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The Rocket Launcher or RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade), is a heavy weapon featured in every Grand Theft Auto game, being the most basic explosive weapon in the series. It is manufactured by Shrewsbury in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online.
Design[]
2D Universe[]
The Grand Theft Auto rendition of the rocket launcher has no obvious real life counterpart, while the Grand Theft Auto: London version looks like a WWII-era Panzerschreck; as for the Grand Theft Auto 2 variant, it look very similar to a Mk 153 SMAW with some differences in the grip.
3D Universe[]
In Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the rocket launcher is modeled after an M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) rocket launcher, with some aesthetic differences (the GTA III version is held by the unfolded end cap underneath and fired through a scope, unlike the real life M72 LAW, whilst the GTA Vice City Stories version has a pistol grip on the underside, which the M72 does not have). In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, the rocket launcher is a Russian RPG-7 portable anti-tank rocket launcher.
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
In Grand Theft Auto IV, the rocket launcher is again modeled after the Russian RPG-7 portable anti-tank grenade launcher; however, it is not fitted with the PGO-7 optical sight usually seen on the launchers. Its front crosshair is more like a standard gun sight.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars[]
In Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, the Rocket Launcher seems to assume the GTA Vice City Stories design, but incorporating a unique army green scheme with a star decal on it.
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
In Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online, the Rocket Launcher retains the design of the RPG-7, with the exception that the blast port has a hexagonal shape and is more "streamlined", with what looks like a shoulder pad strapped on the rear. In the enhanced version, the front sight is taken from an M136 AT4.
Performance[]
2D Universe[]
The Rocket Launcher is among the most powerful weapons in the games, being able to destroy almost anything that is able to be damaged in one single shot. The chief advantage of this weapon is its destructive power and large area effect (with its blast being capable of inflicting heavy damage several meters away from the point of impact). Although its rockets self-destruct after traveling a certain distance, its range remains impressive. The weapon's disadvantages are its slow aiming, and its potential to seriously injure or kill the operator if a rocket detonates at close range.
The Rocket Launcher can destroy the vast majority of the vehicles, except Tanks or other similar vehicles.
3D Universe[]
The Rocket Launcher again proves its effectiveness at destroying heavy targets and is also able to take out pursuing police helicopters during wanted levels.
Its heavy weight will cause the protagonist to be slowed to a jogging pace and not be able to jump while the weapon is equipped except from Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and onwards. The rocket is also very accurate, as it always travels right where the aiming sight is placed. Much like in the 2D Universe, the Rocket Launcher cannot destroy a Rhino instantly.
3D Universe Overview[]
| Damage | Fire Rate [?] | Range (m / ft) |
Ammo Specifications/ Capacity |
Reload Mechanism | Reload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 100 (GTA Vice City) | 50 / 164 (30 / 98.4) (GTA San Andreas, float target range) 55 / 180.4 (30 / 98.4) |
1 | N/A | 1200 (1) (GTA Vice City) |
| N/A | 47 RPM (GTA III, Liberty City Stories & Vice City Stories) 46 RPM 55 RPM (GTA San Andreas) |
Cannot be determined | 1 rocket | Rocket insertion | 1.2 seconds |
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
Unlike previous games where the player was forced into a stationary first-person perspective, the player aims the launcher from the over-the-shoulder perspective, allowing them to strafe while aiming and while behind cover.
The Rocket Launcher is the most powerful weapon in the game, destroying any target with a direct hit and causing heavy casualities with splash damage. While some targets can survive the splash damage from the rocket, the resulting knockback from the explosion can still injure them when hitting a solid structure or falling from a considerable height. The player does not necessarily need a direct hit on the fuselage of a helicopter to destroy it as the force of a detonating rocket can cause the pilot to lose control and crash. Also, unlike the 3D Universe, the rocket can hit the rotors as they are considered solid objects. The rocket self-detonates when it reaches its maximum range.
The rocket can be deflected if the tip hits a solid structure in an angle of around 25 degrees. This can result on missing the intended target, although it can be still an advantage when dealing with multiple enemies or bypassing certain covers. This does not happen in multiplayer, and the rocket simply explodes where it hits.
