cannot score headshots and waste potential targets
• Farm headshots during scripted sequences — Some missions pause enemy spawning during dialogue or scripted events. Identify these lulls and do not kill the last enemy until the next wave spawns.
• Restart checkpoints strategically — If a combat section ends and you are short of headshots, let yourself die or fail to restart the section rather than proceeding.

High Headhunter Requirement Missions:

• “Breaking the Bank” (Aggressive): 50 headshots
• “Penthouse Siege”: 35 headshots
• “Cartel Crash”: 30 headshots

The Untouched Objective

Taking no damage during an entire mission is one of the hardest objectives, especially on combat-heavy missions.

General Tips:

• Full armor is mandatory — Always start a gold run with full body armor. Super Heavy Armor is available from Ammu-Nation after Chapter 4.
• Cover is your religion — Move between cover points. Never stand in the open during combat. The cover system in GTA VI is more responsive than in previous entries — use it constantly.
• Use Lucia’s Ghost Step — For missions where stealth is an option, Lucia’s special ability reduces detection radius, making it easier to avoid combat entirely.
• Eliminate threats at range — Engage enemies from as far away as possible. The farther you are, the lower their accuracy.
• Prioritize enemy types — Shotgun enemies and heavy gunners deal the most damage. Eliminate them first. Standard pistol enemies are lower threat.
• Know when to retreat — If your armor breaks, fall back to a safe position before re-engaging. Dying restarts the checkpoint, but taking health damage ruins Untouched.

Hardest Untouched Missions:

• “Sink or Swim” (ship interior combat with limited cover)
• “Penthouse Siege” (surrounded on all sides)
• “Breaking the Bank” (long duration with many combat phases)

The Accuracy Objective

Accuracy requirements typically range from 60% to 80% and are calculated as: total shots that hit enemies divided by total shots fired.

General Tips:

• Never fire blind — Blind fire (shooting from cover without aiming) counts shots toward your accuracy stat but almost never hits anything. Avoid it entirely on gold runs.
• Use single-fire mode — Full-auto fire inevitably sends rounds into walls and air. Switch to semi-auto and make every shot deliberate.
• Do not suppress — In normal play, you might spray an area to keep enemies pinned. On a gold run, every shot must have a target.
• Melee where possible — Stealth takedowns and melee kills do not affect your accuracy stat. Clear isolated enemies with takedowns to preserve accuracy for unavoidable firefights.
• The sniper advantage — Sniper rifles at long range are a safe way to build accuracy. The scope eliminates missed shots from recoil or movement.
• Avoid vehicle combat shooting — Firing from a moving vehicle has terrible accuracy by design. Either stop the vehicle to shoot, or avoid vehicle combat segments entirely by choosing non-combat approaches.

Stealth Objectives

Many missions offer bonus objectives for completing sections without detection.

General Tips:

• Tag everything first — Use the camera to tag every enemy in the area before moving. Knowing where everyone is prevents surprise encounters.
• Crouch always — Your movement noise is significantly reduced while crouching. There is almost no reason to stand during stealth segments.
• Takedown from behind only — Frontal takedowns have a chance to fail and alert the target. Always approach from behind.
• Watch for cameras — Cameras are often placed in corners and above doorways. They have a visible red light and a detectable field of view. Tag them and either disable them (shooting or EMP) or time your movement when they face away.
• Body disposal is essential — Guards discover bodies and raise alarms. After every takedown, drag the body to a concealed location. Bodies hidden in dumpsters, lockers, or behind major obstacles are never discovered.
• Use environmental distractions — Throw objects (bottles, rocks, bullet casings) to lure guards away from their posts. The distraction radius is generous, and guards investigate for 10-15 seconds before returning.

Mission-Specific Gold Strategies

Prologue Gold Medals

The prologue missions are the easiest to get gold on due to their short length and simple objectives. Refer to our prologue guide for per-mission breakdowns. Key points:

• Replay “A Fresh Start” first — it has no combat, so Untouched is free
• “The Port Gellhorn Score” stealth objective requires not alerting any guards before the vault; memorize patrol patterns
• “Welcome to Vice” requires visiting all 4 optional locations; mark them on your map before starting the mission

Chapter 2 Gold Medals

“Speed Trap” (Mission 12): The time objective requires completing the street race in first place and under 4:30. Use a Pfister Comet S2 and take the shortcut through the construction site during lap 2.

