Should You Buy a Facility in GTA Online? A Helpful Guide

If you‘ve been considering purchasing a Facility in GTA Online, you likely have some questions. Is the high price tag worth it? How much can you really earn from the Doomsday Heist? What are the major pros and cons of owning one?

In this detailed guide, I‘ll break down everything you need to know to decide if buying a Facility is the right move for you and your gameplay goals. Let‘s dive in!

What Exactly is a Facility and How Much Does it Cost?

A Facility is an underground bunker base that was added to GTA Online in the Doomsday Heist DLC. It serves as a hub to start the Doomsday Heist missions, which are currently the most lucrative heist jobs in the game.

Facilities are large, sprawling underground complexes full of high-tech equipment and weaponry. When purchased, you‘ll gain access to the Facility‘s Orbital Cannon, security room, planning board, vehicle workshop, and vehicle storage.

There are 9 different Facility locations to choose from, all of which cost the same price:

• Paleto Forest – $1,245,000
• Zancudo River – $1,525,000
• Grand Senora Desert – $1,575,000
• Ron Alternates Wind Farm – $1,585,000
• Mount Gordo – $1,650,000
• Sandy Shores – $1,685,000
• Lago Zancudo – $1,735,000
• Route 68 – $1,850,000
• Grapeseed – $1,955,000

As you can see, Facilities start at over $1 million and go up to nearly $2 million in some locations. That‘s a major investment, so you want to make sure the benefits are worth the cost.

The Key Benefits of Owning a Facility

Here are the main advantages you‘ll gain after buying a Facility:

Access to the Doomsday Heist

The crown jewel of the Facility is the exclusive access it provides to the 3 act Doomsday Heist. This highly involved heist has 9 different setup missions and 3 intense finales requiring a team of 2-4 players.

The monetary rewards are very enticing:

• Act 1 Finale: $812,500 to $1 million+
• Act 2 Finale: $812,500 to $1.2 million+
• Act 3 Finale: $1.5 million

As you can see, each finale can earn you around $1 million or more when you factor in the elite challenges. This adds up fast, making the Doomsday Heist very profitable, especially when you repeat it.

The Devastating Orbital Cannon

Once purchased, you can use the Facility‘s Orbital Cannon to rain down a deadly laser from space onto any target on the map. This allows you to instantly take down enemies, protect sales, and cause chaos.

However, it comes at a hefty price:

• $500,000 for an automatic shot
• $750,000 for a manual shot

You also need to wait 5 minutes between shots when manually aimed. Still, it provides unmatched power in the hands of Facility owners.

Customize and Store Weaponized Vehicles

The Facility includes a Weapon and Vehicle Workshop where you can equip powerful weapons and upgrades on weaponized vehicles like the Oppressor Mk II. This makes them much more deadly forces to be reckoned with.

You can also store up to 7 personal vehicles in the Facility for quick access. Helpful for keeping your weaponized rides on standby!

Additional Payouts for Setup Missions

When you aren‘t running the finale, hosting setup missions for the Doomsday Heist is another way to earn money with your Facility.

You‘ll earn decent cash and RP each time you complete a prep job, even if you fail the finale. This provides nice passive income while you prepare for the big finale scores.

Convenient Heist Planning Room

Instead of having to travel elsewhere, you can easily plan your full Doomsday Heists from the convenience of your own Facility‘s planning room.

Here, you can prep equipment, review the mission info, and get ready to tackle these challenging heists with your team. This planning space makes coordinating the heist much simpler.

Potential Downsides to Consider

While owning a Facility clearly has some exciting perks, there are a few downsides to consider:

• Very expensive – With a minimum 1.2 million buy-in, it‘s one of the most costly properties.

• No passive income – Unlike many businesses, it doesn‘t generate products or money when idle.

• Orbital Cannon has huge costs – Each shot from the cannon will run you $500k-$750k.

• Require a time investment – To maximize payouts, you need to invest in doing the setups and finales.

• Other priorities may come first – For many players, a bunker or CEO office are better initial goals.

As you can see, while powerful, the Facility isn‘t an absolutely essential purchase, especially early on. You need to invest time completing the heist to recoup the costs. The expenses add up fast too.

When Should You Buy a Facility? Evaluating Your Options

As a new GTA Online player, I would recommend prioritizing a CEO Office and Vehicle Warehouse or Bunker before buying a Facility. These provide excellent passive income streams that are easier to leverage.

Once you‘ve developed some consistent revenue in your criminal enterprise, you can then consider investing in a Facility. I‘d recommend buying one once you have:

• At least $3 million in the bank
• Own an Office and Vehicle Warehouse/Bunker combo
• Have experience doing other heists like Fleeca Job
• Regularly play with a team or friends

With those boxes checked, your organization will benefit greatly from the Doomsday Heist payouts. The Facility is a natural progression once your empire expands.

Personally, I bought my Facility after about 1 month of GTA Online once I had a steady cocaine lockup income rolling in. The huge potential payouts were too appealing to pass up!

Picking the Best Facility Location

Since all Facilities offer the same features, location should be your main factor. Here are my top recommendations:

• Grand Senora Desert – Super conveniently located with quick highway access. My personal pick!

• Route 68 – Also centrally located and very easy to access the city areas.

• Wind Farm – Nice spot with pretty direct highway connections.

• Lago Zancudo – Near the military base but a bit remote.

I‘d avoid Paleto Forest, as it‘s tucked away on the northwest corner of the map. The extra travel time to and from the city isn‘t worth it in my experience.

Also consider proximity to your other properties so you can easily stop at them when passing by. I like the Grand Senora spot because it‘s on the way to my bunker and MC businesses.

Is a Facility or Bunker a Better Investment?

This is a common question – should you go for a Facility or Bunker first? Here‘s my take:

I‘d recommend most new players prioritize a Bunker early on for its excellent passive income generation and great research unlocks. The Bunker will pay for itself pretty quickly with consistent use.

A Facility is a bigger investment that only pays off if you complete the Doomsday Heist. However, the heist payouts blow the bunker sales out of the water in terms of pure profit potential.

So in summary:

• Bunker for better passive money and research
• Facility for the biggest heist payouts per job

Owning both maximizes profits, but starting with a Bunker seems ideal for new players before getting a Facility. But focusing on the lucrative Doomsday Heist is smart once your empire grows.

Final Thoughts – A Worthwhile GTA Online Investment

At the end of the day, I firmly believe that purchasing a Facility is a very worthwhile investment in GTA Online if you have the interest in running the Doomsday Heist.

The huge potential six-figure payouts from each Doomsday finale make it very appealing from a cost-benefit standpoint. Even just running the heist a couple times with an efficient team can easily pay off the Facility cost.

Plus, you unlock a powerful weapon in the Orbital Cannon for added freemode mayhem. And being able to store and customize some of the most deadly weaponized vehicles is a nice perk.

Just be sure to buy at the right stage of your criminal career, and pick a convenient location near the city. Once you settle in, gather a team and get ready for an exciting, rewarding heist experience. Your new Facility will quickly prove itself a valuable addition to your growing empire!