By the Book Gold Medal — GTA 5 — GTA Guide

In the heart of Grand Theft Auto V’s narrative, the mission “By the Book” stands out as a pivotal and controversial chapter. This intense storyline, featuring protagonists Michael De Santa and Trevor Philips, delves into the darker side of interrogation, as Trevor subjects Ferdinand Kerimov to a series of brutal torture methods. With its complex objectives and moral undertones, “By the Book” challenges players to navigate the fine line between information extraction and mercy. Dive into this comprehensive walkthrough to master the mission’s Gold Medal requirements and uncover the intricacies of GTA V’s most debated storyline.

Mission 28 – By the Book general information

Way to unlock: you need to complete Main Mission 27 (Three’s Company). While playing as Trevor, wait for a phone call from outside of his contacts list, or while playing as Michael, wait for a phone call from Steve.

Playable characters: Trevor, Michael

Additional information: The main attraction of this mission is the possibility of subjecting Kerimov to all sorts of torture, aimed at procuring information. The character responsible for inflicting the tortures is Trevor, of course. Michael’s task, on the other hand, will be to eliminate the person that has been singled out and, this part of the mission can be completed without any problems.

Mission 28 – By the Book full walkthrough

A phone call from Steve

You can activate this mission while playing as Michael or Trevor (in the case of the latter, you will receive a phone call from an unknown caller). Listen to the conversation with Steve and set out towards the warehouse located Northwards of the port (if you are currently playing as Trevor, you can cut to Michael and speed up this process).

The estate that Kerimov points you to

Wait until you regain control over Michael, get into Dave’s car (Ubermacht Oracle) and drive towards the estate that Kerimov pointed you to, which is located in the Rockford Hills district, close to your character’s villa. After you get there, it will, unfortunately, turn out that the interrogated character gave you the wrong address, as a result of which, This time as Trevor, you will start torturing the man.

The selection of tools

During this mission, you will have to play four scenes of a (very brutal) interrogation and Trevor has, at his disposal, just as many torture tools available so, it would be good if you used each one of them exactly once. The items on the workbench are:

1. Car battery – you can either threaten Kerimov, or shock him with electricity straight away but, do not get carried away and take regular breaks.
2. Pliers – you can pull out one of Kerimov’s teeth, and to do that, you need to perform circular motions with the right analog stick (clockwise)
3. Wrench – you can break Kerimov’s leg with a high-power hit
4. Canister – you can torture Kerimov by putting a cloth over his head and pouring water onto him

The crucial dependency connected with the tortures is that you should be taking frequent looks at the heartbeat monitor and not exaggerate with the tortures. Otherwise you can bring about cardiac arrest. This does not end the mission, because you can apply an adrenaline shot in such a situation (the above screenshot). You should realize, however, that applying adrenaline will prevent you from completing the mission in 100%. That is why you should take frequent breaks and be careful, especially while electrocuting Kerimov.

The place to stop the vehicle

After the first part of the torture scene ends, you will receive, from Kerimov, new whereabouts. Wait until you cut to Michael and go to the Humash district, located in the North-Western part of the city. After you arrive there, park at the highway and wait for Michael and Dave to take their positions across the road from the mission’s target, on the hill.

The first use of the scope

After you cut back to Trevor in the torture chamber, you will have to play the second part of the interrogation. As a result, you will learn about the general features of the person that you are looking for. Wait until you cut back to Michael and use the scope. Unfortunately, there are many people in the building right now, so you will cut back to Trevor once again. In the aftermath of the third part of the interrogation, you will learn that your target is wearing a beard.

While playing as Michael once again,use the scope. However, this time, the attempt to recognize the target will be failed again. Again as Trevor play through the last one, fourth, part of the interrogation, and you will learn that he is left-handed and is a smoker. Wait until you cut back to Michael, target the person that you can see in the screenshot and take your shot (it is best to aim at the head).

The place where the mission ends

Watch the cutscene and, as Trevor, start the final part of this mission, which assumes that you take the severely wounded Kerimov to the airport, to ensure him with the possibility to leave Los Santos safely. Soon, this mission will conclude.

Rewards and challenges in mission 28 – By the Book

Rewards for completing the mission: none

Requirements for the completion of the mission in 100%:

1. Don’t Stop Me Now – You cannot induce cardiac arrest to Kerimov therefore, you need to torture him with moderation
2. Electrocutioner – you need to use the car battery during the tortures.
3. The Tooth Hurts – you need to use pliers during the tortures.
4. Wrenched – you need to use the wrench during the tortures.
5. It’s Legal! – you need to use the can during the tortures.

What are the key challenges in completing the “By the Book” mission

The “By the Book” mission in Grand Theft Auto V presents several key challenges for players aiming to complete it successfully and achieve the Gold Medal:

1. Torture Sequences: The mission involves Trevor subjecting Ferdinand Kerimov to various forms of torture, including electrocution, pulling out a tooth, hitting him with a wrench, and waterboarding. Each of these methods must be used to fulfill the Gold Medal requirements.

2. Heart Rate Monitoring: Players must ensure that Kerimov’s heart rate does not exceed 200 BPM, or his heart will stop, failing the “Don’t Stop Me Now” objective. This requires careful monitoring and timely pauses in the torture.

3. Coordination Between Characters: The mission involves switching between Michael and Trevor. Michael must investigate a house in Rockford Hills while Trevor conducts the torture. Effective coordination is necessary to complete both parts of the mission efficiently.

4. Final Objective: After completing the torture sequences, Trevor must drive Kerimov to the airport to conclude the mission. This step requires careful navigation to avoid any complications.

Overall, the mission demands a balance between completing the torture sequences effectively and managing the health of the victim to achieve all Gold Medal objectives.

What are the most common mistakes players make in the “By the Book” mission

In the “By the Book” mission of Grand Theft Auto V, players often encounter several common mistakes that can hinder their progress or prevent them from achieving the Gold Medal:

1. Exceeding Heart Rate Limit: One of the most frequent mistakes is allowing Kerimov’s heart rate to exceed 200 BPM during the torture sequences. This results in his death, failing the “Don’t Stop Me Now” objective.

2. Incorrect Torture Methods: Players might not use all the required torture methods (electrocution, tooth extraction, wrench, and waterboarding) in the correct order or at all, which is necessary for the Gold Medal.

3. Poor Coordination: Failing to switch effectively between Michael and Trevor can lead to delays or complications in completing both parts of the mission efficiently.

4. Driving Errors: During the final part of the mission, players might crash or fail to deliver Kerimov to the airport on time, which can lead to mission failure or loss of the Gold Medal.

5. Not Following Objectives: Ignoring or misunderstanding specific objectives, such as keeping Kerimov alive or completing the torture sequences within the time limit, can prevent players from achieving all the Gold Medal requirements.