GTA Online Arena War guide

The Arena War DLC update was released nearly six years ago on December 11, 2018, and this GTA Online Arena War guide will discuss all the important things and features Rockstar Games added to the multiplayer game. The gaming studio added a new business and vehicles to this action-packed DLC that players can still use today.

The GTA Online Arena War guide will discuss the new business, game modes, weapons, vehicles, and other important details that every player should know. If you haven’t played the Arena War DLC yet, we suggest you first go through this article so that you don’t miss out on the interesting things,

Note: Some parts of this GTA Online Arena War guide are subjective and only reflect the writer’s opinions.

GTA Online Arena War guide: A rundown of all the DLC contents

The GTA Online Arena War guide provides all important DLC details that players should know (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Arena War DLC in Grand Theft Auto Online introduced a series of new Adversary Modes called the Arena War Series. These game modes are playable using the specialized Arena War vehicles that you can purchase and own in-game. In addition to the specialized vehicles, Rockstar Games also added a handful of new normal cars, most of which are still available to date.

To play the new Arena War Series Adversary Modes, you will need a new property called the Arena Workshop. It was one of the main highlights of the December 2018 DLC, along with the new futuristic weapons. Rockstar Games also added a handful of new contact missions and races that are very useful for new players in the multiplayer game.

However, the GTA Online Arena War guide readers should note that purchasing a new business, vehicle, or DLC weapon will cost a lot of cash. Therefore, it is advised to make plenty of money beforehand so that you can enjoy the DLC without any break. If you are looking for money-making methods, we suggest you check out the Grand Theft Auto 5 money guide.

A brief introduction to the Arena Workshop in Grand Theft Auto Online

The Arena Workshop is the first thing GTA Online Arena War guide readers should buy (Image via Rockstar Games)

To get started with the December 2018 DLC, the GTA Online Arena War guide advises you to first acquire the Arena Workshop. It is a unique property that works as a specialized vehicle customization garage and also gives you inside access to the Maze Bank Arena in La Puerta, Los Santos.

The Arena Workshop is listed on the Arena War website and costs $995,000 as the base price. The following are the steps to buy the property in Grand Theft Auto Online:

Open the eyefind.info homepage.
Click on the Arena War website thumbnail or visit www.arenawar.tv in-game.
Click on the Purchase Workshop button on the Arena War website.
Go through all the additional customizations and upgrades offered for the property.
Once you are done, click on the Buy Now button.
Go through all your selected preferences for one last time.
Click on the Buy Now button to finish the purchase.

Rockstar Games offers the following upgrades and customizations for the property:

Office Style
Workshop Graphics
Workshop Color
Garage Floor B1 - Can store up to ten vehicles
Garage Floor B2- Can store up to ten vehicles
Mechanic (Arena Mechanic, Benny’s Original Motor Works Mechanic, and a Weapons Expert)
Personal Quarters

However, the GTA Online Arena War guide should note that these will increase the purchase cost, which can go up to $4.4 million. If you are planning to store personal vehicles within the property, we suggest you get the Garage Floor(s). The three mechanics offered by Rockstar Games can also come in handy in various situations.

Once the property, is purchased, visit the Maze Bank Arena to trigger the introductory cutscene. There you will meet Alan "Al" Jerome and Bryony who will introduce you to the property and the various functions it offers.

Also read: Grand Theft Auto Online beginner’s guide

A brief introduction to the Arena War DLC missions in Grand Theft Auto Online

The GTA Online Arena War guide advises action-loving players to try these game modes (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Arena War Series missions are PvP missions that can be played using vehicles. These missions only take place inside the Maze Bank Arena and participants must have an Arena Workshop and certified vehicles to access the gameplay.

The following are all the Arena War Series missions in Grand Theft Auto Online added as part of the December 2018 DLC update:

Carnage
Flag War
Games Masters
Here Come The Monsters
Hot Bomb
Tag Team
Wreck It
Buzzer Beater
Bomb Ball

While these were the main missions of the DLC, the GTA Online Arena War guide readers should know that Rockstar Games also added a new series of race missions called RC Bandito Races.

