Flare Gun
Flare Gun is a sidearm in Grand Theft Auto V or GTA Online, designed for drive-by combat and close-to-medium encounters.
Key Takeaways
The Flare Gun is a utility-focused pistol in Grand Theft Auto V rather than a conventional sidearm. Its value comes from firing signal flares, creating a visible burning projectile and enabling situational fire-based interactions. It is available in both Story Mode and GTA Online, although its acquisition route and availability details should be kept mode-specific.
Utility-first firearm
The Flare Gun occupies the pistol slot but is designed around signaling and situational utility, not sustained gunfights or ordinary sidearm damage.
Single-shot flare operation
Each trigger pull launches one flare, after which the weapon must reload before it can fire again; this makes timing and positioning more important than rate of fire.
Available in both modes
The weapon exists in Story Mode and GTA Online, but its purchase or unlock conditions should be checked separately rather than treated as one universal route.
Useful for visible fire-based utility
Its burning flare projectile can create practical fire-related opportunities and is more useful for special situations than for replacing a standard pistol.
No conventional Mk II progression
Unlike several GTA Online firearms, the Flare Gun is not a base weapon with a documented Mk II conversion; its role is defined by its flare ammunition and firing behaviour instead.
Not a substitute for a combat pistol
Compared with ordinary pistols, it trades sustained combat performance for its distinctive projectile and utility, so the better choice depends on whether the situation calls for a signal flare or direct fire.
Overview
The Flare Gun is a utility-oriented pistol in Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online, built around firing signal flares rather than serving as a conventional sidearm.
Unlike the game's ordinary pistols, the Flare Gun is defined by its projectile and practical role more than by sustained damage output. Each shot launches a bright flare that can be used for signaling and can create a visible point of attention in the environment. Its unusual ammunition behaviour gives it a distinct identity among handgun-class weapons, even though it occupies a pistol slot.
The weapon is best understood as situational equipment. It can contribute to combat at close range, but its single-shot handling and flare-based projectile make it a poor substitute for a standard pistol when the objective is quick, repeatable gunfire. Players who carry it are choosing a specialised tool for its unusual effect and presentation rather than a general-purpose firearm.
In Story Mode and GTA Online, the Flare Gun occupies a niche between emergency signal equipment and a weapon. That role separates it from pistols intended for reliable target elimination, while also distinguishing it from throwable explosives, which deliver their effect through a different activation and area-use pattern. The page therefore focuses on its utility, handling, and mode-specific availability rather than treating it as a normal damage-focused handgun.
The Flare Gun has no Mk II identity that needs to be treated as a separate combat variant in this overview. Its importance comes from the interaction between its flare projectile, limited shot cadence, and unusual use cases. It is most relevant when a player wants the game's signal-flare behaviour available through the weapon wheel, not when selecting a primary sidearm for routine firefights.
Statistics
In-game values on GTA V's 0–100 stat bars, with the real magazine figure alongside. Taken from the project's verified weapons database, not from generated text.
- CategoryHandguns
- Magazine1
- Story ModeYes
- OnlineGTA Online: Heists
- How to getAmmu-Nation
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar handguns
| Weapon | Damage | Fire Rate | Accuracy | Range | Magazine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flare Gun | 22 | 10 | 30 | 18 | 1 |
| Stun Gun | — | 10 | 25 | 8 | 1 |
| SNS Pistol | 26 | 48 | 45 | 15 | 6 |
| AP Pistol | 28 | 85 | 40 | 18 | 18 |
| Perico Pistol | 30 | 48 | 55 | 20 | 12 |
Damage, fire rate, accuracy and range are GTA V's own 0–100 stat scales; magazine is the real figure. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
How to Obtain
- Story Mode requires completion of The Merryweather Heist before the Ammu-Nation purchase is unlocked.
- GTA Online requires access to Ammu-Nation; no DLC or NG+ requirement is established here.
- 01Story Mode: complete The Merryweather Heist, then visit any Ammu-Nation. The Flare Gun becomes available for purchase there; it is a store item rather than a mission reward or enemy drop, so no pickup location or boss farm is required.