GTA IV Overview[]
| Damage (per shot) |
Fire Rate [?] | Range (m / ft) |
Ammo Specifications/ Capacity |
Reload Mechanism | Reload Speed [?] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explosive (x2) | 800 | 50 / 164 (Lock-on) 100 / 328 (Weapon) |
1 (8) | N/A | 2066 |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Lethal (Singleplayer, Explosion only & Multiplayer; Projectile only) | 20 RPM 30 RPM [?] |
Cannot be determined | Single rocket | Rocket insertion | 2.07 seconds |
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
In Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online, the Rocket Launcher is less accurate, but even more powerful, able to take out targets more easily. Because of the sensibility of characters, a rocket explosion is even more lethal and the splash damage usually kills them in the process (its blast radius is five meters, and damage doesn’t decrease on the edges of the radius). Vehicles are also very vulnerable, as the explosion can instantly destroy them, as well as destroying helicopters quickly (unlike in GTA IV, where a single hit on the rotors will make them lose control and, in an unfortunate event, they will fall and explode right to the attacker). Unlike its previous iteration, the rocket does not deflect.
The rocket is fired at 60 m/s (216 kph), and its maximum range is 300 meters. It lasts for five seconds before it self-detonates.
The Rocket Launcher is the only heavy weapon that can be used while in a vehicle with ample room (i.e. helicopter bays), albeit only in Grand Theft Auto Online.
GTA V and Online Overview[]
| Damage (per shot) [?] |
Fire Rate [?] | Range (m / ft) [?] |
Ammo Specifications/ Capacity |
Reload Mechanism | Reload Speed [?] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 (direct) 50 (edge) |
0.8 (75 RPM) | 80 / 262.4 (Lock-on) 85 / 278.8 (Weapon) |
1 (20) | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | Anti-tank, explosive warheads | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | 15 RPM | 300 / 984.3 | Single rocket | Rocket insertion | N/A |
 |
Damage | 100% 100% | |||
| Fire Rate/Speed | 5% 5% | ||||
| Accuracy | 10% 10% | ||||
| Range | 70% 70% | ||||
| Clip Size | 10% 10% | ||||
Customizations[]
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
| Rounds & magazine | GTA V | GTA Online (Unlock) |
|---|---|---|
| Rockets (2) | $100 | $1,000 (Rank 100) |
| Tints | ||
| Black | Default | Default |
| Army | $100 | $5,000 (Kill 100 players) |
| Green (Collector's and Enhanced Edition) | $200F | $5,250 (Kill 200 players) |
| Orange (Collector's and Enhanced Edition) | $400F | $5,500 (Kill 400 players) |
| LSPD | $600 | $5,750 (Kill 600 players) |
| Pink (Collector's and Enhanced Edition) | $800F | $7,500 (Rank 50) |
| Gold (Collector's and Enhanced Edition) | $1,000F | $10,000 (Rank 75) |
| Platinum (Collector's and Enhanced Edition) | $1,500F | $12,500 (Rank 100) |
- F Free for players that have the Special/Collector's edition of the game.
Notable Users[]
- All Protagonists
- The Truth
- Sunny
- Mendez Cartel goons
- Wu Lee's goon (during Salt in the Wound)
- Little Jacob
- Elwood O'Neil
- Lester Crest
- Zaibatsu Corporation
- Red Valdez
- Marty Boldenow
- Uno Carb
- King Courtney
- Colombian Cartel goons
- Sicilian Mafia goons
- Kkangpae (Air Freight Cargo: Rival base)
Image Gallery[]
In-game model[]
HUD icon[]
First-Person View[]
In-game aiming[]
Locations[]
Grand Theft Auto 2[]
- Appears as a Crusher reward for the following vehicles in specific districts:
- Miara in Downtown.
- Hachura in Residential.
- Shark in Industrial.
Downtown District[]
- Avalon, Downtown District - North of the cathedral, close to the cemetery.
- Avalon, Downtown District - Roof of the building west of the hospital west of Avalon Station, accessible from some stairs on its west side.
- Avalon, Downtown District - Ledge north of the Avalon police station, accessible with a stunt jump.
- Altamount, Downtown District - South of the cathedral.
- Flotsam, Downtown District - Between the hospital and the bank near Flotsam docks.
- Sunnyside, Downtown District - Southwest corner of the building with gardens placed west of the asylum.
- J-Lab, Funabashi, Downtown District - From the roof (accessible from some stairs on the west side), some stairs lead to the east side, and some boxes can be reached there after a drop and a jump.
- Ukita, Downtown District - From the ledge near the northernmost street at Ukita, an elevated platform to the roof just north.
- Omnitron, Downtown District - Pit between the hospital north of the Zaibatsu HQ and a bank.
Residential District[]
- Belmont, Residential District - Roof of the Belmont motel located some blocks west of the central police station.
