Newspaper
Newspaper is a area-control weapon in Grand Theft Auto V or GTA Online, designed for flushing enemies from cover.
Key Takeaways
Newspaper is a close-range melee weapon in Grand Theft Auto V, defined by improvised blunt attacks rather than firearm handling or ranged pressure.
Improvised melee role
The Newspaper occupies the melee slot and is used at close range, making its identity different from pistols, rifles, and other ranged weapons.
Short-range commitment
Its attacks require the player to close distance before striking, so spacing and exposure matter more than ammunition or reload management.
No firearm progression path
Newspaper is not a Mk II firearm and has no special-ammo, magazine, or Weapon Workshop conversion to build around.
Limited tactical reach
The weapon can serve as a basic close-quarters option, but it cannot pressure targets from range and is less suitable when maintaining distance is important.
Compare by melee function
Its useful comparisons are other close-range weapons such as the Knife and Baseball Bat, judged by melee handling and engagement distance rather than firearm statistics.
Overview
Newspaper is an improvised melee weapon in Grand Theft Auto V, represented by a folded newspaper used at close quarters. Its defining feature is its everyday-object identity rather than a specialised combat system, making it distinct from purpose-built melee weapons such as the Knife, Baseball Bat, or Crowbar.
The weapon exists at the novelty end of GTA V’s melee roster. It is not defined by a blade, striking tool, or firearm-style attachment system; its role comes from converting an ordinary paper prop into a weapon entry. That makes Newspaper relevant mainly as a contextual or unusual melee option rather than as a conventional choice for players comparing dedicated combat weapons.
In practical terms, Newspaper belongs to close-range encounters and shares the basic limitations associated with improvised melee equipment: the user must be within striking distance, and the weapon does not provide the reach or specialised function associated with larger melee weapons. Its appeal is therefore tied to presentation and situational use, not a distinctive ranged, defensive, or upgrade-based mechanic.
Newspaper should be kept separate from the game’s ordinary progression discussion. It has no known Mk II identity or firearm-style modification path, and its presence in GTA V’s weapon data should not by itself be treated as proof of identical player availability in Story Mode and GTA Online. Those mode-specific questions require their own availability context.
The page exists to document where this unusual melee entry fits within GTA V’s broader weapon catalogue: an everyday improvised object, close-range by nature, and notably different from the knife, bat, or other dedicated melee alternatives. Any recommendation should consequently be tied to access and context rather than framed as a general-purpose melee choice.
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.
- CategoryThrown
- Story ModeNo
- OnlineGTA Online: A Safehouse in the Hills
- How to getNovelty item
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar thrown
| Weapon | Damage |
|---|---|
| Newspaper | — |
| Acid Package | 100 |
| BZ Gas | — |
| Flare | — |
| Grenade | 350 |
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
- 01Newspaper has no verified standard player-acquisition route in Grand Theft Auto V. It is not documented as an Ammu-Nation purchase, mission or boss reward, vendor item, or normal world pickup in either Story Mode or GTA Online.
- 02Because no reliable route is established, players should not expect to obtain Newspaper through ordinary progression, a guaranteed drop, a one-per-playthrough reward, or a DLC, NG+, or rank prerequisite. Treat listings that provide a specific location or unlock method as requiring verification.
Mechanics and Handling
Newspaper is a close-quarters melee item rather than a firearm or throwable. Its handling is governed by the ordinary GTA V melee framework: the player must be within striking distance, and attacks commit the character to a short swing animation. The item does not introduce a separate aiming mode, projectile spread, ammunition pool, reload action, or weapon-specific resource.
Short-reach swing pattern
The Newspaper’s practical limitation is its very short contact range. It is suited to attacking an opponent already within arm’s reach, not to controlling space or safely engaging enemies at distance. The attack is a direct handheld strike, so positioning and timing matter more than precision aiming. Compared with melee weapons built around a longer striking arc, it offers less room to connect before an opponent can move away or retaliate.
No distinct special attack
Newspaper has no separately documented weapon skill, charged attack system, status effect, thrown mode, or conditional multiplier. Its combat behaviour should therefore be read as a basic melee option rather than as a weapon with a special activation or combo resource. Any dodge, block, counter, or contextual melee response comes from GTA V’s general close-combat system rather than from a Newspaper-specific mechanic.
Handling and practical use
Because the weapon has no ammunition or reload cycle, its handling is determined by access to the melee attack sequence and by whether the strike connects. It is most appropriate for a novelty close-range interaction or an improvised attack when an enemy is already nearby. It should not be treated as a substitute for a firearm, a longer-reaching melee weapon, or an explosive when the situation requires distance, crowd control, or sustained pressure.
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Provides a close-range melee option without consuming ammunition, making it useful when the player wants to conserve firearm ammo.
- Its ordinary melee attack pattern is straightforward to use in confined spaces, where a firearm may be awkward or unnecessary.
- As an improvised object rather than a firearm, it suits low-profile or role-playing situations where carrying a conventional weapon would undermine the intended presentation.
Weaknesses
- It is restricted to close-range attacks, so it offers no answer to enemies outside striking distance or to armed opponents controlling an open area.
- The Newspaper lacks the reach and crowd-control utility associated with heavier dedicated melee weapons, making repeated engagements riskier when several enemies surround the player.
- It has little practical value for players seeking efficient combat: firearms and stronger melee choices provide more reliable ways to handle sustained or dangerous encounters.
Best uses
- Use it for incidental, close-quarters encounters when conserving ammunition matters more than maximizing combat efficiency.
- It is most appropriate for ambient gameplay, character role-play and improvised-weapon scenarios rather than planned fights against groups or heavily armed enemies.
- Choose another weapon when reach, crowd control or reliable pressure against multiple opponents is the deciding criterion.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Melee role | Handling distinction | Use-case comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newspaper | Short-range, close-quarters swings | Fits novelty or opportunistic melee use; lacks the reach-oriented identity of larger blunt weapons | — |
| Baseball Bat | Longer, more committed swing profile than a lightweight improvised item | More suitable when spacing and a substantial blunt weapon matter | — |
| Crowbar | Practical close-range alternative with a more utilitarian identity | A natural adjacent choice for improvised melee encounters rather than novelty use | — |
| Golf Club | Distinctive club-shaped weapon with a different swing feel from the Newspaper | Better suited to players choosing a recognizable club weapon instead of an improvised prop | — |