- 02GTA Online: visit Ammu-Nation and purchase the Flare Gun when it is available in the weapon catalogue. This route is separate from Story Mode, and the weapon is not obtained by repeating The Merryweather Heist in Online. Availability and any rank restriction should be checked against the current Online version before publication.
Availability
Requires Unlocked following the Monkey Business mission
Availability is tied to Story Mode progression rather than GTA Online rank or rotating stock.
Requires GTA Online character progression requirements apply
Online availability and pricing are separate from Story Mode; the Flare Gun is not a rotating Gun Van-only weapon.
Mechanics and Handling
The Flare Gun is a utility firearm rather than a conventional sidearm. Its projectile is a visible flare, so its practical value comes from signalling, distraction and situational countermeasures instead of sustained gunfire. It uses a single-shot firing cycle: after each discharge, the weapon must be reloaded before it can fire again. This makes missed shots costly and prevents it from functioning like a normal pistol in a close-range fight.
Projectile behaviour and firing cycle
The flare follows a projectile path rather than behaving like an instant hitscan pistol shot. Travel time and trajectory matter, particularly when aiming at a moving target or trying to place the flare at distance. The shot produces a conspicuous burning signal, which can reveal the firing position and should not be treated as a stealth-friendly attack. Its slow, deliberate cycle also makes it poorly suited to engagements involving several targets.
Utility in GTA Online
In GTA Online, fired flares can interfere with incoming homing missiles by acting as a decoy. This is a defensive use, not a general replacement for vehicle armour or a dedicated countermeasure system: the flare has to be deployed in response to the threat, and the weapon's single-shot cycle leaves little room for careless timing. The Flare Gun is therefore most useful when its special utility matters more than immediate damage output.
Range, exposure and practical use
The weapon is most effective when the player has time to aim and a clear purpose for the shot. Use it to create a visible signal, draw attention to a location, or attempt to divert a homing missile in Online. In ordinary firefights, its slow reload and limited offensive role make a standard pistol or another appropriate weapon the more dependable choice. Story Mode and GTA Online should be treated separately: the missile-decoy application is specifically an Online consideration, while the flare projectile remains the defining behaviour in both modes.
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Provides utility beyond ordinary gunfire: its flare projectile can ignite targets and create a highly visible signal.
- In GTA Online, a well-timed flare can divert some incoming homing missiles, giving the user a defensive countermeasure when the interaction applies.
- The projectile's visible trajectory makes it useful for marking a location or drawing attention without relying on conventional firearm damage.
Weaknesses
- It is a single-shot launcher rather than a sustained-fire sidearm, so every shot is followed by a reload and missed shots are costly.
- Its projectile follows a slower, more deliberate trajectory than bullets, making it unreliable against moving targets or under pressure.
- The flare's defensive value depends on timing and the incoming missile's behavior; it should not be treated as a universal replacement for vehicle countermeasures.
- Its utility is situational, and it offers little value when the encounter requires rapid, repeatable damage.
Best uses
- Fire it at an incoming homing missile in GTA Online when the flare interaction is available and the timing is clear.
- Use it to ignite a target or vehicle when a fire-starting projectile is more useful than conventional gunfire.
- Mark a position, signal to another player, or attract attention with its bright visible flare.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Mode scope | Primary role | Projectile or handling distinction | Choose it when... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flare Gun | Firing flares and flare-specific utility rather than serving as a conventional sidearm | Uses flare projectiles instead of ordinary pistol ammunition; its value is situational rather than sustained gunfight performance | You need the Flare Gun's signaling or flare-based utility, or want a specialist tool rather than a general-purpose pistol | — |
| Pistol | General-purpose short-range firearm | Uses conventional pistol ammunition and is intended for ordinary sidearm combat | You need a practical backup weapon for routine engagements instead of the Flare Gun's specialist function | — |
| SNS Pistol | Concealable short-range sidearm role | Remains a conventional firearm, making it a direct combat alternative rather than a utility weapon | You want a small combat sidearm and have no need for flare-specific utility | — |
Trivia
- In Grand Theft Auto V, the Flare Gun is treated as a pistol for weapon selection even though it fires signal flares rather than conventional bullets. This classification is a gameplay category, not an indication that it shares the normal ammunition or handling characteristics of other pistols.