The Rocket Launcher (formerly named and frequently referred to as the RPG, standing for Rocket Propelled Grenade) is a rocket-propelled projectile weapon appearing in Grand Theft Auto IV, Episodes from Liberty City, Grand Theft Auto V, and Grand Theft Auto Online, and due to appear in Grand Theft Auto VI. It is manufactured by Shrewsbury in GTA V and GTA Online.
Description[]
The RPG appears in every game in the HD Universe, provided as a basic, albeit powerful explosive weapon. It is capable of massive destruction and power, with the ability to destroy nearly all vehicles and pedestrians. The weapon's name has changed numerous times throughout the HD Universe:
- In GTA IV and EFLC, the weapon is named RPG.
- In GTA V and GTA Online, the weapon is named RPG.
- In GTA VI, it is due to be named Rocket Launcher.[1]
Grand Theft Auto VI[]
The weapon is mentioned in a single clip from the September 2022 GTA VI leaks, where Jason is exploring a container at PortViceCity. The weapon's name appears on the developer's HUD when a cheat is activated.[1]
Design[]
In the majority of its HD Universe appearances, the RPG is largely a rendition of the Russian RPG-7 portable anti-tank rocket launcher, similar to its counterpart in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. In Grand Theft Auto IV, it is given a largely typical design, with the exception of a standard gun sight in lieu of an optical sight. In Grand Theft Auto V and Online, the RPG takes on a more streamlined and detailed design, with a shoulder pad strapped to the rear and a new hexagonal blast port. In GTA V's Enhanced version, the launcher's front sight is taken from an M136 AT4.
The only exception to the HD Universe's RPG-7 influence is Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, where the RPG's HUD icon appears to be a stylized rendition of an M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) rocket launcher, similar to the weapon's counterpart in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
Performance[]
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 RPG 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.
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
In Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online, the RPG 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 RPG 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.
Modifications[]
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
| Rounds & magazine | GTA V | GTA Online | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Gallery[]
Design[]
Images[]
The RPG on the Rockstar Games Social Club in GTA V and GTA Online.
The GTA IV RPG on a wall display at Ammu-Nation in GTA V.
HUD Icons[]
Grand Theft Auto V and Online.
Grand Theft Auto V and Online, enhanced version.
Official Screenshots[]
Niko Bellic using an RPG in GTA IV.
Trevor Philips reloading an RPG in GTA V.
Locations[]
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
General
- The RPG can be purchased at the Underground Gun Shops for $15,000 plus $5,000 for each additional rocket.
- The RPG cannot be bought from Little Jacob in GTA IV; however, the player can buy an RPG 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 RPG with eight rounds.
- 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 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. Available after Blitz Play.
- 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.
- NOOSE Headquarters – 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.
- Found at several places underwater around wrecks.
- 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.[ref?ref?This fact is likely to be disputed and needs a source for confirmation.]
- 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 Cayo Perico Heist update.
Trivia[]
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
The throwable RPG rocket in Grand Theft Auto IV.
- 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.
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
- In the BradyGames Guide for GTA V, the RPG 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.
- 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.
- 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 RPG looks noticeably different in first-person; the player holds the weapon at a lower angle.
See Also[]
- Homing Launcher – A homing surface-to-air rocket launcher, appearing in Grand Theft Auto V and Online with the Festive Surprise update.
- Firework Launcher – A rocket launcher-type weapon that fires fireworks, appearing in Grand Theft Auto V and Online with The Independence Day Special update.