GTA VI Main Story Missions: Complete Mission List & Walkthroughs
The main story of GTA VI spans six chapters and approximately 72 missions, taking players on a sprawling journey from the dusty trailer parks of Port Gellhorn to the glittering penthouses of Vice City. Jason and Lucia’s story is one of ambition, betrayal, and survival — a modern Bonnie and Clyde tale set against the backdrop of Leonida’s criminal underworld.
This guide catalogs every main story mission, organized by chapter, with essential walkthrough details, gold medal requirements, and strategic advice. Use the table of contents below to jump to the chapter you need.
Story Mission Structure Overview
GTA VI organizes its narrative into six distinct chapters, each with a thematic focus and a primary antagonist. Unlike previous Rockstar titles, many missions offer branching approaches — stealth versus loud, day versus night timing, and approach-selection mechanics borrowed from the heist missions system.
| Chapter | Title | Mission Count | Primary Antagonist | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresh Out | 5 (Prologue) | Port Gellhorn Sheriff | Port Gellhorn |
| 2 | Building an Empire | 14 | Tomas Delgado | Vice City North |
| 3 | Blood in the Water | 13 | The Mendez Cartel | Vice City Docks & Keys |
| 4 | High Society | 12 | Victor St. Claire | Vice Beach & Downtown |
| 5 | Breaking Point | 15 | FIB Task Force | All Leonida |
| 6 | End of the Line | 13 | Multiple Factions | Various |
Chapter 2: Building an Empire
After the prologue, Chapter 2 establishes Jason and Lucia in Vice City’s criminal ecosystem. Working primarily for fixer Elena Vasquez and low-level crime boss Tomas Delgado, the duo builds their reputation through small-time scores, muscle work, and street-level drug operations.
Mission 6: First Day in Vice
Synopsis: Elena sends Jason and Lucia on a simple courier job that goes sideways, introducing them to Vice City’s corrupt VCPD.
Walkthrough Highlights:
- Drive to the drop point in Little Havana
- The exchange is a police sting — escape the warehouse ambush
- Introduces VCPD corruption mechanics: bribing officers, evidence disposal
- Combat against plainclothes detectives (headshots recommended — they wear light body armor)
Gold Medal Objectives:
- Time: 10:00
- Headhunter: 8 headshots
- Untouched: No damage
- Escape Artist: Lose wanted level within 60 seconds
Mission 7: Muscle Memory
Synopsis: Jason takes solo work as muscle for a loan shark operation, while Lucia runs surveillance from a nearby rooftop.
Walkthrough Highlights:
- Introduces partner-surveillance mechanics — Lucia tags enemies and cameras while Jason infiltrates
- Three debtors to intimidate across Little Havana
- Branching choices: rough them up, negotiate, or destroy property
- Unlocks the intimidation meter — a mechanic used throughout the game
Mission 8: Hot Merchandise
Synopsis: The duo steals a shipment of high-end vehicles from a Vice City port warehouse.
Walkthrough Highlights:
- First vehicle-focused main mission
- Choose between two approaches: stealthy dock infiltration or a smash-and-grab from the highway convoy
- Introduces the chop shop mechanic and vehicle fencing system
- Unlocks the Port of Vice City as a recurring mission location
Missions 9-19: Chapter 2 Continued
The remaining Chapter 2 missions expand the gameplay scope significantly:
| Mission | Key Feature Introduced |
|---|---|
| Family Ties | Relationship mechanic with NPC families |
| Wet Work | Underwater stealth and scuba gear |
| The Informant | Interrogation minigame |
| Speed Trap | Street racing as a story requirement |
| Safe House Raid | Defensive combat, fortification setup |
| Dope Sick | Drug-dealing territory system |
| Elena’s Gambit | First multi-phase mission with a boss fight |
| Clean Slate | Evidence destruction, police database hacking |
| Party Crashers | Social stealth (blending at a high-society event) |
| The Last Shipment | Chapter finale, boat chase through Vice City canals |
| Closing Time | Post-finale wrap-up, unlocks Chapter 3 |
Chapter 2 is where the game truly opens up. We recommend completing some side missions during this chapter to build up cash reserves and unlock useful equipment before the more demanding Chapter 3 missions.
Chapter 3: Blood in the Water
Chapter 3 pivots the narrative toward the Mendez Cartel, a Colombian drug trafficking organization operating throughout Leonida’s extensive coastline and the Vice Keys archipelago.
Key Chapter 3 Missions
Mission 20: Making Waves
The chapter opener introduces the boat ownership system. Jason and Lucia acquire a rundown speedboat — the Marlin Runner — that serves as their primary watercraft for the chapter. The mission involves a midnight smuggling run off the Vice Keys, teaching players how to navigate Leonida’s complex waterway system while avoiding Coast Guard patrols.
