Lamar Down Gold Medal — GTA 5 — GTA Guide

Franklin, Michael, and Trevor reunite for a high-stakes rescue mission in GTA 5’s “Lamar Down.” As Franklin learns of Lamar’s betrayal, the trio storms a sawmill teeming with Ballas gang members, blending precision shooting, strategic character switching, and adrenaline-pumping action. Will you master the Gold Medal challenges and save Lamar in time? Dive into this gripping mission walkthrough to find out!

Playable characters: Franklin, Michael, Trevor

Additional information: This mission provides a lot of freedom when it comes to the character selection because, throughout the major part of the fight in the sawmill, you will be able to cut freely between the main protagonists. The point of the attack on the sawmill is to free Lamar and, in spite of the presence of numerous Ballas gangsters in the area, you will not find it overly problematic.

Mission 72 – Lamar Down full walkthrough

The sawmill

To start this mission, you need to return to your estate, as Franklin, on the Vinewood Hills, in order to meet up with Tanisha. You will learn from the woman about the trouble that Lamar got into, and you will be dispatched to the sawmill. Get into any car and go North. The sawmill is in the North-Western part of the map and, after you get there, you will meet up with Trevor and Michael.

You will now watch a short cutscene of the preparations for the attack. Michael will automatically take his position on the hill and will be conducting a sniper fire. As far as Trevor and Franklin are concerned, the game will let you determine where they should attack the sawmill. Below is a legend to the map shown in the above screenshot.

1 – Main entrance attack- The enemies will spot your character, but you can count on support from Michael.

2 – Side entrance attack – There is a bulldozer here, which you will be able to use in order to get to the sawmill safely, and also squash some of the enemies.

3 – Railroad-side attack – The enemies will not spot your character, and you count on support from Michael.

After you have positioned a character in a given spot, press the button on the D-pad to confirm your choice. Personally, I recommend that you attack as Trevor, from point 1 or 3, and as Franklin from point 2.

Target and eliminate the enemies from a safe distance

Right after you start the attack on the sawmill, select your favorite character and join the fights. I recommend that, during this mission, you cut between characters on a regular basis because, not only will this increase your chances to complete this mission in 100%, but also you will be able to adjust better to the current situation in the battlefield. While playing as Michael, you should be using the sniper rifle at all times and eliminate, in the first place, the gangsters involved currently in the fire exchange with Franklin and Trevor.

The bulldozer will help you avoid the enemy fire

It is a good idea to make use of the abovementioned bulldozer while playing as Franklin, at least to ensure yourself with the opportunity to infiltrate the sawmill safely. Further into the battle, you should rely on covers and perform more standard actions.

Make frequent use of Trevor’s fury

While playing as Trevor it is a good idea to rely on his special skill, i.e. the fury mode, thanks to which you will be able to deal with larger groups of enemies more effectively. Thanks to fury, you will also not need to hide behind covers at all times, which will allow you an aggressive attack on the enemy positions.

Unfortunately, you need to keep in mind that some of the enemies will join the fights later, and also that there will appear additional threats later into the mission. I recommend that you cut to Michael and eliminate the enemy with the rocket launcher (the above screenshot) and a few enemy snipers.

Lamar is being kept outside of the main building, in the place shown in the above screenshot. Reach with any character of your choice and draw your attention to the first-aid-kit attached to the wall of the sawmill. Start cutting through to the exit, accompanied by Lamar. Just like earlier, you can either play as Franklin or Trevor and fight from the ground, or play as Michael and snipe the enemies down from the hill. In the latter case, you should watch out for the enemies who try to come close to Michael, and eliminate them sufficiently early.

Blow up the gangsters’ cars

You should keep in mind that there will appear another group of the gangsters at the sawmill’s exit and, since they come in cars, you should use the grenade launcher to your advantage. After you have cleared the premises, cut back to Franklin, get into any car and wait for Lamar to join you. Drive to Los Santos. You need to take Lamar home, which will conclude this mission.

Rewards and challenges in mission 72 – Lamar Down

Rewards for the completion of the mission: none

Requirements for the completion of the mission in 100%:

1. Headshots – You need to kill 18 enemies by shooting to their heads.
2. Accuracy – you need to complete this mission with the accuracy rating of, at least, 70%.
3. Three Way – while playing each one of the protagonists, you need to kill, at least, one enemy. Do not forget to cut between Franklin, Trevor and Michael on a regular basis.
4. Time – you need to complete this mission within 13 minutes and 30 seconds. Use a fast car to reach the sawmill. Do not waste too much time on planning the attack on the sawmill and, after you launch the attack, deal aggressively with enemies. Towards the end of the mission, quickly reach Lamar’s house.

What are the key strategies for completing the Lamar Down mission efficiently

To complete the Lamar Down mission efficiently in GTA 5, focus on the following strategies:

1. Choose the Western Path for Infiltration: Opt for the western side with the bulldozer to gain better angles for eliminating enemies while avoiding being overwhelmed from the south.

2. Switch Between Characters Strategically: Use Trevor and Franklin on the ground and Michael as a sniper on the hill to maximize combat effectiveness and fulfill the “Three Way” Gold Medal requirement.

3. Prioritize Headshots: Aim for precision by securing 18 headshots to meet one of the Gold Medal objectives.

4. Maintain High Shooting Accuracy: Keep your accuracy above 70% by taking careful shots and avoiding unnecessary firing.

5. Complete Within 13:30 Minutes: Move quickly through each phase of the mission, especially during the rescue and escape, to meet the time requirement.

6. Use Cover Effectively: Stay behind cover while advancing through the sawmill to minimize damage and maintain control over enemy swarms.

7. Rescue Lamar and Escape Strategically: After rescuing Lamar, fight your way back down to the vehicles while clearing out remaining Ballas. Drive Lamar safely back to his house in Strawberry to conclude the mission.

What are the best tactics for taking out the Ballas quickly

To take out the Ballas quickly, consider the following tactics:

1. Use High-Damage Weapons: Employ powerful weapons like the RPG or Minigun to clear groups efficiently. For the Minigun, you can exploit the ammo respawn trick by saving and reloading near a Minigun spawn point.

2. Create a Death Funnel: Position yourself in a narrow area where enemies must approach from one direction, allowing you to pick them off more easily. Use cover and avoid being surrounded.

3. Aim for Headshots: Prioritize headshots to maximize damage with fewer bullets. This strategy is effective with rifles like the AK-47 or M4.

4. Utilize Cover and Positioning: Stay behind solid cover and choose vantage points that limit enemy flanking opportunities. This is crucial for maintaining control and minimizing damage.

5. Employ Molotovs: Use Molotov cocktails to spawn-kill grouped enemies, especially in areas where they frequently spawn together.

6. Leverage Gang Members: If available, use fellow gang members to distract or take out Ballas, providing additional firepower and reducing your exposure.