The Obvious Big Score breaks directly into the vault and lifts the gold out by helicopter. It offers the largest potential story-heist payout, but the driver assignments matter: the first driver flies the second helicopter, while the second operates the train. Put a capable pilot in the first slot.
Step-by-step walkthrough
-
Prepare the crew and getaway car
A strong low-cut combination is Taliana as Driver 1, Karim as Driver 2, and Daryl plus Norm or Hugh as the gunmen, provided those characters are available. An inexperienced Karim can handle the train but will crash the helicopter if assigned to fly. Use the more experienced gunman in the second gunman slot for the ground escape.
Prepare a suitable four-door getaway car before the finale. Use the game’s suitability message, leave it in the marked underground parking location and confirm its position through the prompted call to Lester. Armour and tyres help the escape, but do not compensate for parking the car in the wrong place.
-
Drill into the vault and move the gold
Start at the Vanilla Unicorn, then take Michael to the bank. When control switches to Franklin, drive the cutter through the vault wall and park it out of the working area. Place the charges on the marked cage doors, stand clear and detonate them.
Defend the gunman while the gold carts are moved into position. Use cover against NOOSE and avoid shooting blindly through the construction area. Attach the loads to the helicopters when the game prompts you, then finish the remaining ground resistance.
-
Fight to the parked getaway car
As Michael, fight away from the depository with the second gunman and meet Franklin. Deal with the police and helicopters along the route, then descend to the underground parking area. Clear the NOOSE vehicles that arrive before entering the getaway car.
Michael’s ability makes the twenty headshots and 60% accuracy targets easier. Aim at exposed enemies and release the trigger once the target is down. Keep moving when a section is clear so the overall 16:00 timer does not slip away.
-
Escape the police and protect the helicopters
Lose the five-star wanted level in the getaway car. Break line of sight, avoid fresh search cones and remain concealed until the stars disappear. The mission then returns to Trevor’s helicopter flight.
Merryweather helicopters pursue the gold. Keep Trevor’s helicopter steady and give Lester a clear firing angle for his rockets. Do not turn sharply as he lines up a shot. Leaving the attackers alive too long can cost the second helicopter and half the take, even when you selected a competent pilot.
-
Place the gold on the moving train
Follow the route to the train and match its movement before descending over the marked flatbed. Release the gold accurately within thirty seconds for Cha-Ching. Approach promptly and aim to make the delivery before the train passes beneath the bridge.
Once the load is secure, fly to the airfield and land at the marker. The mission result shows whether both loads survived. A perfect outcome with the low-cut crew above yields $201.6 million gross and $41.664 million for each protagonist after Lester and the crew are paid.
Gold medal checklist
- Headshots: Kill twenty enemies with headshots.
- Time: Complete within 16:00; skip scenes during the timed attempt.
- Cha-Ching: Drop the gold onto the train within thirty seconds.
- Accuracy: Finish with at least 60% shooting accuracy.
Common questions
Why did the second helicopter crash?
An inexperienced first driver can crash regardless of your flying. A capable pilot can also be lost if the pursuing Merryweather helicopters are not dealt with promptly.
Does replaying the heist replace my story payout?
No. Mission replay is for revisiting the mission and improving medals. Use your main story save for crew choices and money progression.
What happens next
Franklin’s next major decision leads to Ending A, B or C. Keep a separate save before selecting an ending; C preserves all three protagonists.