The Third Way
The Third Way: one of the three final missions, chosen at the end of The Big Score.
Key facts
- Mission
- 79
- Type
- Final mission choice
- Choice
- Option C, also called Deathwish
- Gold medal objectives
- 6
The Third Way is the third option after The Big Score, which PC Gamer also calls the “Deathwish” ending. Instead of turning on a partner, Franklin works with Michael and Trevor. It is a long mission, with a 21:30 gold medal time limit. The other two endings are Something Sensible and The Time’s Come. Note that the gold medal objectives name the mission’s targets.
Walkthrough
- Drive to Lester’s house for advice. He suggests an ambush at the foundry.
- Pick up Lamar and drive to the foundry to meet Michael and Trevor.
- Hold the foundry against wave after wave of attackers, switching characters when prompted. Stay in cover. IGN recommends the assault shotgun at close range and rockets for the vehicle outside.
- When the foundry is clear, the three split up, each with his own target across Los Santos.
- Restock armor and sticky bombs at the nearby Ammu-Nation, then play each target in turn: Franklin at the country club, Michael by the basketball courts, Trevor at Del Perro Pier and then at a house in the hills.
- Drive to the final marker to trigger the closing scene.
Gold medal tips
- Sticky bomb: follow the limo and throw a sticky bomb onto it, then detonate.
- Melee: equip a melee weapon before you arrive and close in on the target in the white shirt.
- Headshot: park behind the Ferris wheel area and wait with a suppressed sniper rifle for a clean shot.
- At the house, IGN suggests sniping the guards from down the road before going in.
Rewards and unlocks
GamesRadar lists the achievement or trophy “To Live or Die in Los Santos” as unlocked when you complete the final mission.
Spoiler
The following reveals how this ending plays out.
Franklin, Michael and Trevor all survive. Kotaku and GamesRadar report that dialogue in the 2021 GTA Online update The Contract points to this as the ending the series treats as canon.
Show gold medal objectives (contains spoilers)
- Complete within 21:30
- Kill 20 enemies with a headshot
- Finish with a shooting accuracy of at least 70%
- Kill Cheng with a Sticky Bomb
- Kill Steve Haines with a headshot
- Kill Stretch with a melee weapon
Videos
Updated