“Dope Sick” (Mission 14): Accuracy objective is 75%. This mission has many scripted ambushes — enemies always spawn from the same locations. Memorize spawn points and pre-aim.

“Safe House Raid” (Mission 15): The special objective requires no fortifications destroyed. Place traps near, not on, entry points to funnel enemies without destroying your own barricades.

Chapter 3 Gold Medals

“Deep Cover” (Mission 25): The stealth objective is the hardest in the game. You must complete the entire warehouse infiltration without being detected. Key tips:

• The patrol patterns change on replays (semi-randomized to prevent memorization)
• Use Lucia’s Ghost Step ability liberally — it recharges faster than Jason’s Eagle Eye
• The kitchen area has a guard who does not follow a pattern — he sits at a table reading a newspaper, but looks up every 30 seconds
• Video walkthroughs for this specific mission are available on our Guides page

“Sink or Swim” (Mission 32): The time objective (25:00) is the hardest in Chapter 3. During the ship interior sequence, run past enemies where possible rather than clearing every room. The ship’s layout is linear — if you know the route, you can skip half the combat.

Chapter 4 Gold Medals

“Penthouse Siege” (Mission 40): The Untouched and Headhunter objectives are in direct tension — aggressive play gets more headshots but risks damage. Strategy: use the upstairs bedroom as a chokepoint. Funnel enemies up the single staircase, headshot them as they appear, and retreat to the far corner if armor breaks.

“Glass House” (Mission 44): The special objective requires killing St. Claire within 5 seconds of reaching the construction crane. Pre-equip the Heavy Sniper Mk II with explosive rounds before starting the mission. One headshot ends the fight instantly.

Chapter 5 Gold Medals

“Federal Heat” (Mission 45): The Untouched objective is extremely difficult due to the mission’s chaos. Strategy: during the safehouse raid sequence, immediately leave through the back window (do not engage the first wave at all). The mission progresses regardless of how many agents you kill.

“Breaking the Bank” (Mission 59): The hardest gold medal in the game. See the dedicated heist missions guide for comprehensive strategies. Key points:

• The Smart approach is easier to get gold on than Aggressive, despite the lower raw payout
• The time limit for Aggressive (40:00) is barely achievable even with perfect play — expect multiple attempts
• For Headhunter (50), farm kills during the lobby defense phase rather than rushing to the next objective
• You will need Super Heavy Armor, full snacks, and maximized shooting skill on both characters

Chapter 6 Gold Medals

The final chapter’s gold medal requirements vary by ending path. Generally, these missions have more forgiving time limits but stricter accuracy and headhunter requirements. The game expects you to be skilled by this point.

Equipment and Preparation for Gold Runs

Recommended Weapons

Character Preparation

Before attempting difficult gold medals, ensure both characters have:

• Shooting Skill: 100/100 (practice at Ammu-Nation ranges)
• Stamina: 80+/100 (run everywhere in free-roam to build)
• Stealth: 60+/100 (practice stealth takedowns in free-roam)
• Special Ability: Fully upgraded via collectible completion
• Lung Capacity: 50+/100 (for missions with underwater segments)

Useful Unlocked Items

Certain items make gold runs significantly easier:

• Super Heavy Armor — Unlocks after completing Chapter 4. Provides double the protection of standard armor.
• Bullshark Testosterone — A temporary combat boost item found in the Everglades. Increases damage dealt and reduces damage taken for 60 seconds. Store these for boss-heavy missions.
• Rebreather — Unlimited underwater breathing. Found during the “Treasure Hunter” stranger mission chain.
• Parachute (High-Performance) — Found at the top of the St. Claire Tower after Chapter 4. Tighter turning for precise landing challenges.

Efficient Gold Medal Farming Route

For players specifically targeting the 100% completion achievement, here is an efficient gold medal route:

Phase 1: Prologue (5 golds, ~1 hour)

Replay all 5 prologue missions. These are the easiest golds in the game. Complete them first to build confidence and familiarity with the medal system.