- Morton, Residential District - Alley southwest of the church, next to the metal platform over the street.
- Morton, Residential District - From the southern train tracks (accessible from some stairs at the east side of the free access section of the Scientist Research Center, then a long platform towards west, then dropping down to the train tracks), using a ramp to perform a stunt jump.
- Stromberg, Residential District - Building north of the east section of the Scientist Research Center, near the green phones.
- Xenoton, Residential District - Area with the underground train tracks east of the entrance towards the elevated platform over the RV Park.
Industrial District[]
- Gonad, Industrial District - Building located north of the east side of Gonad hospital.
- Petula, Industrial District - Northwest of Narayana hospital.
- Narayana, Industrial District - Wooden bridge over a pond at the southeast corner of the Industrial District.
- Azeri Heights Docks, Azeri Heights, Industrial District - Westernmost pier of Azeri Heights Docks.
- Azeri Heights Docks, Azeri Heights, Industrial District - Third (from left) pier of Azeri Heights Docks.
- Brown-Eye Sewage Plant, Lubyanka, Industrial District - Roof of the processing plant (accessible from the stairs near the entrance), across the angled roof.
- Pravda, Industrial District - Chernobolt factory south of the power plant, on the southeast corner.
- Krimea, Industrial District - Area with water tanks east of the Russian Cross, entering it from the east side and going around the structure until reaching the far west side.
- Power Core, Escobar, Industrial District - South side of the power core, near the red phone.
- Lattero, Industrial District - End of the tiny passage near the construction site entrance.
- Sennora, Industrial District - Small courtyard inside a building two blocks east of the Zaibatsu cranes, accessible from the northeast corner.
- Bayano, Industrial District - Building some blocks southwest of Bayano station in the north alcove.
- Used by Zaibatsu Corporation gang members with five negative respect bars.
Grand Theft Auto III[]
- Rockford, Staunton Island - Available to buy from Phil Cassidy's Army Surplus after completion of Arms Shortage. ($25,000)
- Cedar Grove, Shoreside Vale - On the west side of the roof of the large pink house at the west end of The Homes (closest to Cochrane Dam). To get this weapon icon, wedge an Ambulance under the lowest part of the roof on the east side of the house, climb the Ambulance then to the roof, then go west along the south side of the roof to reach it. Another way to reach it, is simply jump over the roof at the nearest corner to the garage in the east side of the house, where the roof almost touches the ground.
- Spawns at every safehouse after collecting all 100 hidden packages.
- The rocket launcher can be gotten right at the start of the game, before a single mission is completed provided the player does two things. 1. Use the jump the broken Callahan Bridge by using the two girders trick to get to Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale to collect the hidden packages there and 2. For the hidden package hanging on the broken draw bridge linking Staunton and Shoreside, use the dodo and fly up there. The trick is use the dodo and lift off of the side slanted runway at Francis International. Once lifted off, fly south, away from draw bridge rather than make the hard 180 degrees turn. This is because after leaving Liberty City for a bit, the game will automatically turn the player around and at the city. This means if the player is flying away from it, after a bit, he will be pointed directly at the bridge. This also give the player plenty of distance to adjust the height and aim point. The aim point is the third hole between the bridge support. Try and aim at it so the wing will bounce off of one the support and crash onto the bridge without flying through the bridge. Do not stay too close to the edge as that may cause the plane to skid too far and hit the water below. Once on the bridge it's easy to get at the hidden package.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
- Phil's Place, Little Haiti - The weapon is available for purchase here after completion of Boomshine Saigon. ($8,000)
- Hooker Inn, Viceport - Located in the swimming pool, directly after the entrance arch.
- Spawns at the Ocean View Hotel, the Hyman Condo, and the Vercetti Estate after collecting 70 hidden packages.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
Rocket Launcher's locations map
- Downtown, Los Santos - On the roof of a building with large radio antenna. One must use a helicopter, a plane, a jetpack or parachuting from the Los Santos Tower towards northeast to reach it.
- Downtown, San Fierro - On the helipad of the San Fierro Police Headquarters (only during Toreno's Last Flight). It will remain at the same spot if not taken during the mission.
- Tierra Robada - Inside Mike Toreno's ranch upon completion of Vertical Bird.
- Las Venturas Airport, Las Venturas - Beside some shipping containers east of the southern jet bridge of the main terminal.
- The Emerald Isle, Las Venturas - Two are located here, one on the 8th floor of the garage, the other on a corner of the roof.
- By activating the Tier 1 Thugs tools cheat which gives an RPG and any other weapons.
