If you want to unlock special ammunition, weapon modifications, and upgrades for certain vehicles in Grand Theft Auto Online, Bunker Research is an important system to understand.
Normally, your Bunker staff work on research over time as long as the facility has supplies. However, Bunker Research Missions give you another way to boost your Research progress by completing a Freemode mission for Agent 14.
These missions are relatively straightforward: travel to a marked location, eliminate a heavily armed target, collect the research data, escape the police, and return the data to your Bunker.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to do Research Missions in GTA Online.
What You Need Before Starting
Before you can use Bunker Research, you need to own a Bunker and complete its initial setup. Rockstar’s support documentation states that new Bunker owners need to complete a Supply Mission before using the research system through the Disruption Logistics laptop.
Once your Bunker is operational, you can manage Research from the laptop inside the facility.
You don’t need to visit the laptop every time you want to start a Research Mission, though. The special mission can be requested directly by contacting Agent 14 while you’re in Freemode. Rockstar added this option as part of the Bunker’s expanded features.
How To Start A Bunker Research Mission
Starting a Research Mission is simple. Follow these steps:
- Open your in-game phone.
- Open your Contacts list.
- Find and call Agent 14.
- Select Request Bunker Research.
- Accept the mission when it becomes available.
- Follow the objective marker to the target’s location.
You don’t normally need to return to the Bunker simply to start the mission. Agent 14 can launch the Research Mission for you while you’re out in Freemode.
How The Research Mission Works
After you request the mission, Agent 14 gives you information about a heavily armed target carrying research data.
Your map will show the general area where the target can be found. Drive to the marked location and look for signs of a large confrontation.
You may notice:
- Police vehicles
- Police helicopters
- Gunfire
- Multiple NPCs fighting
- A heavily armed target
The target can be significantly tougher than a normal enemy, so don’t rush directly into the fight.
Use cover, keep your distance, and take advantage of powerful weapons when necessary.
How To Find The Research Target
When you reach the objective area, the target may not be immediately obvious.
Instead of searching every building or NPC individually, listen for gunfire and look for police activity. Helicopters and police vehicles can also help you identify the location of the confrontation.
The target is heavily armed and can take considerable damage, so make sure you have enough ammunition and armor before starting the fight.
Once you eliminate the target, the research data becomes available.
How To Collect The Research Data
After defeating the target, you need to retrieve the research data.
An important detail is that you must leave your vehicle and collect the research data manually. You cannot simply drive over it and expect the mission to continue.
Approach the dropped data and use the interaction prompt to pick it up.
Once you have the research material, your next objective is to return it to your Bunker.
How To Lose The Police
The mission can give you a wanted level after you reach the target area, meaning you have to deal with the police before completing the delivery.
Don’t immediately drive straight back to your Bunker while heavily pursued.
Instead:
- Find a route away from the main roads.
- Use tunnels or underground routes when practical.
- Break the police’s line of sight.
- Avoid unnecessary collisions.
- Wait until the wanted level disappears.
- Then drive back to your Bunker.
Once you’ve lost the police, follow the objective marker back to your Bunker and deliver the research data.
What Do Research Missions Give You?
The main benefit of these missions is Research Progress.
Completing a Bunker Research Mission gives your current research project a substantial progress boost, allowing the project to finish faster than it would through normal passive research alone. Rockstar has also run events that increase GTA$, RP, and Research Progress rewards from these missions.
Bunker Research can eventually unlock various special items, including:
- Special ammunition
- Weapon modifications
- Weaponized vehicle upgrades
- Other Gunrunning research projects
The order of research unlocks is not normally something you can freely choose. Your Bunker works through its available research projects, so getting a specific unlock can require completing several projects first.
How Long Is The Research Mission Cooldown?
Research Missions have a cooldown after completion.
The commonly documented cooldown is 20 minutes of real-world time before another Bunker Research Mission can be requested.