Phase 2: Early Game (15 golds, ~3 hours)

Focus on Chapters 2 and 3 missions with straightforward objectives. Priority missions:

• “First Day in Vice” (easy time and headhunter)
• “Hot Merchandise” (generous time limit)
• “Closing Time” (short mission, easy objectives)
• “Making Waves” (mostly vehicle-based, easy Untouched)

Phase 3: Easy Side Content (10 golds, ~2 hours)

Street races are reliable gold medal sources. The early races have easy time limits and no headhunter requirement. Complete the first 10 races for quick golds.

Phase 4: Chapter 4 (12 golds, ~4 hours)

Chapter 4 missions are challenging but fair. The gold requirements test mastery without being unreasonable. “The Art of the Con” is surprisingly easy because its objectives focus on social stealth rather than combat.

Phase 5: Chapter 5 Selective (15 golds, ~6 hours)

You do not need every Chapter 5 mission at gold. Skip “Federal Heat” and “Breaking the Bank” initially — they are the two hardest gold medals. Target the shorter Chapter 5 missions for efficient progress.

Phase 6: Cleanup (13+ golds, variable hours)

Assess your gold total and fill the gap to 70 with missions you found enjoyable. The easier Chapter 6 missions, vigilante missions, and any early missions you may have skipped should close the gap.

The 100% Completion Checklist

Gold medals represent one component of GTA VI’s 100% completion metric. Here is the full breakdown:

The gold medal requirement is the single largest contributor to 100% completion and typically the most time-consuming due to the skill required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn gold medals in co-op?

Yes. Co-op players can earn gold medals together, but both players must individually meet the objectives. If one player takes damage, neither earns Untouched. If one player achieves the headhunter count, only that player earns the Headhunter objective. Co-op golds are tracked per-player, not per-session.

Do cheat codes disable gold medals?

Yes. Activating any cheat code during a mission permanently disables gold medal tracking for that playthrough. You must reload a save from before the cheat was activated to restore gold medal eligibility. For a complete list of cheats and their effects, see our Cheats guide.

Do difficulty settings affect gold medal requirements?

Gold medal objectives are the same across all difficulties. However, playing on Easy mode disables gold medal tracking entirely. Gold medals can only be earned on Normal or Hard difficulty. Hard mode does not change the objectives but makes combat more punishing, indirectly making objectives like Untouched more difficult.

Is there a reward for getting gold on every single mission?

Beyond the satisfaction and the 100% completion achievement, there is a special reward: the “Ghost of Leonida” vehicle — a matte-black, performance-enhanced variant of the Pegassi Ignus that does not appear on police radar. It is purely a prestige item for dedicated players.

Can I see which objectives I am missing during a mission replay?

The pause menu during mission replays shows current objective status. Press the Options/Menu button, navigate to the Medal Progress tab, and you will see live tracking of all objectives. This allows you to monitor your headhunter count, damage status, and accuracy percentage in real time.

What is the difference between a gold medal run and a speedrun?

Gold medal runs only need to meet the specific objectives listed. You do not need to optimize beyond those requirements. A speedrun optimizes for time exclusively, often ignoring other objectives. Gold runs typically balance multiple constraints — fast but accurate, aggressive but careful.

Are there any gold medal objectives that require luck?

A few objectives have elements of randomness:

• Enemy patrol patterns in stealth missions are semi-randomized on replay, requiring adaptability
• Vehicle spawn locations during escape sequences can vary slightly
• NPC behavior in missions like “The Art of the Con” has reaction ranges

None of these random elements make objectives impossible — they prevent pure memorization and reward genuine skill. The randomization range is intentionally limited so that consistent play is always rewarded.

Next Steps

Gold medals represent peak performance in GTA VI. Continue mastering the game with:

• Main Story Missions — Complete walkthroughs with all gold requirements listed per mission
• Heist Missions — Detailed gold strategies for the game’s most complex missions
• Side Missions — Gold objectives for racing, vigilante work, and more
• Vehicles Guide — The best vehicles for time trials, combat, and mission-specific requirements
• Secrets Guide — Hidden items and locations that provide advantages during gold runs