Mission 25: Deep Cover
One of the chapter’s standout missions. Lucia goes undercover inside the Mendez Cartel’s Vice City distribution hub, a converted warehouse in the industrial district. This mission leans heavily on:
- Social stealth and disguise mechanics
- Eavesdropping minigames (maintain proximity without being detected)
- Time-sensitive environmental puzzles
- A tense escape sequence when Lucia’s cover is blown
Mission 29: Cartel Crash
The mid-chapter action set piece. Jason and Lucia assault a Cartel safehouse in the Vice Keys. This mission features:
- Amphibious approach options (boat, seaplane, or underwater infiltration)
- Multi-story interior combat across a beachfront mansion
- The first appearance of Cartel lieutenants (mini-boss enemies with unique attack patterns)
- Destructible environments — walls, pillars, and furniture can be shot through or destroyed
Mission 32 (Chapter Finale): Sink or Swim
The Cartel storyline climaxes with a large-scale assault on the Mendez Cartel’s floating operations base — a converted cargo ship anchored in international waters. This mission combines:
- Helicopter insertion (piloted by an NPC ally; players rappel down and provide cover fire)
- Close-quarters ship interior combat
- A boss fight against cartel leader Hector Mendez (three phases, utilizes both characters’ special abilities)
- An escape sequence as the ship explodes (swimming mechanics, jet ski getaway)
Chapter 4: High Society
With the Cartel threat neutralized, Jason and Lucia set their sights on a bigger target: Victor St. Claire, a billionaire real estate mogul with deep ties to organized crime. This chapter shifts the tone toward white-collar crime, high-stakes social engineering, and the glitzy excess of Vice Beach.
Key Chapter 4 Missions
Mission 34: The Art of the Con
Introduces the social engineering mission type. Jason and Lucia must infiltrate a charity gala at a Vice Beach hotel, requiring:
- Formal attire purchase (unlocks the high-end clothing system)
- Social mingling minigame (maintain conversations, answer questions correctly)
- Distraction coordination between both characters
- Non-lethal takedowns only — killing anyone fails the mission
Mission 40: Penthouse Siege
St. Claire’s private security team attacks the duo’s newly acquired Vice Beach penthouse. This is GTA VI’s version of the classic survival-defense mission:
- Board up windows and doors during the prep phase
- Set traps (proximity mines, electrified surfaces, gas leaks)
- Survive waves of private military contractors
- The penthouse’s destruction is permanent — a narrative consequence that drives the next act
Before starting Penthouse Siege, transfer any vehicles stored in the penthouse garage to another property. The garage and all vehicles inside it are destroyed during the mission, and they cannot be recovered.
Mission 44 (Chapter Finale): Glass House
The confrontation with Victor St. Claire takes place in his signature skyscraper — the St. Claire Tower in downtown Vice City. The mission features:
- Ground-floor lobby infiltration (choice of disguise, frontal assault, or underground parking entry)
- Elevator ascent with combat encounters on multiple floors
- A glass-floor penthouse confrontation with environmental hazards (glass shatters under gunfire)
- St. Claire’s escape via rooftop helicopter — a chase across Vice City’s skyline
- The final showdown on a construction crane
Chapter 5: Breaking Point
Chapter 5 raises the stakes dramatically as the FIB forms a dedicated task force to apprehend Jason and Lucia. This chapter is the longest and most challenging, featuring cross-country missions, multi-location heists, and high-stakes survival scenarios.
Key Chapter 5 Missions
Mission 45: Federal Heat
The chapter opens with the FIB raiding all of the duo’s known safehouses simultaneously. This mission teaches players how to:
- Evade federal-level wanted status (4-5 stars, much harder than local police)
- Use safehouse escape routes (each safehouse has a unique escape path)
- Manage resources when cut off from weapon caches and vehicle storage
- Operate independently — Jason and Lucia are separated for much of this mission
Mission 52: Divided
One of the most narratively significant missions. Jason and Lucia have a falling out and must complete parallel objectives on opposite sides of the map. The mission alternates between characters at scripted intervals:
- Lucia handles a negotiation in Vice City while Jason infiltrates an FIB evidence warehouse in Port Gellhorn
- Actions taken by one character affect the other’s situation in real time
- The mission’s outcome changes based on performance — poor performance leads to a more difficult Chapter 6
Mission 55: The Informant
A tense, dialogue-heavy mission that plays like an interactive thriller. Jason and Lucia have captured an FIB informant and must extract information before the FIB tracks them down. The mission features:
- The full interrogation system (intimidation, deception, evidence presentation)
- A real-time countdown as FIB agents close in on the location
- Branching outcomes based on interrogation effectiveness
- An optional bonus objective that unlocks a powerful late-game ally
Mission 59 (Chapter Finale): Breaking the Bank
Widely considered the hardest mission in GTA VI. This climactic heist targets the Leonida Federal Reserve’s regional depository. Full details are covered in our dedicated heist missions guide, but key highlights include:
- Three possible approaches (each with unique prep missions)
- The longest single mission in the game (45-60 minutes)
- Multiple boss encounters with FIB tactical teams
- A branching ending depending on choices made during the heist
Chapter 6: End of the Line
The final chapter brings the story to its conclusion. Without spoiling specific plot details, here is the structure:
Missions 60-66: The Reckoning
These missions deal with the fallout from the Federal Reserve heist. Loose ends are tied up, betrayals are revealed, and Jason and Lucia must decide what kind of future they want. Key features include:
- Return to Port Gellhorn for a narrative full-circle moment
- Final confrontations with remaining antagonists
- High-stakes vehicle chases through Leonida’s most iconic locations
- The loyalty system culmination — relationship choices throughout the game determine available ending options
Missions 67-72: The Final Choice
The final mission sequence branches significantly based on player choices. Without revealing specific endings:
- Multiple final-mission variants exist
- The “true” ending requires specific conditions met throughout the game
- An epilogue sequence allows free-roam continuation regardless of the ending chosen
- Post-game content unlocks, including new stranger missions and activities
Create a manual save before starting Mission 60. This allows you to experience all ending variants without replaying the entire game. The branching is significant enough that each path contains several hours of unique content.
