The Big Score (Subtle Approach) is the 68th main story mission in GTA V (Grand Theft Auto 5). This walkthrough shows how to get all Gold Medals in The Big Score (Subtle Approach) for 100% completion.
For the opposite approach refer to The Big Score (Obvious Approach), the mission depends on the player’s choice.
Gold Medal Requirements:
- Headshots: Kill 20 enemies with a headshot
- Signal Man: Perform less than 10 traffic light changes
- Accuracy: Finish with a shooting accuracy of at least 60%
Walkthrough Video
Starting Location: The Big Score (Subtle Approach)
- Location: Strawberry / Elgin Avenue / Vanilla Unicorn
- Quest Giver: Lester
- Requirement: Complete “Stingers“, “Gauntlet: Pillbox Hill“, “Gauntlet: Rockford Hills“, and “Gauntlet: Mission Row“
- Can Be Started By: Franklin, Michael, Trevor
Get to the Tunnel Entrance Before 8:00AM
You’ll start the mission in control of Michael. Kitted out in your Gruppe Sechs gear, head to the objective marker and stop.
Drop the Stinger
After the cinematic you’ll get the prompt to press 
/ 
to place the stinger in the tunnel.
Move Away From the Stinger and Wait For the Vans to Arrive
Then move your vehicle a little further up and wait for them to arrive.
Cover the guards while your crew roll up and change the tires on the two armored cars.
Go to the Depository
After the cinematic, you’ll be in the lead armored car. Follow the path to the objective marker at the Union Depository.
Follow the Manager
After the cinematic, you’ll be back on foot. Follow the bank manager as he leads you to the elevator, and then to the vault.
Then, after the cinematic, follow Trevor and your hostage Casey as they wheel the carts of gold back to the armored cars.
Follow Trevor
After the cinematic, hop in the second armored car and follow Trevor back out onto the streets. Also be careful not to run anyone over. The armored cars are slow and turn like pigs, but now is not the time for a wanted level.
Michael will radio in when you’re clear, but Franklin tells you that somehow Merryweather is on to you. Switch to Franklin!
Keep the Roads Clear for the Vans
Your hacker has patched you into the Los Santos Transport Traffic Control System, giving Franklin control of the traffic lights in the area.
Time for your first Gold Medal requirement:
- Signal Man: Perform less than 10 traffic light changes
The armored cars will start off stopped at the lights on the northwest side of the map, facing south. They will take the path below, passing through nine different intersections. To change the lights, highlight the intersection you want then press 
/ 
. You’ll want to change the lights to keep the armored cars moving at all times, since the longer you wait the more Merryweather that will appear on the map. However there’s an element of RNG that will affect your progress, since the lights will be in a different pattern each time you play this mission.
Since you can only change the lights a maximum of 9 times to meet the Gold Medal requirement, aside from keeping the armored cars moving only change the other lights when it’s necessary to do so. Merryweather forces will get hung up on red lights naturally, so they’ll likely fall behind you if they’re on the same road as you. What you want to avoid is having them near or stopped at an intersection that you’re passing through. Anticipate their path, and if necessary, switch the lights in their way to keep them at least a block away from you. Their vision cone only faces forwards though, so passing behind them is fine.
Defend the Crew From Merryweather
After the cinematic you’ll be in thick combat with Merryweather soldiers, because you have two other Gold Medal requirements to fulfill:
- Headshots: Kill 20 enemies with a headshot
- Accuracy: Finish with a shooting accuracy of at least 60%
Use Michael and Trevor’s special abilities to get headshots on the enemies. Trevor’s rage lets him wade into the enemy and take his time getting headshots, while Michael’s slowing effect lets him headshot enemies before they can even fire. You’ll only need to switch to Franklin if you get in trouble, but then switch back to Michael or Trevor to finish off the forces.
Turn off your special ability when targets are in cover, then activate it again when you’re ready for your rampage to continue. Once all the soldiers are dead, you’ll get a cinematic of you loading up the Gauntlets with the gold.
Follow the Rest of the Crew
After the cinematic you’ll be in control of Franklin, already in one of the Gauntlets and ready to make your getaway. Follow the crew, making use of Franklin’s special ability to make sharp turns or avoid traffic when needed.
Because Franklin’s special ability allows you to make turns without decelerating, be careful you don’t accidentally run into the rest of the crew who don’t have your driving skill.
The first major obstacle is the construction yard, where you’ll make a hard left to follow the team. Follow them as they turn around some barriers and pipes before heading through the open ground floor of the building.
As you come out of the building, there’s a hard left followed by a hairpin to the right. You will likely have to use Franklin’s special ability to avoid traffic.
You’ll then head into Rockford Plaza, up the ramp to the second level, then straight ahead over the stunt jump back down to ground level.
Try to land as flat and straight as possible, but if you find yourself coming down at a bad angle, try to anticipate the correction you’ll have to make when you hit the ground. Franklin’s special ability will be extremely helpful in this regard, as it largely nullifies any skidding and lets you recover quickly.
Michael will call out a left turn, and two police cars will skid into a roadblock at the intersection. Use Franklin’s special ability to avoid the police, and the oncoming traffic. Immediately afterward you’ll see a second road block and Michael will call out a right turn onto the Del Perro Freeway.
Almost there! Navigate the on-ramp, avoiding the large truck that you’ll see here. Then you’ll get peppered with gunfire from the police Maverick as you zip into the safety of the tunnel.
In a move straight out of Spyhunter, you’ll see two semis with their back door down to form a ramp. Line up on the right truck and drive up into the trailer. Be quick though, you have to finish before you’re out of the tunnel!
Go to Michael’s House
After the cinematic, Franklin, Michael, and Trevor will pile into a SUV and head to Michael’s place for a celebratory drink with Lester. Once you arrive, a cinematic will play to end the mission.
This finishes The Big Score (Subtle Approach) in GTA V.
For all other Missions refer to GTA V Walkthrough.
This walkthrough has been updated for the Enhanced Version on PC / PS5 / PS4 / Xbox Series S/X and is also still applicable to the Legacy version.
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