The stakes have never been higher in Grand Theft Auto V as players gear up for “The Big Score,” the ultimate heist that promises massive payouts and adrenaline-fueled chaos. Will you opt for the Subtle approach, slipping into the Union Depository with finesse, or embrace the Obvious route, blasting your way to glory? Dive into this comprehensive walkthrough to master every twist, turn, and tactical decision in Michael’s final score.
For the final heist, check out the walkthroughs for mission 79 (subtle variant) or mission 83 (obvious variant).
Mission 74 – The Big Score general information
Way to unlock: You need to complete main mission 73 (Meltdown). You may now go to Trevor’s strip club (letter H on the world map).
Playable characters: Michael, Trevor, Franklin
Additional information: This one is a very short mission which entirely revolves around planning another big heist. Traditionally, you will have to make a choice towards the end of this mission, concerning the variant of behavior and the make up of the team.
NOTE: Towards the end of this mission you will have to decide about the way of pulling off of the last major heist. This choice will influence both the heist itself, and the preparatory missions that you play before it. I strongly recommend that you save the game before you start this mission!
The moment of choice of the heist variant
To start this mission, you need to go to the strip club seized by Trevor, i.e. to the Strawberry district, as any of the protagonists. After you listen to a short conversation, and to Lester’s speech, you will be presented with a choice of one, from among two, possible variants of behavior. The Subtle variant assumes that you seize the armored vans and make it into the vault dressed as the armed guards, which will have you hire as many as five accomplices (two gunmen, two drivers and a hacker). The Obvious variant assumes that you drill a large tunnel to the vault, and steal the gold using choppers and a railway engine, which will have you hire four accomplices (two gunmen and two drivers). In each one of the cases, there will be different preparatory missions to play and the heist itself is going to be completely different. The decision is yours and, of course, both of the variants have been described further in this walkthrough.
Short review:
- The Subtle variant assumes that you use armored vans to take the gold out of the vault. You are going to play four preparatory missions: Stingers, Gauntlet – Pillbox Hill, Gauntlet – Rockford Hills and Gauntlet – Mission Row. The main upside to this variant is that you play through the heist in disguise, to a large extent, and only towards the end of the mission, you will have to put up a fight. The downside is that you will have to share the gold you steal with the five accomplices.
- The Obvious variant assumes that you use a drilling machine, two choppers and a railway engine to steal the gold from the vault. Also, you will have to play three preparatory missions: Getaway Vehicle #3, Driller and Sidetracked. The main upside of this variant is that you it requires to take four additional accomplices along, instead of five. The downside is that it requires you to take part in a series of demanding fights.
What are the key differences between the “Subtle” and “Obvious” approaches in The Big Score
In Grand Theft Auto V’s “The Big Score” heist, players can choose between two distinct approaches: Subtle and Obvious. Here are the key differences:
Subtle Approach
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Method: Michael and Trevor disguise themselves as security guards to infiltrate the Union Depository. They hijack armored trucks and transfer gold into modified Bravado Gauntlets for a stealthy escape.
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Crew Requirements: Two gunmen, two drivers, and a hacker are needed. Recommended crew members include Gustavo Mota or Packie McReary as gunmen, Taliana Martinez or Eddie Toh as drivers, and Rickie Lukens as the hacker.
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Payout: The crew can earn around $201,600,000 total, but this includes costs for Gauntlet upgrades and guard payouts.
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Gold Medal Objectives: Includes achieving 20 headshots, completing the mission within 16 minutes, and maintaining a shooting accuracy of at least 60%.
Obvious Approach
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Method: Franklin uses a tunnel to access the vault, while Michael creates a diversion at the front. Trevor transports the gold via helicopter to a train for escape.
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Crew Requirements: Two gunmen and two drivers are needed. Recommended crew members include Daryl Johns and Norm Richards as gunmen, and Karim Denz and Taliana Martinez as drivers.
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Payout: This approach can yield significantly more cash per character, potentially over $41 million each, due to the higher risk and more aggressive nature.
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Gold Medal Objectives: Not specifically detailed for this approach, but generally involves completing the heist efficiently and dealing with intense police resistance.
Overall, the Subtle approach is safer but less lucrative, while the Obvious approach offers a higher payout but involves more intense action and risk.
Which approach offers the highest payout in The Big Score
In Grand Theft Auto V’s “The Big Score” heist, the Obvious approach generally offers the highest payout potential. This approach involves Franklin accessing the vault via a tunnel, Michael creating a diversion, and Trevor transporting the gold by helicopter to a train for escape. By choosing the right crew members, such as Karim Denz and Taliana Martinez as drivers, and Daryl Johns and Norm Richards or Hugh Welsh as gunmen, each character can earn well over $41 million, making it more lucrative than the Subtle approach, which typically yields around $15 to $20 million per character.
The Obvious approach is advantageous because it does not require a hacker, reducing costs, and avoids expenses like upgrading vehicles or paying off guards, which are necessary in the Subtle approach. However, the actual payout can vary based on the player’s performance and crew selection.
