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Missionmajor

The Third Way

Franklin rejects both assassination orders and joins Michael and Trevor to eliminate their enemies.

RoleStory mission guide
Importancemajor
  • ModeStory Mode
  • TypeStory mission
  • Difficultyhard
  • Walkthrough steps10

Time and medal conditions vary by route, approach, player count, replay state, and game version.

Key takeawaysSpoilers

Prepare before the opening marker and treat each objective update as a checkpoint.

  • Primary goal Franklin rejects both assassination orders and joins Michael and Trevor to eliminate their enemies.
  • Protect mission-critical assets Avoid unnecessary vehicle damage, friendly fire, or abandoning a required target outside the objective radius.
  • Use protagonist abilities Use Franklin for precision driving, Michael for controlled gunfights, and Trevor for high-damage combat whenever the mission makes them available.
  • Do not rush the final marker Clear pursuit conditions and keep required characters or vehicles together before entering extraction.

OverviewSpoilers

Franklin rejects both assassination orders and joins Michael and Trevor to eliminate their enemies.

Franklin rejects both assassination orders and joins Michael and Trevor to eliminate their enemies.

This Story Mode mission advances the protagonists’ connected storyline. Some neighboring missions can become available simultaneously, so the exact play order may vary.

The walkthrough below separates travel, setup, combat, pursuit, and extraction checkpoints so a failed section can be diagnosed without repeating the same mistake.

Characters in this mission

Where this sitsSpoilers

PreparationMeet Lester and agree on the foundry ambush plan
Core objectiveEliminate Stretch as Michael
CompletionDrive Devin to the final meeting and complete the canonical ending
  1. 1The Time's ComepreviousPrevious
  2. ●The Third WaycurrentCurrent guide
  3. 3The Multi Target AssassinationnextNext

Branching heist preparations and simultaneous character missions can alter the playable order.

Requirements and recommended loadoutSpoilers

Enter with mission-appropriate ammunition, armor, and a vehicle that can survive the opening travel phase.

  • RequiredComplete the preceding story unlocks
  • RecommendedFull body armor and stocked ammunitionParticularly valuable for missions marked moderate or hard.
  • RecommendedAccurate mid-range weaponA rifle or stable automatic weapon handles most outdoor gunfights.
  • OptionalClose-range backupUseful inside buildings, alleys, and vehicles.
  • RecommendedSave the relevant protagonist abilityUse it for the most difficult chase, driving, or combat checkpoint.

ObjectivesSpoilers

  1. Meet Lester and agree on the foundry ambush plan
  2. Collect Lamar and travel to the foundry
  3. Hold the foundry against FIB and Merryweather waves
  4. Use character switching to cover each protagonist’s position
  5. Regroup after the ambush and divide the remaining targets
  6. Eliminate Stretch as Michael
  7. Eliminate Steve Haines as Trevor
  8. Eliminate Wei Cheng as Franklin
  9. Kidnap Devin Weston from his guarded mansion
  10. Drive Devin to the final meeting and complete the canonical ending

Detailed walkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01

    Meet Lester and agree on the foundry ambush plan

    Meet Lester and agree on the foundry ambush plan

    Meet Lester and agree on the foundry ambush plan. Follow the marked route and wait for the objective prompt to update before leaving the area. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    TipBefore triggering the opening marker, restock armor and ammunition if the mission is expected to involve combat.

    Watch outA failed push can expose the mission vehicle or protagonist to concentrated damage; reset behind cover instead of forcing progress.

    Checkpoint
  2. 02

    Collect Lamar and travel to the foundry

    Collect Lamar and travel to the foundry

    Collect Lamar and travel to the foundry. Approach from the safest side, clear immediate threats, and wait for the possession or collection confirmation before moving to extraction. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    Checkpoint
  3. 03

    Hold the foundry against FIB and Merryweather waves

    Hold the foundry against FIB and Merryweather waves

    Hold the foundry against FIB and Merryweather waves. Follow the marked route and wait for the objective prompt to update before leaving the area. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

  4. 04

    Use character switching to cover each protagonist’s position

    Use character switching to cover each protagonist’s position

    Use character switching to cover each protagonist’s position. Follow the marked route and wait for the objective prompt to update before leaving the area. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    Checkpoint
  5. 05

    Regroup after the ambush and divide the remaining targets

    Regroup after the ambush and divide the remaining targets

    Regroup after the ambush and divide the remaining targets. Follow the marked route and wait for the objective prompt to update before leaving the area. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    Watch outA failed push can expose the mission vehicle or protagonist to concentrated damage; reset behind cover instead of forcing progress.

