GTA Online PvP guide: Best settings, tactics, and more
The GTA Online PvP guide is highly sought after by those who like to battle with other Grand Theft Auto players. Whether you are a new player or an experienced one, there is always scope for improvement that will help you gain an advantage in player vs. player modes. Each player has their own tactics and skills that help them eliminate others and survive the enemy firepower. However, there are some basic parameters that every Grand Theft Auto 5 Online player should know beforehand.
This GTA Online PvP guide will provide you with brief details about the best settings, tactics, weapons, gears, and many other things that will help you become a pro PvP fighter in the multiplayer game.
Note: Some parts of this GTA Online PvP guide are subjective and only reflect the writer’s opinions.
GTA Online PvP guide: Understanding the basic concept
Before reading the GTA Online PvP guide, you should know what PvP actually means. The full form of PvP is Player versus Player. When you fight with other Grand Theft Auto 5 Online players outside a mission, it is called a PvP match. Most players prefer doing this in freeroam and in public lobbies.
However, Rockstar Games also offers a slew of PvP missions under the Versus Missions category. The Versus Missions in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online are as follows:
- Crooked Cop
- Roadgame
- Welcoming Party
- Hippy Hunting
- Top Fun
- Top Fun II
- Top Fun III
- Underhand Contraband
- Truck Off
- G-Rating Cold I
- G-Rating Cold II
- G-Rating Cold III
- G-Rating Cold IV
- G-Rating Cold V
- Air Force Zero I
- Air Force Zero II
- Air Force Zero III
- Air Force Zero IV
- Air Force Zero V
- Acquire Targets I
- Acquire Targets II
- Acquire Targets III
- G-Rating Hot I
- G-Rating Hot II
- G-Rating Hot III
- G-Rating Hot IV
- G-Rating Hot V
- Escape From LS
- Into the Wild
- Island Getaway
- Airport Parking
- Weed Killer
GTA PvP guide readers should note that these are not Contact Missions in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online where you get a job from an NPC and have to complete it in the given time. The PvP missions are strictly combat-focused missions where you will get killed by other players and you have to do the same as well.
Another important thing to note is that the aforementioned missions cannot be played solo. It goes without saying that a player vs. player mission will need another player(s) to become enemies. As a result, while most of the above-mentioned missions require a minimum of two players, others require a minimum of three or four players to start. PvP missions are not for solo players in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online.
What are the best settings to play PvP in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online?
The in-game settings of Grand Theft Auto 5 Online vary from player to player. Every gamer must check their current control settings and try altering them to see if the gameplay experience can improve. However, the GTA Online PvP guide advises players to tune the settings in specific ways recommended by the community.
If you play on a PC or with a keyboard and mouse, the GTA 5 PvP guide suggests the following settings:
Setting > Keyboard/Mouse
- Mouse Input Method: Raw Input
- Mouse Look Sensitivity: As you see fit
- First Person Aim Type: Normal
- Auto-Center Mouse On Bikes: Full
- Auto-Center Mouse in Cars: Full
- Auto-Center Mouse in Aircraft: Full
Settings > Camera
- First Person On Foot Field of View: Full
- First Person Ragdoll: Off
- First Person Combat Roll: Off
- First Person Head Bogging: Off
- First Person Third Person Cover: On
- First Person Vehicle Auto-Center: On
- First Person Vehicle Hood: Off
- First Person Driveby Camera Relative to Vehicle: Off
If you play the game with a controller, the GTA Online PvP guide advises the following settings:
Settings > Gamepad
- Vibration: Off
- Targeting Mode: Full Aim Assist
- Third Person Aim Sensitivity: Full
- Allow Movement When Zoomed: On
- Driveby Control Type: Fire
Readers should note that these are just the recommended settings. If you find it difficult to play the game after applying them, then you have the full freedom to revert the changes and play the game as you see fit. The more comfortable you are with a particular setting, the better player you will be during a player vs. player combat.
Nonetheless, the GTA Online PvP guide would like to explain some of the aforementioned settings and what they do.
- If you turn off the First Person Ragdoll camera, every time your character falls to the ground, the game will automatically switch to third-person mode. This will allow you to see what is happening around you more clearly.
- The controller Targeting Mode completely depends on you. If you are an expert shooter on the controller, then you can play PvP with the Free Aim setting. If not, the Full Aim Assist setting will automatically lock your aim on the enemy and will move with them (for a brief period). Keep in mind that the Targeting Mode can only be changed while in Grand Theft Auto 5 Story Mode.
- Changing the Driveby Control Type to Fire and pressing the fire button will directly start shooting. Otherwise, you will have to manually aim and then fire.
Best tactics to use during PvP in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online
While there are no hard and fast rules for player vs. player combats in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online, the community follows some makeshift rules to gain an advantage over the enemy. The main goal of a PvP match is to kill your opponent as many times as you can. Since the in-game characters are practically immortal, you can go on for hours, killing them and vice versa. The GTA Online PvP guide advises the following tactics for new players:
Practice with a group
If you play Grand Theft Auto 5 Online with friends, then you should practice PvP with them first. If you directly go and fight with an enemy, they may turn out to be professional shooters and annihilate you to oblivion. If unlucky, you may also fall prey to spawn killing.