Mission Replay and Completion Tracking
GTA VI features the most robust mission replay system Rockstar has developed. From the pause menu, select Game > Mission Replay to access every completed mission.
Replay Features
- Individual objective tracking: Replay a mission to target a specific missed gold medal objective
- Difficulty selection: Replays can be attempted on any difficulty, though gold medals require the default difficulty or higher
- Loadout choice: Select your weapons and equipment before restarting, using anything unlocked in your main save
- Skip cutscenes: All cutscenes are skippable on replays, including those that were unskippable on the first playthrough
Completion Rewards
| Completion Level | Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Complete all 72 missions | $100,000 bonus, “Leonida Legend” achievement |
| Silver | Bronze + 50 silver medals | Exclusive Declasse Sabre GT (vintage), 10% discount at all Ammu-Nation stores |
| Gold | Silver + all gold medals | Exclusive Super Drop Diamond vehicle, infinite special ability for both characters |
Tips for Completing All Main Story Missions
Manage Your Economy
Money is tight early in GTA VI but becomes plentiful by Chapter 4. Invest early earnings into:
- Body armor — Always restock before story missions
- Weapon upgrades — Suppressors and extended magazines pay for themselves
- Safehouse upgrades — Fast travel points and weapon lockers save significant time
For detailed economic strategies, see our Guides section.
Develop Both Characters Equally
While it is tempting to favor one protagonist, many late-game missions require both Jason and Lucia to operate at peak effectiveness. Alternate freely between characters during free-roam and ensure both have:
- Maxed-out shooting skill
- High stamina (running and swimming)
- A full set of upgraded weapons
- At least one customized personal vehicle
Use the Stock Market
GTA VI reintroduces the stock market system from GTA V with significant improvements. Certain story missions affect stock prices in predictable ways. Investing before key missions — particularly corporate sabotage missions in Chapter 4 — can multiply your wealth. Check our Guides for the complete stock market strategy.
Do Not Ignore Phone Calls
Throughout the story, you will receive phone calls from NPCs offering optional context, hints, and occasionally bonus missions. Answering these calls enriches the narrative and sometimes unlocks hidden content. Ignoring them does not block story progress but may lock you out of certain side opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to beat GTA VI’s main story?
A focused playthrough ignoring side content takes approximately 35 to 40 hours. A completionist run including all side activities, collectibles, and gold medal objectives extends to 80 to 100 hours. The game is approximately 30% longer than GTA V’s main story.
Are there any story missions that require co-op?
No main story mission requires a co-op partner. Co-op is entirely optional. Missions designed for two players scale enemy counts and objectives appropriately when played solo. The AI controls the second character competently during these sequences.
Can missions be completed in any order?
Within each chapter, some missions can be tackled in any order. The game presents 2-3 available missions at a time during open chapter segments, and you can choose which to pursue first. However, chapter-finale missions always require completing all preceding chapter missions.
What happens if I fail a mission?
GTA VI uses an improved checkpoint system. Failing a mission restarts you at the most recent checkpoint rather than the mission’s beginning. Checkpoints are generously placed, typically before each major combat encounter or set piece. You can also choose to restart the entire mission from the pause menu.
Are vehicles and weapons from mission replays saved?
No. Mission replays give you access to your current save’s arsenal, but any vehicles or weapons acquired during the replay do not transfer back to your main save. This prevents exploiting replays for unlimited resources.
Does mission performance affect the story?
On a first playthrough, gold/silver/bronze performance only affects the completion rewards, not the story itself. However, several missions feature binary success/failure states for optional objectives that do influence the narrative — for example, saving an NPC or destroying evidence before the police arrive. These are clearly indicated by the gold “optional story objective” marker.
Can I access Chapter 6 without completing all side content?
Yes. Side missions, stranger missions, and optional activities are never required for main story progression. However, some Chapter 6 dialogue and small cutscene details change based on your relationship levels with various NPCs you encounter through side content.
Next Steps
Now that you understand the full scope of GTA VI’s main story, dive deeper with these specialized guides:
- Heist Missions Guide — Complete breakdown of every heist, including the Federal Reserve job
- Side Missions Guide — All optional activities and their rewards
- Gold Medal Guide — Specific strategies for achieving 100% mission completion
- Vehicles Catalog — Every vehicle’s stats, locations, and customization options
- Map Guide — Complete interactive map with all mission start points, collectibles, and points of interest