Sticky Bomb
Remote explosive that adheres to surfaces and vehicles.
Key Takeaways
Remote detonation
The Sticky Bomb is a throwable explosive that remains attached to the surface or vehicle it hits until the player triggers its remote detonation.
Area control
Its delayed, player-controlled detonation can set up an ambush, trap a vehicle, or let the player wait for several targets to group together.
Self-damage risk
The blast can endanger the thrower and nearby allies, so placing the charge and creating distance are important parts of using it safely.
Mode-specific access
Sticky Bomb is available in both Story Mode and GTA Online, but its acquisition and availability conditions must be treated separately rather than combined.
No Mk II conversion
Unlike weapons with a Mk II path, the Sticky Bomb is used through its standard throwable implementation rather than a documented Mk II conversion.
Different from a Grenade
Compared with a Grenade, the Sticky Bomb trades a timed fuse for attachment and player-controlled detonation, making it more useful for deliberate placement than immediate thrown blasts.
Overview
Sticky Bomb is a throwable explosive in Grand Theft Auto V whose defining feature is remote detonation after the charge has been placed. It gives the player deliberate control over when an explosion occurs, making it useful for prepared attacks, vehicle ambushes, and area denial rather than merely reacting to a target’s position.
Unlike the Grenade, Sticky Bomb does not rely on a conventional timed throw once it has been deployed. The charge adheres to suitable surfaces, including vehicles, allowing the player to place it before choosing when to trigger the explosion. That separation between placement and detonation is the weapon’s central tactical distinction.
The weapon occupies a specialist role among GTA V’s throwables. A Grenade is better suited to a quick timed attack, while a Proximity Mine is intended to respond automatically when a target enters its trigger area. Sticky Bomb instead rewards planning: the player decides where the charge belongs and retains control over the moment of detonation.
Sticky Bomb is available as part of the broader explosive arsenal in both Story Mode and GTA Online, but its access conditions and purchasing context are mode-specific. The shared concept remains consistent across those modes, while surrounding systems such as progression, vendors, and multiplayer availability should be checked separately rather than treated as interchangeable.
This weapon is most relevant when the player can predict an enemy route, prepare a target, or create a controlled blast around a vehicle or fixed position. It is less convenient than an immediately thrown explosive when there is no time to place a charge, and its usefulness depends on remembering that deployment and detonation are separate actions.
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 ModeYes
- OnlineBase Game
- How to getAmmu-Nation
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar thrown
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: completion of “Friends Reunited.”
- GTA Online: Rank 19.
- 01Story Mode: complete the mission “Friends Reunited,” then visit any Ammu-Nation and purchase Sticky Bombs from the throwable weapons selection. This is a vendor acquisition rather than a guaranteed enemy drop or a one-time mission reward.
- 02GTA Online: reach Rank 19, then visit Ammu-Nation and buy Sticky Bombs from the throwable weapons selection. The weapon is obtained through the regular store route rather than a DLC-only or NG+ unlock.
Availability
Available through Story Mode weapon access; Story Mode progression and vendor availability are separate from GTA Online.
Available in GTA Online through its own weapon-access rules; do not apply Story Mode progression or availability conditions to this mode.
Mechanics and Handling
The Sticky Bomb is a remotely triggered throwable in both Grand Theft Auto V Story Mode and GTA Online. Unlike a grenade, it does not rely on a visible countdown after being thrown: the charge remains in place until the player uses the separate detonation control. This makes placement and timing more important than simply throwing it into the middle of a fight.
Its projectile follows a normal throwing arc, then adheres to many solid surfaces and vehicles rather than bouncing away. A planted charge can therefore be used on a doorway, wall, parked vehicle, or moving target to create a delayed ambush. The explosive is still a consumable item; each deployed charge is expended when it detonates, and the player must have another one available to repeat the tactic.
Remote detonation and placement
After placement, the Sticky Bomb can be left dormant while the player changes position or waits for a target. Detonation is controlled separately from the throw, so the player can choose when to trigger the explosion rather than depending on a short fuse. This is useful for preparing an escape route, waiting for a vehicle to reach a particular position, or coordinating an attack against a group.
The charge's ability to remain attached to a vehicle is its defining handling feature. A bomb placed on a moving car travels with that vehicle until it is triggered, allowing the player to attack a pursuing or parked vehicle without needing to keep the target inside the blast area at the moment of the throw. Placement can still be unreliable if the throw misses the intended surface or the target moves out of the planned situation before detonation.
Blast risk and tactical limits
The explosion affects the surrounding area rather than only the object carrying the charge. It can damage nearby characters and vehicles, and the player is not automatically protected from the blast. Detonating a bomb at close range can therefore turn a successful placement into self-inflicted damage or an unintended vehicle destruction.
Sticky Bombs are strongest when the player has time to establish distance and control the trigger moment. They are less convenient than an immediately detonating explosive when a target is already at close range, and carrying a charge does not remove the need to obtain or restock additional throwable ammunition.
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Remote detonation lets the player choose when the explosion occurs instead of relying on an impact or automatic fuse.
- The adhesive charge can be placed on vehicles and nearby surfaces, making it useful for traps and for attacking a moving vehicle after it reaches a chosen position.
- Its throwable delivery allows the player to deploy an explosive without occupying a firearm slot during the placement action.
Weaknesses
- The charge requires a separate detonation input after placement; throwing it does not produce an immediate explosion, giving targets time to move away or destroy the setup.
- Its blast can injure or kill the user and nearby allies, so close-range placement and poorly timed detonation carry a self-damage risk.
- Each deployment consumes a throwable from the player's available stock, making repeated area control dependent on replenishment rather than unlimited use.
Best uses
- Planting an ambush on a vehicle, doorway, or route where the player can wait for a favorable moment to detonate.
- Stopping or damaging vehicles when impact timing is unreliable, since the player can wait until the target is positioned before triggering the charge.
- Creating short-lived area denial during a pursuit or defensive position, provided the player maintains enough distance from the blast.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Delivery and activation | Primary control use | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sticky Bomb | Planned demolition, vehicle ambushes, and controlled area threats. | Requires a deliberate placement and a separate detonation input; limited carried supply matters. | — |
| Grenade | Fast area damage against grouped or exposed enemies without preparation. | The fuse gives targets time to move, and the thrower has less control over the exact detonation moment. | — |
| Proximity Mine | Defending a route, vehicle, doorway, or other predictable approach. | Needs setup and a suitable traffic path; it is less responsive than a remotely triggered charge. | — |
| Molotov | Area denial and discouraging movement through a location. | Its effect is focused on persistent fire rather than a single controlled blast, making it less suitable for precise demolition. | — |
Used In
- Friends ReunitedIntroduces Sticky Bombs in Story Mode and includes a scripted sequence requiring Trevor to use them against the Lost MC camp.
- Ammu-NationSells Sticky Bombs after their Story Mode unlock and serves as the standard purchase route for the weapon.