The following is a list of all the new RC Bandito Races added as part of the Arena War DLC in Grand Theft Auto Online:

RC - Air Traffic Control
RC - All Downhill From Here
RC - Beach Please
RC - Docking Around
RC - Go for 'broke
RC - Paleto Bae
RC - Tee'd Off
RC - Trailer Park Dash
RC - Arena Tour
RC - Cargo Chaos
RC - Mirror Image
RC - Pierless
RC - Tour of Duty
RC - Tourist Trail
RC - Water Pressure

Additionally, the December 2018 DLC added new life to Simeon Yetarian’s Premium Deluxe Motorsport business by adding eight new Repo Work Missions. They are as follows:

Repo - Blow Up IV
Repo - Sasquashed
Repo - Under the Hammer
Repo - Do You Even Lift?
Repo - GTA Today II
Repo - RV Nearly There?
Repo - Burn Rate
Repo - Simeonomics

Also read: Grand Theft Auto Online PvP guide

List of all the new vehicles added with the Grand Theft Auto Online Arena War DLC

The GTA Online Arena War guide readers must try out all the vehicles added with the DLC (Image via Rockstar Games)

Rockstar Games added 46 new vehicles as part of the Grand Theft Auto Online Arena War DLC. These include both mission-specific vehicles and regular ones. The GTA Online Arena War guide readers should note that there are 12 unique mission-specific vehicles, each of which has three different variants.

Here is a list of all the Arena War-specific vehicles in Grand Theft Auto Online:

Benefactor Apocalypse Bruiser - $1,609,000
Benefactor Future Shock Bruiser - $1,609,000
Benefactor Nightmare Bruiser - $1,609,000
Declasse Apocalypse Brutus - $2,666,650/$2,005,000
Declasse Future Shock Brutus - $2,666,650/$2,005,000
Declasse Nightmare Brutus - $2,666,650/$2,005,000
MTL Apocalypse Cerberus - $3,870,300/$2,910,000
MTL Future Shock Cerberus - $3,870,300/$2,910,000
MTL Nightmare Cerberus - $3,870,300/$2,910,000
Western Motorcycle Company Apocalypse Deathbike - $1,269,000
Western Motorcycle Company Future Shock Deathbike - $1,269,000
Western Motorcycle Company Nightmare Deathbike - $1,269,000
Vapid Apocalypse Dominator - $1,132,000
Vapid Future Shock Dominator - $1,132,000
Vapid Nightmare Dominator - $1,132,000
Declasse Apocalypse Impaler - $1,209,500
Declasse Future Shock Impaler - $1,209,500
Declasse Nightmare Impaler - $1,209,500
Vapid Apocalypse Imperator - $2,284,940/$1,718,000
Vapid Future Shock Imperator - $2,284,940/$1,718,000
Vapid Nightmare Imperator - $2,284,940/$1,718,000
Weeny Apocalypse Issi - $1,089,000
Weeny Future Shock Issi - $1,089,000
Weeny Nightmare Issi - $1,089,000
Bravado Apocalypse Sasquatch - $1,530,875
Bravado Future Shock Sasquatch - $1,530,875
Bravado Nightmare Sasquatch - $1,530,875
HVY Apocalypse Scarab - $3,076,290/$2,313,000
HVY Future Shock Scarab - $3,076,290/$2,313,000
HVY Nightmare Scarab - $3,076,290/$2,313,000
Vapid Apocalypse Slamvan - $1,321,875
Vapid Future Shock Slamvan - $1,321,875
Vapid Nightmare Slamvan - $1,321,875
Annis Apocalypse ZR380 - $2,138,640/$1,608,000
Annis Future Shock ZR380 - $2,138,640/$1,608,000
Annis Nightmare ZR380 - $2,138,640/$1,608,000

If you are looking for the fastest vehicles from this category, the GTA Online Arena War guide suggests you get the following ones:

Western (Apocalypse/Future Shock/Nightmare) Deathbike - 241.4 km/h
Annis (Apocalypse/Future Shock/Nightmare) ZR380 - 228.53 km/h
Vapid (Apocalypse/Future Shock/Nightmare) Imperator - 217.26 km/h
Vapid (Apocalypse/Future Shock/Nightmare) Dominator - 215.65 km/h
Declasse (Apocalypse/Future Shock/Nightmare) Impaler - 207.6 km/h

Players should note that while these vehicles can be stored in regular garages, you can upgrade and customize them only in the Arena Workshop.