  6. 06

    Eliminate Stretch as Michael

    Eliminate Stretch as Michael

    Eliminate Stretch as Michael. Move from cover to cover, remove exposed or elevated shooters first, and do not advance until the current flank is secure. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    Checkpoint
  7. 07

    Eliminate Steve Haines as Trevor

    Eliminate Steve Haines as Trevor

    Eliminate Steve Haines as Trevor. Move from cover to cover, remove exposed or elevated shooters first, and do not advance until the current flank is secure. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

  8. 08

    Eliminate Wei Cheng as Franklin

    Eliminate Wei Cheng as Franklin

    Eliminate Wei Cheng as Franklin. Move from cover to cover, remove exposed or elevated shooters first, and do not advance until the current flank is secure. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    Checkpoint
  9. 09

    Kidnap Devin Weston from his guarded mansion

    Kidnap Devin Weston from his guarded mansion

    Kidnap Devin Weston from his guarded mansion. Follow the marked route and wait for the objective prompt to update before leaving the area. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

  10. 10

    Drive Devin to the final meeting and complete the canonical ending

    Drive Devin to the final meeting and complete the canonical ending

    Drive Devin to the final meeting and complete the canonical ending. Use the minimap to anticipate turns, preserve the mission vehicle, and prioritize keeping visual contact over risky shortcuts. Remain in the final marker until the mission-complete transition begins.

    Checkpoint

Difficult sections and useful strategiesSpoilers

Strengths

  • Frequent objective markers make the intended route readable
  • Character switching or team roles can divide pressure
  • Most combat checkpoints provide cover or a defensible angle

Weaknesses

  • Mission-critical vehicles and allies can fail the attempt
  • Police or enemy reinforcements punish slow extraction
  • Long pursuits can be lost by overcommitting to shortcuts

Best uses

  • Clear enemies from range before moving a required vehicle
  • Use special abilities during the hardest driving or combat segment
  • Restart from the latest checkpoint after a failed gold-medal attempt rather than improvising a damaged route

Completion checklistSpoilers

  • Meet Lester and agree on the foundry ambush planCheckpoint 1
  • Collect Lamar and travel to the foundryCheckpoint 2
  • Hold the foundry against FIB and Merryweather wavesCheckpoint 3
  • Use character switching to cover each protagonist’s positionCheckpoint 4
  • Regroup after the ambush and divide the remaining targetsCheckpoint 5
  • Eliminate Stretch as MichaelCheckpoint 6
  • Eliminate Steve Haines as TrevorCheckpoint 7
  • Eliminate Wei Cheng as FranklinCheckpoint 8
  • Kidnap Devin Weston from his guarded mansionCheckpoint 9
  • Drive Devin to the final meeting and complete the canonical endingFinal completion condition

Failure conditions and checkpointsSpoilers

  • A required protagonist, ally, or protected target dies.Restart from the most recent mission checkpoint.
  • A mission-critical vehicle is destroyed, abandoned, or leaves the playable route.Use the restart option rather than continuing in an unmarked replacement.
  • The target escapes or a timed objective expires.Prioritize route discipline and the primary objective over optional combat.
  • The player is wasted or all shared team lives are exhausted.Story Mode reloads the latest checkpoint.

On failure

Major travel, combat, and transition phases generally create checkpoints, but exact restart placement can vary by approach and replay mode.

Rewards and aftermathSpoilers

  • Mission completion and progression
    Unlocks the next related story activity, contact, property, or preparation where applicable.

Sources and verificationSpoilers