Rockstar shipped GTA V Enhanced on PC on 4 March 2025 as a free upgrade for anyone who already owned the game, which is now called GTA V Legacy. Enhanced adds ray traced shadows, reflections, global illumination and ambient occlusion, DLSS 3 upscaling, AMD FSR 1 and 3, DirectStorage loading and Dolby Atmos audio. It also brings PC to parity with the console version, including Hao's Special Works vehicle upgrades, ambient animals and Career Progress tracking in GTA Online.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael De Santa | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Franklin Clinton | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Trevor Philips | A | Balanced | Best available |
| GTA Online CEO | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Motorcycle Club President | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced tier list.
A-Tier: Michael De Santa
Michael De Santa is a top-performing option in Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Heavy Sniper Mk II | A bolt action sniper that accepts explosive, armour piercing and incendiary rounds through the Mk II workbench. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Three protagonist switching | Michael, Franklin and Trevor can be swapped at almost any time outside missions, and each has a unique special ability. |
How to Play Michael De Santa
Michael De Santa focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Heavy Sniper Mk II does the damage and Three protagonist switching keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Franklin Clinton
Franklin Clinton is a strong option in Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Combat MG Mk II | A light machine gun with a 200 round drum option and steady enough recoil to hold a target through a full burst. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Heist prep and approach choice | Each of the five story heists offers competing approaches, usually a loud option and a quiet one, and you hire crew members whose skill level sets their cut. |
How to Play Franklin Clinton
Franklin Clinton focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Pair Combat MG Mk II with Heist prep and approach choice and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Trevor Philips
Trevor Philips is a strong option in Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Special Carbine | An assault rifle with low recoil and better accuracy than the standard Carbine Rifle, making it the general purpose choice for story missions. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Ray tracing and upscaling settings | Enhanced adds ray traced shadows, reflections, global illumination and ambient occlusion, each toggled separately. |
How to Play Trevor Philips
Trevor Philips focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Ray tracing and upscaling settings covers the gap Special Carbine leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: GTA Online CEO
GTA Online CEO is a specialized option in Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | AP Pistol | A fully automatic machine pistol that can be fired from inside a vehicle, unlike most rifles. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | One time character migration | You can move Story Mode and GTA Online progress from Legacy to Enhanced once. |
How to Play GTA Online CEO
GTA Online CEO focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: This one leans on One time character migration rather than raw numbers, and AP Pistol is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Motorcycle Club President
Motorcycle Club President is a specialized option in Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Sticky Bombs | Remote detonated explosives that attach to vehicles, walls and players. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | GTA Online business ownership | Nightclubs, bunkers, hangars and vehicle warehouses generate passive income while you play other content. |
How to Play Motorcycle Club President
Motorcycle Club President focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Sticky Bombs and GTA Online business ownership pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Franklin Clinton: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Michael De Santa once you understand core mechanics and have access to Heavy Sniper Mk II
- Keep a Trevor Philips setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Motorcycle Club President for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary weapon first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Buy stock in the rival companies before Lester's assassination missions in story mode, and hold off doing them until after the final heist. Doing them in that order turns the missions into the largest legitimate money source in single player by a wide margin.
- Ray traced global illumination is the most expensive setting in the Enhanced menu. If your frame rate is short, turn that one down first and keep ray traced shadows and reflections, which cost far less for a similar visual gain.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Guides
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Overview
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Tier List
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Walkthrough
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Beginner's Guide
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Tips & Tricks
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Weapons Guide
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Combat Guide
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Boss Guide
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Maps & Locations
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Crafting Guide
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Classes & Characters
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