The GTA Online Arena War guide readers must have enough space to store these vehicles (Image via Rockstar Games)

As mentioned before, Rockstar Games also added ten regular vehicles as part of the Grand Theft Auto Online Arena War DLC. They are as follows:

Declasse Impaler - $331,835/$249,500
Pegassi Toros - $498,000
Vapid Clique - $909,000
Grotti Itali GTO - $1,965,000
Declasse Tulip - $718,000
Benefactor Schlagen GT - $1,300,000
RC Bandito - $1,590,000
Schyster Deviant - $512,000
Declasse Vamos - $596,000
Principe Deveste Eight - $1,795,000

It is worth noting that, four vehicles from the above list are no longer available to purchase as Rockstar Games removed them from the game in June 2023 as part of the Grand Theft Auto Online San Andreas Mercenaries DLC update. They are as follows:

Vapid Clique
Declasse Tulip
Schyster Deviant
Declasse Vamos

However, if you have owned these vehicles before the removal, they should be available in your garage(s) for driving and customization. Nonetheless, here are the five fastest regular vehicles from the Arena War DLC update:

Principe Deveste Eight - 211.23 km/h
Pegassi Toros - 206.4 km/h
Grotti Itali GTO - 206 km/h
Benefactor Schlagen GT - 201.97 km/h
Vapid Clique - 187.09 km/h

Also read: Grand Theft Auto Online car locations guide

List of new weapons from the Grand Theft Auto Online Arena War DLC

The GTA Online Arena War guide advises players to check out the DLC weapons (Image via Rockstar Games)

Since the Arena War DLC was an action-packed update with considerably futuristic vehicles, Rockstar Games added three new futuristic weapons to match the gameplay. They are as follows:

Up-n-Atomizer - $399,000
Unholy Hellbringer - $449,000
Widowmaker - $499,000

The Up-n-Atomizer is an alien ray gun that can move many heavy objects in the multiplayer game. It fires a sonic wave that can displace even the heaviest objects. The GTA Online Arena War guide advises you to get this weapon from the Gun Van (whenever available), as it can come in handy in many situations. One solid example is you can use it to move stuck vehicles.

The Unholy Hellbringer is a plasma rifle that shoots light beams at its targets. The Widowmaker is very similar to the Minigun but has a slightly low damage rate. Nonetheless, if you prefer futuristic weapons, these two are the best to try. You can purchase them from the Gun Van whenever available.

Also read: Grand Theft Auto Online strategy guide

Other interesting details from the Grand Theft Auto Online Arena War DLC

The GTA Online Arena War guide readers should experience the DLC to the fullest (Image via Rockstar Games)

While the aforementioned things were the key highlights of the December 2018 DLC, Rockstar Games also added various minor but interesting details that grinders will surely love. The studio introduced an Arena War Wheel that works very similar to the Lucky Wheel inside The Diamond Casino & Resort.

The GTA Online Arena War guide readers can spin the wheel daily to earn various rewards including Arena Points. These points help you achieve higher Sponsorship Tiers that unlock various rewards once you reach level 25.

The following is a list of the Sponsorship Tiers and their required Arena Points (AP):

Sponsorship Tier 25: 4250 AP
Sponsorship Tier 50: 14750 AP
Sponsorship Tier 75: 31,500 AP
Sponsorship Tier 100: 54,500 AP
Sponsorship Tier 200: 209,000 AP
Sponsorship Tier 300: 463,500 AP
Sponsorship Tier 500: 1,272,500 AP
Sponsorship Tier 1000: 5,045,000 AP

The GTA Online Arena War guide readers should also note down the following rewards for achieving various Sponsorship Tiers:

Sponsorship Tier 25: Vapid Taxi
Sponsorship Tier 50: Dozer
Sponsorship Tier 75: Vapid Clown Van
Sponsorship Tier 100: Jobuilt Trashmaster
Sponsorship Tier 200: HVY Barracks Semi
Sponsorship Tier 300: HVY Mixer
Sponsorship Tier 500: BF Space Docker
Sponsorship Tier 1000: Rusted Tractor

These are some of the rarest items in the multiplayer version of Grand Theft Auto 5 that you can own. Therefore, the GTA Online Arena War guide advises players to keep on grinding the mission and activities from the December 2018 DLC to reap the full benefits.