Trevor plans out and executes the job on the Merryweather ship in the Port of Los Santos.
You can pick two ways to complete The Merryweather Heist mission – Freighter or Offshore. Each one will feature a different set of Gold Medal objectives because each approach also requires a different set of objectives.
In both approaches, Trevor employs the help of Michael and Franklin to collect a valuable piece of military hardware from either the Merryweather ship or from a test site located in the Pacific Ocean.
In this guide, we have outlined everything you need to know about the Merryweather Heist (Freighter Approach), so you can get a good idea of how to complete the mission and get all the Gold Medal Objectives.
The Merryweather Heist Freighter Approach Synopsis
With the information Trevor has secured at the Port of Los Santos, he starts planning out the approach he needs to take for the score. For the Freighter Approach, Trevor settles for the plan that puts Michael on the ship itself, with Franklin providing cover fire from the Mirriam Turner Overpass.
Franklin and Michael arrive just shortly at Floyd’s apartment, and after a short discussion about the mission details, Trevor leaves to take Franklin to the designated vantage point. Meanwhile, Michael is left to suit up and ready the dinghy he needs for the job.
By the time Franklin and Trevor arrive at the designated vantage point, Michael is already in position, ready to board the ship and start the mission.
Franklin provides cover from the vantage point while Michael plants bombs around the ship. With Franklin’s help, Michael is able to place sticky bombs at the bow and on the pillar in the middle of the ship. After planting the bombs, Michael makes his way inside the ship.
While Michael is inside the ship, Franklin becomes spotted by the Merryweather agents at the dock. Franklin takes care of the backup agents and the Attack Chopper and resumes cover duty for Michael.
With the reinforcements dealt with, Franklin gives Michael the signal to come out and leave the ship. Franklin provides cover fire for Michael as a few agents try to pin him down. Franklin shoots down all the agents, allowing Michael to jump off the port side safely.
With Michael out of the ship, he gives Franklin the signal to blow up the sticky bombs. Franklin takes out his phone and dials the bomb’s number to detonate the bombs, blowing up the entire freighter.
Several containers fall into the water, including the military hardware the crew is trying to acquire from the ship. Michael dives into the water to secure the package’s location and then gives Trevor the coordinates so he can pick it up with the submersible.
Trevor makes his way to the target location, locates the package, and brings it back to the docks with Floyd’s help.
As Franklin and Michael wait for Trevor at the dock, Lester, still in hospital clothes, arrives and reprimands the crew for their actions. Lester explains that the military hardware Franklin, Michael, and Trevor picked up is a top-secret superweapon that, if not returned, will put the crew on every watch list on the planet.
Trevor joins the crew shortly and greets Lester as soon as he sees him. Lester immediately chastises Trevor for his actions. Trevor is visibly confused and asks Lester if he is upset because he didn’t get a 20% cut for the score. Lester tells Trevor what he already told Franklin and Michael, but Trevor doesn’t understand enough to care.
Lester leaves with Floyd to bring the superweapon back to where it belongs. Franklin and Michael leave shortly after.
The Merryweather Heist Freighter Approach Gold Medal Objectives
- Headshots: Kill 12 enemies with a headshot.
- Accuracy: Finish with an accuracy of at least 80%.
- Ninja: Kill 12 enemies using stealth attacks.
- Container Hunter: Find the container within 1 minute.
- No alarms: Get to the ship’s interior without being detected.
All Gold Medal objectives for this mission can be completed through multiple replays. You can come back another time and replay the mission to get the rest of the Gold Medal objectives.
The Merryweather Heist Freighter Approach Mission Guide
Pick the Freighter Approach.
Get in Franklin’s car and drive to the bridge marked yellow on the map.
Go to the vantage point on the bridge. Look for the yellow spot and stand on it.
Aim for the head of the guard closest to you. This will take out both guards with one shot.
Plant the sticky bomb on this white pillar.
Switch back to Franklin and take out the rest of the guards closest to Michael’s position. Let Michael find his way around the ship. Aim for the head when taking out guards, as you need to score 12 headshots to complete the Headshot Gold Medal Objective.
Make sure you take out 12 guards using a Stealth Attack. This will complete the Ninja Gold Medal objective. Don’t worry too much about completing the Ninja Gold Objective in your first run, it is almost impossible to hit all the Gold Medal objectives in one go.
Switch back to Michael to plant the sticky bombs.
Take out all the incoming Merryweather agents. Aim for the head to complete the Headshot Gold Medal objective, but make sure you don’t miss your shots so you also hit the Accuracy Gold Medal objective.
Cover Michael as he exits the ship. Take out the incoming guards.
With Michael off the ship, take out Franklin’s phone and dial the designated number to detonate the bombs.
Tap on the contacts icon.
Select “Detonate”:
A cutscene will play through briefly. After which, Michael will dive into the water to look for the package.
Keep swimming towards the right side of the boat to find the package. The sonar detector pings will speed up once you’re close. Make haste to complete the Container Hunter Gold Medal objective.
Pilot the Minisub toward the package. Stick the Minisub next to the package to pick it up.
Take the package back to the dock. Follow the yellow marker on the map.
Approach the yellow ring to complete the mission.
Tough Business Decisions
The Merryweather Heist looked great on paper, but things didn’t go as Trevor planned. While the prospect of being on every watchlist on the planet didn’t seem to bother Trevor that much, it took a bit more explaining from Michael before Trevor finally understood the weight of his actions.
The Merryweather Heist is one of the few missions in GTA 5 that will be very difficult to complete with a Gold Medal in one playthrough. The Headshots and Accuracy Gold Medal objectives are easy enough to complete with Michael’s special ability. However, the Ninja and No Alarms Gold Medal objectives require a good idea of the ship’s layout and the guards’ position to complete.
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