GTA San Andreas Mercenaries DLC Review: Worth the Hype?

San Andreas Mercenaries DLC: Comprehensive Breakdown

GTA Online's June 2023 San Andreas Mercenaries DLC promised aerial combat and new content. After extensive testing, the reality is complex. The core experience revolves around the Operations Terminal in your Avenger—but this requires a $4.9 million investment if you lack the aircraft. New missions target Merryweather, yet payouts mirror outdated contact missions. The LSA Operations missions become painfully repetitive quickly, making them poor grind options. However, the DLC isn't without merits: Hangar business improvements and daily time trials offer genuine value.

Core Missions: High Cost, Low Reward

The DLC's central content requires an Operations Terminal ($1.45M) added to the Avenger. For new players, this means:

Avenger purchase: $3.45 million
Operations Terminal: $1.45 million
Total entry cost: $4.9 million

Project Overthrow Missions feature a weak storyline battling Merryweather—a tired antagonist. With payouts under $20K per mission, completing all six takes 1.5-2 hours for just $100K-$125K. First-time bonuses are underwhelming compared to recent DLCs like The Contract.

LSA Operations Missions function like Agency security contracts but suffer critical flaws:

Three mission types (Direct Action, Surgical Strike, Whistleblower)
$15K bonus for optional objectives
Repetitive design causing burnout within hours
8-10 minute completion times even when optimized
Only viable during 2X payout events

Hidden Gems: Quality of Life Upgrades

Beyond the headline content, Rockstar delivered meaningful improvements:

Hangar Business Overhaul transformed the worst passive business:

Added land sourcing/selling missions (significantly faster than air missions)
Introduced Rooster McCraw ($25K for passive cargo sourcing)
Made special cargo bonuses more achievable

Daily Time Trials became consistent income sources:

Junk Energy Time Trial: $50K/day ($350K weekly)
RC Bandito Time Trial: $50K/day ($350K weekly)
Both refresh daily and take under 5 minutes to complete

Limited-Time Events added variety:

Finders Keepers: Replenish MC business supplies
Armored Truck Robberies: $25K payouts (returning from 2013-2015)
Halloween Ghost Hunt: Photograph spirits for rewards (though missing Peyote Plants disappointed fans)

Vehicle Analysis: Hits and Misses

The DLC's vehicle lineup was polarizing:

Top-Tier Additions:

F-160 Raiju ($5M+): New meta jet with stealth mode and explosive cannons
Montech/HSW Upgradables:
- Maibatsu Monstrosity ($1.5M)
- Ital GTO Stinger TT ($2.38M)
- Buffalo EVX ($2.14M)
- Pfister Larue ($1.99M)

Overpriced Underperformers:

Vapid Clique Wagon ($1M+): Style over substance
Walton L35 ($1.6M): No practical utility
Vapid Retinue ($1.8M): Decent off-roader but pricey
Hotring Hellfire ($1.8M): Mediocre race car

Notable Removal: 186 vehicles were delisted from websites, limiting player options.

DLC Ranking: Where Mercenaries Fits

Compared to recent updates, San Andreas Mercenaries ranks low:

The Contract (2021): Gold standard with Dr. Dre missions, Agency property, and balanced payouts
Los Santos Tuners (2021): Introduced Auto Shop contracts and Car Meet
Drug Wars (2022): Acid Lab revolutionized early-game money-making
San Andreas Mercenaries (2023): Overpriced core content but saved by QOL updates
Criminal Enterprises (2022): Lacked cohesive theme despite ULP missions

Exclusive Insights: The Real Impact

Beyond surface-level analysis, two developments shifted GTAO's meta:

Air Freight Viability
The hangar overhaul made air cargo finally worthwhile. Land missions cut sourcing time by 60%, while new sales missions can be completed in under 5 minutes. Focus on one cargo type for 70% bonus payouts.

PvP Power Shift
The Raiju jet's dominance created a new aerial threat. Combined with the Hydra/Lazer nerf, this altered public lobby dynamics. Stealth mode enables surprise attacks that fundamentally change dogfighting strategies.

Actionable Guide: Maximizing the DLC

Skip the Operations Terminal unless you have 1) an existing Avenger and 2) nothing left to buy
Prioritize daily time trials: 10 minutes for $100K/day
Use Hangar land missions: Source Narcotics/Chemicals for 35% bonus
Buy only meta vehicles: Raiju for combat; Montech cars for racing
Monitor event weeks: 2X LSA Operations make them temporarily viable

Final Verdict: Niche Update

San Andreas Mercenaries delivers critical business improvements but fails its core promise. The $4.9 million barrier for mediocre missions is unjustifiable. New players should prioritize the Acid Lab (Drug Wars) or Agency (Contract) first. Veterans will appreciate the hangar fixes and Raiju, but these can't carry the DLC. For the first time in years, Rockstar removed more content than they added—a concerning trend.

What's your take? Have you found sustainable ways to profit from this DLC, or did you abandon it like most players? Share your experiences below.