Because you cannot repeatedly launch these missions without waiting, it’s useful to spend the cooldown doing other activities.
You can run missions, sell business stock, complete jobs, or simply continue playing while your Bunker research progresses.
Research Missions vs. Normal Bunker Research
Research Missions don’t completely replace the normal Bunker Research system.
Your Bunker can still generate Research Progress through its regular operation. Supplies are used for either manufacturing or research, depending on how you assign your staff.
At the Disruption Logistics laptop, you can manage your staff and choose how the Bunker operates. Rockstar confirms that the laptop allows players to check supplies, start or Fast-Track Research, manage staff between Manufacturing and Research, and manage other Bunker functions.
Research Missions simply provide an additional way to accelerate the process.
What Is Fast-Track Research?
If you don’t want to wait for a research project to finish naturally, you can also use Fast-Track Research from the Bunker laptop.
Fast-Tracking immediately completes the current research project in exchange for GTA$.
This can be useful when you are trying to unlock a specific item quickly, but repeatedly Fast-Tracking projects can become expensive.
Research Missions provide an alternative because they allow you to boost Research Progress by completing missions rather than paying to immediately complete every project.
Do You Need To Be A CEO Or MC President?
You generally don’t need to register as a CEO, VIP, or Motorcycle Club President simply to request the Bunker Research Mission from Agent 14.
The important requirement is having access to the Bunker and its Research system.
This makes the mission relatively convenient because you can request it while playing in Freemode without first traveling back to the Bunker laptop.
Tips For Completing Research Missions Faster
A few simple strategies can make these missions easier.
Bring Heavy Weapons
The target is heavily armed and can take significant damage. Having an assault rifle, sniper rifle, explosives, or other powerful weapons can make the encounter easier.
Use Cover
Don’t stand in the open while fighting the target and surrounding enemies. Use vehicles, walls, buildings, and other cover to reduce incoming damage.
Keep Your Vehicle Nearby
After collecting the research data, you’ll need to escape the police and return to your Bunker. Parking your vehicle somewhere accessible can save time.
Carry Armor And Snacks
The target and police can deal substantial damage. Stocking up on armor and snacks before starting the mission can give you more room for mistakes.
Use The Cooldown Productively
Since another Research Mission isn’t immediately available after completion, use the cooldown to work on other businesses, missions, or activities.
Can You Do Research Missions After Unlocking Everything?
Research Missions can still appear even after you’ve completed the available Bunker Research projects, according to recent player reports.
However, if you’re specifically trying to unlock Bunker research items, completing the available projects is the important milestone.
The availability of specific bonuses or weekly challenges can also change with GTA Online’s regular updates, so it’s worth checking the current event bonuses when deciding whether to prioritize these missions.
Are Research Missions Worth Doing?
Research Missions can be useful if you want to speed up Bunker Research without relying entirely on passive progress or paying for Fast-Track Research.
They are particularly useful for players working toward special ammunition, weapon modifications, and weaponized vehicle upgrades.
The missions also provide another activity to complete while playing Freemode, making them useful when you’re already moving around Los Santos and Blaine County.
Final Thoughts
Bunker Research Missions in GTA Online are a straightforward way to accelerate your research progress.
First, make sure you own a properly set-up Bunker and have access to its Research system. Then, while in Freemode, call Agent 14 and select Request Bunker Research.
From there, travel to the marked location, defeat the heavily armed target, collect the research data, lose the police, and return the data to your Bunker.
Because the mission has a cooldown, combine Research Missions with your normal Bunker activities and other money-making activities. If you’re trying to unlock special ammunition, weapon modifications, or vehicle upgrades, this can help reduce the amount of time you need to wait for your research projects to finish.
Read Also:
- Former Rockstar Developer Says He “Wouldn’t Be Shocked” if GTA 6 Faces Another Six-Month Delay
- Pacific Standard Heist Guide in GTA Online
- How to Claim Weekly Bonuses in GTA Online
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