- From pedestrians (only available when cheats 'everyone is armed' and/or 'riot' are activated).
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories[]
- Francis International Airport, Shoreside Vale - Underneath the Shoreside Lift Bridge.
- Bedford Point, Staunton Island - Can be bought from Phil Cassidy's Fully Cocked Gun Shop after completing False Idols. ($9,000)
- Spawns at each safehouse after collecting 90 hidden packages.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
- Starfish Island - From the western bridge, it is at the front of the second house on the left.
- Ocean Beach - Available at the Ammu-Nation store after completing the mission "Turn on, Tune in, Bug out" for $9,000 but the price will decrease to $6,750 after completing Phil's Shooting Range.
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
General[]
- The Rocket Launcher can be purchased at the Underground Gun Shops for $15,000 plus $5,000 for each additional rocket.
- The Rocket Launcher cannot be bought from Little Jacob in GTA IV; however, the player can buy a Rocket Launcher from Terry Thorpe in The Lost and Damned or from Armando Torres in The Ballad of Gay Tony for $10,000 plus $3,500 for each additional rocket.
- In multiplayer, by entering any available helicopter, the player will be awarded with a Rocket Launcher with eight rounds.
Algonquin[]
- Northwood - Can be found on a large boulder in the water north of Northwood. This is the easiest RPG pickup in the city.
- Castle Gardens - Can be found in an alcove on the southeastern partition of the construction site seen in the mission Deconstruction for Beginners. The RPG is inside an alcove facing the water, and can be reached with a boat.
Alderney[]
- Alderney City - Can be found on the roof of the Kakagawa Building near AutoEroticar. There is no roof access from the street, so a helicopter is needed.
- Acter Industrial Park - On a corner of a platform of the sunken cargo ship situated the far west of the district.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars[]
- South Bohan - In an alley of difficult access as an Easter Egg.
- Can be bought from Ammu-Nation after the mission Evidence Dash.
Grand Theft Auto V[]
Weapon pickups map including the RPG bridge location in Grand Theft Auto V.
- Can be purchased at Ammu-Nation for $6,500.
- Can be obtained by Trevor during the Blitz Play mission if not acquired before.
- Can be looted from Elwood O'Neil if killed by Franklin during the mission Predator.
- National Office of Security Enforcement - On top of the building, next to the helipad, where the Buzzard helicopter spawns.
- At the top of the western part of the Miriam Turner Overpass, next to Los Santos International Airport.
- Inside the Los Santos International Airport.
- Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness - Inside Altruist Camp, on the ground in the church porch.
- Alamo Sea - Inside of the sunken Cargo Plane after the mission Minor Turbulence.
- Used by the Military in Fort Zancudo if the player flies a helicopter or an aircraft close to the ground. They will not switch weapons if the player exits their vehicle, so the player can freely kill them and take their weapon, although they must be careful not to get hit, as it will result in an instant death.
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
- Unlocked at rank 100, then can be purchased for $36,500 at Ammu-Nation.
- Spawns at waves 4, 7 and 10 in survival mode.
- Available in the bunker's shooting range alcove after completing all challenges in Tier 3, as part of the Gunrunning update.
- Available in the Kosatka's torpedo room as a part of the The Cayo Perico Heist update.
Trivia[]
General[]
- The Rocket Launcher and the Pistol are the only weapons to appear in every Grand Theft Auto game.
- Contrary to their depiction in the series, modern rocket launchers cannot be used to commit suicide by firing them at the ground. This occurs due to most rockets being outfitted with a timer fuse, a safety measure that renders the main warhead unable to explode until a rocket has been airborne for a certain period of time.
- To make this even less likely, some rockets, like the RPG, are also equipped with an accelerometer in conjunction with the timer fuse. This will not arm the main fuse until the rocket has reached its maximum speed.
- In reality, rocket launchers such as the RPG and the LAW should not be fired from confined spaces or when there is an obstacle to the rear. This is because these rockets are not "soft launch" capable, meaning they produce a large back blast when launching their projectile. If this happens in a confined space or when there is an obstacle to the rear, the blast, smoke and concussion can seriously harm or even kill the user when it ricochets off of the obstacle. In reality, such weapons require approximately 150 feet[1] of clear space to the rear in order to be fired safely.
- In the 3D Universe and the HD Universe, the rocket itself is considered as a standalone throwable device, as it has properties of a grenade and could theoretically even be wielded like one. The only difference, unlike other basic grenades, is that it has special properties to travel forward when launched and is set to be used if the launcher is used.
