What is 6 Stars in GTA San Andreas?
Reaching the maximum 6-star wanted level in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas means you‘ve caused enough chaotic destruction and mayhem to trigger a forceful response from every law enforcement agency in the state. From local beat cops all the way up to military soldiers, the entire weight of America‘s armed forces and public safety infrastructure comes crashing down on you when you hit that elite 6th star. Let‘s take an in-depth look at how wanted levels work in San Andreas, what happens when you reach the pinnacle of infamy at 6 stars, and strategies for both attaining and escaping once you’ve reached the top.
The Wanted System of San Andreas
The wanted system is a core gameplay mechanic across the Grand Theft Auto series. As you commit various crimes, the "heat" you gain is represented by stars that indicate your current wanted level. The more stars you have, the more extreme the law enforcement response against you becomes. Here‘s an overview of what each level represents in San Andreas:
| Star Level | Police Force | Tactics | Chance of Arrest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Star | Local PDs | Search on ground, patrol increased | Low |
| 2 Stars | Local PDs | Set up roadblocks | Low |
| 3 Stars | Local PDs | Deploy helicopters | Moderate |
| 4 Stars | SWAT Teams | Aggressive use of force | High |
| 5 Stars | FBI | Overwhelming force | Very High |
| 6 Stars | Military | Any means necessary | Extremely High |
As you progress up the star "ladder", the officers become more heavily armed and armored while employing more ruthless measures to take you down. Their vehicles also escalate from standard police cruisers to armored trucks, riot vans, and eventually tanks once the National Guard joins the fray at the maximum 6 stars.
According to data gathered by GTA fansite GTABoards, reaching each wanted level takes progressively more crimes, time, and destruction:
| Star Level | Average Crimes | Time (mins) | Kills | Damage Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | $200 |
| 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | $5000 |
| 3 | 10 | 5 | 5 | $10000 |
| 4 | 20 | 10 | 15 | $25000 |
| 5 | 35 | 15 | 30 | $50000 |
| 6 | 50+ | 20+ | 50+ | $100000+ |
As you can see, simply causing enough wanton destruction will eventually get you to the coveted 6 stars!
Unlocking the 6 Stars
So how do you actually attain the maximum 6-star wanted level? There‘s a few ways:
Commit relentless crimes – The most "pure" method is to simply keep breaking laws and provoking the police. Carjack vehicles, fire weapons, blow things up – as long as you keep the intensity high, your wanted level will rise.
Anger the FBI – Once you reach 5 stars, Federal agencies like the FBI get called in. Killing their agents quickly unlocks the final 6th star.
Use a tank – If you‘ve completed the "Learning to Fly" mission, tanks will spawn at the Area 69 military base. These are essential for high wanted levels.
Activate a cheat code – PC players can type “BRINGITON” to instantly gain 6 stars. I don‘t recommend this for your first time reaching 6 though!
Surviving at 6 Stars
Once you provoke that epic 6-star response, here‘s what you can expect:
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Heavy Assault – The full force of the police and military will barrage you with everything from standard issue sidearms all the way up to rocket launchers. You‘ll even face off against Rhino tanks.
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Aggressive Tactics – Cops at this level are out for blood. They‘ll do anything to take you down including ramming at high speed, boxing you in, deploying roadblocks and spike strips – anything goes.
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Numbers Game – In addition to heavy weapons and vehicles, expect to face dozens if not hundreds of law enforcers at 6 stars. The police population present in the world essentially doubles when you hit this peak wanted level.
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No Escape – With their resources maxed out, the police will coordinate and communicate efficiently to track you down. Helicopters and sharpshooters prevent rooftop evasion while roadblocks cut off any escape routes.
Simply put, the world with its entire force focused on eliminating you. Surviving requires every advanced tactic and piece of firepower you have available. Body armor, health boosts, and the most powerful weapons in the game become essential. Despite the odds, keeping your 6-star wanted level provides an incredible combat challenge for veteran players of San Andreas!
Tactics for Maintaining 6 Stars
For players seeking to push their skills to the limit, here are some pro strategies for maintaining your max wanted level as long as possible:
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Go off-road – While tanks might have trouble following, dirt bikes and Sanchez motorbikes can traverse rugged mountain trails the cops can‘t pursue you on. Just watch for helicopters!
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Hide indoors – Burrowing deep into interiors makes it harder for the cops to flush you out. Use an SMG or shotgun to pick them off from cover as they follow you in.
