Weapons and Combat

Overview

Grand Theft Auto VI introduces a more grounded approach to weaponscombat compared to previous entries in the series. The most significant change is a strict limit on what players can carry at any time, replacing the virtually unlimited weapon inventories of GTA IV and GTA V. This system, combined with expanded drive-by mechanics, melee combat, and a return of Phil's Ammu-Nation, creates a combat framework that rewards preparation and loadout planning over raw firepower.

Carrying System

Players can carry a maximum of two rifles and two pistols on their person at any time. Additional weapons are stored in vehicle trunks and must be retrieved manually. This is a fundamental departure from GTA V, where players could carry every weapon they owned simultaneously. The new system mirrors the loadout approach used in Red Dead Redemption 2.

The practical effect is that vehicles become more than just transportation. Keeping a car or truck nearby during a job means having access to heavier firepower when things escalate. The character visibly carries a rifle on their back while holding a pistol in hand, matching Red Dead Redemption 2's visual presentation of equipped weapons.

Separate slots exist for consumables like painkillers, health kits, and body armor. Players can drop unwanted weapons, and dedicated pickup animations play when collecting new ones from the ground.

Confirmed Firearms

The following weapons have been identified from official trailersRockstar promotional screenshots,. Rockstar has not published a complete weapons list.

Pistols

Shotguns

Assault Rifles and Carbines

Submachine Guns

Sniper Rifles

Heavy Weapons

Melee Weapons

A baseball bat is visible near the Uncle Jack's Liquor robbery scene. Standard unarmed fist combat is also confirmed.

Throwables and Explosives

Weapon Manufacturers

GTA VI continues the series tradition of fictional weapon manufacturers that parody real-world arms companies. The following manufacturers have been confirmed.

Phil's Ammu-Nation

Phil's Ammu-Nation is the confirmed gun store in GTA VI, returning from the 3D Universe era. It appears in Trailer 2 at approximately the 2:09 mark as an in-game commercial. Philthe proprietor, is a character inspired by Phil Cassidy from GTA: Vice CityGTA: Vice City Stories. The in-game ad shows Phil standing in front of a gun wall stocked with semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, SMGs, and assault rifles.

The commercial's highlight is Phil firing an M249 SAW from the rooftop of his store. His confirmed slogan is "We got more guns than the law allows." The store is located in the state of Leonidacontinues GTA's tradition of satirical in-game advertising.

Combat Mechanics

Shooting

An official promotional screenshot shows Jason aiming a Duke Carbine with both eyes open during a nighttime scene in Vice City. This technique, called bilateral shooting, is taught in U.S. military and some law enforcement training programs. It provides better peripheral vision and situational awareness compared to closing one eye. The detail is consistent with Jason's confirmed military background.

Cover System

GTA VI uses an updated version of GTA V's button-press cover system. Blind-fire and leaning around corners are expected to carry over from GTA V.

Movement and Stance

Drive-By Shooting

Drive-by shooting has been significantly expanded compared to GTA V. Passengers can now stand and shoot from outside car windows using any weapon type, not just pistols. Players can also stand in truck beds and fire assault rifles during vehicle combat, a capability that was not possible in previous entries.

Shooting while swimming is confirmed as a new combat capability. In Trailer 2, Lucia fires a Milkor MGL grenade launcher from the back of a moving vehicle, destroying two pursuing police cruisers while the armored Police Riot survives the blast. This scene has been widely analyzed as potential in-game footage of the drive-by system in action, though Rockstar has not confirmed whether the shot represents gameplay or a cinematic sequence.

Melee Combat

Hand-to-hand combat is confirmed through multiple sources. Trailer 2 shows Lucia throwing a high kick at an opponent inside a steel cage, confirming MMA-style cage fighting as a side activity. Lucia's backstory mentions her father taught her to fight from a young age.

Weapon Wheel

The weapon wheel has been redesigned to reflect the new carrying system. Rather than GTA V's single-ring radial menu showing every owned weapon, the new wheel mirrors Red Dead Redemption 2's layout with separate sections for weapons, equipment, and gear. On console, it is mapped to R1/RB. The wheel displays only what the player is currently carrying, not their full arsenal.

Body armor, painkillers, and health kits occupy their own dedicated slots in the equipment section of the radial menu, separate from the weapon slots.

No Dual Wielding

Dual wielding does not appear to be returning in GTA VI. Players use one weapon at a time, consistent with the game's grounded combat design. This was also the case in GTA V, after dual wielding appeared briefly in earlier titles like GTA: San Andreas.

Ammo Types

NPC Reactions

Walking around with a drawn weapon triggers fear reactions from nearby NPCs, who may flee or call the police. Characters automatically conceal weapons in public, non-combat contexts.

Comparison to GTA V