2D Universe[]
- Rockets (both from launchers and tanks) in GTA have the ability to set buildings on fire for a limited amount of time. Although the fire goes away after a while and leaves no fire damaged markings. When a building is on fire it only burns from the point in which the rocket hit it, the fire will not spread.
3D Universe[]
- Since Claude always looks downwards, the rocket launcher will make Claude look straight/upwards and hold his head straight.
- In Grand Theft Auto III, pedestrians using Rocket Launchers through cheat codes are incapable of operating the weapon properly. As they adopt the behavior of a character with a normal firearm, they will run up to a target and fire at their feet, killing themselves and anybody standing nearby, or greatly injure them.
- With the use of the "Infinite Ammo" cheat in GTA San Andreas, the RPG gains a greatly increased rate of fire, comparable to a 9mm pistol. The same occurs with the heat-seeking variant.
- In GTA Vice City, continuously firing the RPG with the "Fast Reload" upgrade and swinging the weapon will sometimes cause a rocket to detonate by making contact with the launch tube, injuring the player. A similar quirk is present on the Hydra's rocket pods.
- In GTA Vice City, GTA Liberty City Stories and GTA Vice City Stories, the rockets fired disappear after traveling a certain distance, unlike other games, where they self-detonate after traveling a certain distance.
- When fired point-blank at the mirrors in a safehouse wardrobe, the rockets of the GTA San Andreas model will clip through them and fly for a considerable distance before impacting an invisible object, causing the same fire effect that occurs in normal gameplay. The flames can be seen through the mirror, although the object that was hit cannot be seen. The object is presumably a building/interior in the Hidden Interiors Universe, as the Wardrobe is an interior.
HD Universe[]
The throwable Rocket Launcher rocket in Grand Theft Auto IV.
- When blindfiring from a standing position while facing left, the protagonists of the Liberty City trilogy will release their left hand and fire the RPG using only their right hand. This would be impossible, as RPGs are designed to be fired with the left hand.
- In Grand Theft Auto IV and its episodes, a separate weapon to represent launched rockets is included within the game's code and labelled as 'ROCKET'. It is inaccessible through normal gameplay. The weapon functions like the Grenade, Molotov Cocktail and throwable objects, but when thrown, the rocket behaves as if it were shot from the launcher.
- In Grand Theft Auto V, a GTA IV-model Rocket Launcher is hung on the wall of all Ammu-Nation stores. It is not obtainable.
- The RPG's price in GTA V is the cheapest it has ever been in the series at only $6,500.
- In the BradyGames Guide for GTA V, the Rocket Launcher was said to have an optional grip attachment. However, it is not present in the final game.
- In GTA V, during The Big Score (obvious approach), Lester Crest calls the RPG the "noob tube". In popular FPS series such as Call of Duty, "noob tube" is a slang term usually used for a grenade launcher and the fact they are easy to take out an enemy. This is a reference to Lester's gaming habit.
- Despite the fact he wields a standard rocket launcher, it has the ability to home in on the Merryweather helicopters, similar to the Homing Launcher.
- In the enhanced version of GTA V, there is a writing on the side of the barrel that reads "Do not aim at pets or feet!"
- The "aiming at feet" reference is to the Quake video game series having the unique ability to "rocket jump" which allows the user to propel themselves a great amount of distance with the rocket's blast. It is possible to do this with Trevor's special ability, however, it does not propel him very far.
- The "aiming at pets" may be a reference to players using it to kill Chop, who can only be killed by the player by using explosives or by running over him with a vehicle.
- After the Heists update for GTA Online, the Rocket Launcher looks noticeably different in first-person; the player holds the weapon at a lower angle.
Oversights[]
- In all of the 3D Universe games except GTA Advance, there is a glitch with the rocket fired by any firing device: when the rocket is hit by a bullet during flight, the rocket will be redirected/reflected in "random" directions with a much higher speed. This is often seen in multiplayer, when a Hunter fires two rockets to players who are firing at the chopper, the rocket could fly off into random directions. In GTA San Andreas, with a jetpack and Micro SMG, and very decent aiming, one can fend off all incoming missiles in Area 69 by shooting at the rather slow-moving missiles.
See Also[]
- Heat-Seeking Rocket Launcher - Another type of rocket launcher featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
- Firework Launcher - A special variant appearing in the Independence Day Special update for Grand Theft Auto V.
- Homing Launcher - A homing rocket launcher that was introduced in the Festive Surprise in Grand Theft Auto V.