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Snipe from rooftops – Clear out officers as they rappel down from choppers for as long as you can before being overwhelmed.
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Keep blasting – Don‘t let up or get complacent! Constantly seek out new targets and crime scenes to sustain your heat.
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Utilize ramps/jumps – Flying over obstacles and terrain the police can‘t traverse is a great escape method.
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Circle the block – In some areas with limited access like small neighborhoods, you can loop around endlessly as the police pile up trying to reach you.
It takes serious skill and concentration to withstand the non-stop onslaught of the SAPD and military at 6 stars. But holding out as long as possible provides a thrilling challenge for experienced players.
Notorious 6 Star Criminals
Some of the most infamous villains in San Andreas lore built their reputation through destructive acts that must have racked up massive 6-star wanted levels. Let‘s look at a few of these desperate outlaws:
Catalina – This unhinged partner-turned-rival of CJ commits several bold robberies and executions that likely earned multiple stars. Her status as an escaped convict with a history of murder means she always garnered an aggressive response.
Frank Tenpenny – As a corrupt cop, Tenpenny abuses his power and position to get away with murder, arson, drug dealing, and more heinous crimes that should easily provoke 6 stars.
Big Smoke – After betraying the Grove Street Families, Big Smoke takes over the crack dealing racket in Los Santos, killing anyone who stands in his way. Police turn a blind eye to his crimes due to Smoke‘s connections.
Ryuji Sasaki – The leader of the Yakuza in Las Venturas racks up a high wanted level after massacring several Triad casino dealers in a brazen casino robbery.
These villains demonstrate how far some criminals will go to cement their power and reputation in the underworld of San Andreas. Their wanton disregard for law and order leads to the max wanted level on many occasions.
Losing Your Stars
As exhilarating as flying around Los Santos with an army on your tail can be, eventually you may want to shake that heat and lay low again. Here are the best ways to drop stars and escape the police manhunt after you‘ve had your fill of chaos:
Hide out – Break the line of sight and stay hidden for a while. Your stars will rapidly fade as cops lose track of you.
Pay ‘n‘ Spray – These garages let you instantly eliminate up to 4 stars for around $1000. Great for quick cleanups.
Outfit change – Hitting any clothes store or even just your personal wardrobe at a safehouse removes your wanted level completely.
Save game – Saving your progress also wipes your stars. I‘d recommend loading that save again afterward!
Wait it out – If escape proves impossible, simply play it cool for a few minutes while your wanted level gradually decreases on its own.
With so many options available, you can go on endless 6-star crime sprees since there‘s always a way to reduce your heat afterward. Just be cautious – get busted or killed at that level and you lose all your weapons!
The History and Meaning of Wanted Levels in GTA
The wanted system has been a central mechanic across all GTA titles for decades now. Let‘s take a quick look at how it has evolved over time:
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2D Universe – Early top-down games like GTA 1/2 also used stars but only went up to 3 or 4 maximum.
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3D Universe – Starting with GTA 3 in 2001, the 5-star system was introduced. GTA Vice City and San Andreas retained this structure.
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HD Universe – Recent titles like GTA 4 and GTA 5 have a reduced 5-star cap instead of 6.
The wanted system provides a constant threat of law enforcement intervention to balance out players‘ criminal antics. And the tension of narrowly escaping high wanted levels provides exciting gameplay challenges.
On a deeper level, I think the ever-escalating police response satirizes the over-militarization of police in America. When cops are coming after you with military-grade tanks and weapons, it reveals an "ends justify the means" overreaction to crime reflective of real world politics. The absurdity of constantly battling the cops and military as they overwhelm you with firepower clearly parodies the "war on crime" and excessive force used by authorities.
Ultimately, maintaining high wanted levels lets players symbolically fight back against systemic corruption and oppression. And because of the engaging and rewarding gameplay it provides, the wanted system remains a vital part of what defines the iconic GTA experience.
So in summary, whether you‘re a roleplaying criminal mastermind or just enjoy testing your skills in epic urban combat, shooting for 6 stars in San Andreas offers endless chaotic fun! It pushes the law enforcement response to their limits, bringing the full might of the American justice system crashing down on you. Test your survival skills against the SAPD‘s best weapons and tactics. Become a kingpin of the streets and earn your reputation in blood at the maximum 6-star wanted level. Just be ready for the fight of your life!