The Complete Edition bundles Grand Theft Auto IV with both episodes, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, into one Steam entry. The March 2020 update stripped out Games for Windows Live and the original multiplayer, added Steam achievements and moved DRM onto the Rockstar Games Launcher. Three campaigns overlap in the same Liberty City: Niko Bellic's 88 missions, Johnny Klebitz's 22 and Luis Lopez's 26, and all three converge on the same diamond deal from different sides.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary weapons | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your role's key combinations |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary weapons | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Broker
Key resources: First safehouse, Roman and Little Jacob contacts, early pigeons Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Carbine Rifle upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Dukes
Key resources: Airport access, open roads for vehicle escapes Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Carbine Rifle upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Bohan
Key resources: Second safehouse, Elizabeta's mission chain Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Carbine Rifle upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Algonquin
Key resources: Middle Park, Star Junction, the largest weapon and clothing selection Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Combat Pistol max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Alderney
Key resources: Final safehouse, Pegorino mission chain, quiet roads for collectibles Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Combat Pistol max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Broker to Dukes)
- Upgrade your starting weapons to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Carbine Rifle once accessible
Mid Game (Bohan)
- Push Carbine Rifle to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Combat Pistol
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Algonquin to Alderney)
- Max out Combat Pistol. This is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary weapons for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple weapons: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Bohan farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Turn on free aim in the settings before the third mission. Auto aim locks onto the torso and most enemies take four or five body shots, whereas a free aimed headshot ends the fight immediately and saves the ammunition you would otherwise run dry on.
- Farm Bohan during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Guides
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Overview
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Best Builds
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Tier List
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Walkthrough
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Beginner's Guide
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Tips & Tricks
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Weapons Guide
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Combat Guide
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Boss Guide
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Maps & Locations
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Classes & Characters
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