GTA San Andreas Walkthrough: Part 4, Return to Los Santos and the Ending

This is the final part of our GTA San Andreas walkthrough. It starts with A Home in the Hills, when CJ wins Madd Dogg a new home, and follows him back to Los Santos to rebuild Grove Street. It ends with End of the Line, the last mission and the credits.

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The whole walkthrough

Missions in this part

1. A Home in the Hills
2. Vertical Bird
3. Home Coming
4. Beat Down on B Dup
5. Cut Throat Business
6. Grove 4 Life
7. Riot
8. Los Desperados
9. End of the Line

Some of these open at the same time, so the exact order can shift a little. That's fine.

Before you start: a quick check

• You need the Las Venturas story done, including Saint Mark's Bistro (which needs the flight school).
• Optional strands (Zero, Wang Cars, Driving School, the Caligula's heist) are not needed for the ending. You can still do them after the credits.
• Stock up on body armour, an assault rifle and plenty of ammo. The last two missions are long fights.

1. A Home in the Hills

A drug lord has taken over Madd Dogg's mansion in the hills above Los Santos. With help from Woozie's men, storm the place, clear it room by room and take it back. Afterwards the mansion becomes one of your safehouses and new missions open from there.

• Clear the outside first, then move inside. Fight from doorways and let your backup draw fire.
• Heal and pick up armour before you go upstairs.

2. Vertical Bird

Steal a Hydra jump jet from an aircraft carrier in San Fierro. Sneak or fight your way across the deck, get into the jet and take off vertically. Enemy jets then chase you.

• Hover straight up first, then switch to forward flight once you're clear of the ship.
• Use the lock-on missiles on enemy jets and drop flares when missiles come for you.
• Keep moving. Turning hard is the best way to make incoming missiles miss.

3. Home Coming

Back in Los Santos, the story starts to come home. This mission brings your old friends back into the picture. Follow the markers and keep your homies alive.

4. Beat Down on B Dup

Go with Sweet to see B Dup, the man who has been using Big Bear. Expect a fight with the Ballas in and around the building. Get Big Bear out.

5. Cut Throat Business

Time to settle things with OG Loc, who built his career on Madd Dogg's stolen rhymes. Expect a chase. Stay close and don't let him get too far ahead.

6. Grove 4 Life

Sweet wants Grove Street back. You fight gang wars to take back Families territory around Grove Street.

• Recruit homies before each war. Grove members with guns help a lot.
• Gang wars come in waves. Use cover and watch the radar for new attackers.
• Carry a strong rifle and armour, and buy more between wars.

7. Riot

The trial ends badly and Los Santos erupts in riots. From now on the streets are chaotic: looters, fires and many more cops and gang members. Drive carefully and be ready to defend yourself between missions.

8. Los Desperados

Team up with Cesar and Sweet to fight your way toward the people behind the betrayal. It's a big gunfight in the middle of the riots. Keep your armour topped up and move between cover.

9. End of the Line

The final mission comes in several stages.

1. The crack palace. Storm Big Smoke's fortified building with your crew. It's floor after floor of enemies. Clear each floor, then pick up any health and armour you find.
2. Big Smoke. At the top, Smoke fights you himself. He wears armour and hits hard, so use cover and keep shooting. A heavy weapon or a full magazine of rifle fire works best.
3. Tenpenny. After a cutscene, Tenpenny escapes in a fire truck. Sweet ends up hanging from its ladder.
4. Catch Sweet. Drive your car right under him so he can drop in. Match the truck's speed and stay straight. This is the part most people fail.
5. The chase. Follow Tenpenny's fire truck while Sweet shoots. Don't overtake, just stay close until the cutscene starts.

After that, the credits roll. You can keep playing in the open world and finish anything you skipped.

Tips for this part

• Save at the mansion before Riot. The riot state makes Los Santos risky to cross.
• Max out your weapon skills if you can. Better skill means better aim and faster reloads in the final fights.
• Keep a good car near Smoke's crack palace. You need it fast for the fire truck chase.
• If End of the Line won't appear, check the map for other open story missions in Los Santos and finish those first.

My take

The return to Los Santos is the payoff for the whole game, and finally walking into the crack palace feels great. The fire truck ladder part made me want to throw my controller the first time. How many tries did it take you to catch Sweet?

FAQ

What is the last mission in GTA San Andreas?

End of the Line. It's the final story mission, and the credits roll after it.

How do I catch Sweet on the fire truck ladder?

Drive directly under the end of the ladder and match the fire truck's speed. Avoid sharp turns and traffic. When you're lined up, Sweet drops into your car.

Can I keep playing after the ending?

Yes. You return to the open world and can finish side missions, schools, assets and collectibles for 100% completion.

How long is GTA San Andreas?

The main story takes most players roughly 30 hours or more. Going for 100% completion can take much longer.

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