Therefore, it is always best to spend your beginning player vs. player days playing with friends as they may have mercy on you. The GTA Online PvP guide advises you to join group PvP matches with them and learn new tactics.
Use first-person camera mode when shooting
As mentioned before in the GTA Online PvP guide, you should change your First Person On Foot Field of View to the fullest so that you get the maximum view possible. While you can do running and hiding in third-person camera mode, it is always best to switch to first-person before firing your weapon. This will give a clear view of your enemy and allow you to aim more precisely.
Always keep moving
One mistake that rookie players make during player vs player combats is that they stand still when nothing happens. The GTA Online PvP guide followers should remember that they are in a war with another player(s) and the latter will do anything to kill them. Therefore, until you are in a confined space and are absolutely sure that no bullet or bombs can enter from anywhere easily, do not stop moving.
Being stationary allows your enemy to aim at you more easily. You may think that they are gone and you are safe to walk freely. But the enemy may have you on their scope, waiting to gun you down.
Use proper gears
Going to war in a casual attire is not ideal, especially when the enemy’s only target is you. Therefore, the GTA Online PvP guide advises every player to acquire and keep some tactical outfits stored in their inventory. Some ideal outfits for such situations are the Night-Ops outfit, Spec Ops outfit, Winter Solider Outfit, and Black and Blue tryhard outfit.
You can follow this Grand Theft Auto 5 Online smart tryhard outfits guide to know more about how to acquire them. Using bulletproof helmets, night vision glasses, thermal vision glasses, underwater rebreathers, etc. are absolutely important for PvP situations.
What are the best weapons for PvP battles in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online?
Weapons are undoubtedly the most important aspect of player vs. player combats as you don’t fistfight with the enemies. Rockstar Games offers over 100 weapons in GTA 5 Online. However, most of them are not that useful during intense situations.
The GTA Online PvP guide advises you to carry the following weapons to fight others:
- Special Carbine Mk II
- Heavy Sniper Mk II
- Minigun
- Tactical SMG
- AP Pistol
- Military Rifle
- Up-n-Atomizer
- Homing Launcher
- Railgun
- Sticky Bomb
- Rocket Launcher
- Assault Shotgun
The list consists of both long-range and close-combat weapons. The Special Carbine Mk II and Heavy Sniper Mk II should be your primary weapons for medium to long-range targets. These two weapons also come in regular variants, but the GTA Online PvP guide advises you to upgrade them to their Mk II variants as soon as possible.
These are some of the best Mk weapons in the game and normal players can also use them regularly.
What are the best vehicles to use during PvP battles in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online?
The GTA Online PvP guide readers should note that combats do not only take place on foot. Sometimes, your opponent(s) may appear with an aircraft or weaponized vehicle. If that happens, your chances of survival drop unless you know how to tackle them.
Considering you are a new player, the GTA Online PvP guide advises you to keep some combat vehicles ready so that you can use them whenever needed. The following are some of the best weaponized vehicles loved by fans:
- Mammoth F-160 Raiju
- Bravado Buffalo STX
- Pegassi Toreador
- Western Company Annihilator Stealth
- Pegassi Oppressor Mk II
- Imponte Deluxo
- TM-02 Khanjali Tank
- Akula
- Grotti Vigilante
- HVY APC Tank
- Declasse Weaponized Tampa
- Nagasaki Buzzard Attack Chopper
If you are looking for the best armored vehicles, then the GTA Online PvP guide advises you to get any of the following:
- Grotti Itali GTO Stinger TT
- Ocelot Virtue
- MTL Brickade 6x6
- Pegassi Toreador
- TM-02 Khanjali Tank
- Mammoth Avenger
- HVY Insurgent Pick-up Custom
- HVY Nightshark
- Rhino Tank
GTA Online PvP guide readers are advised not to use vehicles first as it shows your insecurity and weakness. Whenever you see someone approaching in a vehicle for a player vs. player combat, you should know that they are afraid to fight you on foot, and hence using special measures.
Importance of armor and snacks in PvP combats in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online
Armor and snacks are two of the most important things to survive in the world of Grand Theft Auto 5 Online. The same goes for player vs. player combats where you are certain to get hit. Although Rockstar Games automatically heals every player in the multiplayer game, the health bar fills only to half. Therefore, the GTA Online PvP guide advises every player to use snacks to replenish their health quickly.
Free health packs are little to non-existent in the multiplayer game, and sleeping on the bed does not do anything either. Therefore, you should always carry snacks to keep yourself alive. Earlier, consuming snacks was very difficult as the option was buried under the Interaction Menu. But now, you can easily consume snacks directly by accessing the weapon wheel.
The same goes for armor as they can take a few shots before the enemy bullets start chipping your health bar.