GTA San Andreas beginner guide: stats, gyms, food and gang territory
Start GTA San Andreas well: how CJ's stats work, gyms and food, respect and recruiting, and how gang territory wars work.
Original 2004 PlayStation 2 release; button codes are for the PS2 controller. The PC version (typed codes), Xbox and mobile ports and the 2021 Definitive Edition handle cheats differently and are outside this guide.
Stamina, muscle and fat
Run, swim and cycle to build stamina. Use a gym to build muscle, which improves melee damage. Eating keeps CJ healthy but too much food makes him fat, which slows him down; going without food for days burns muscle.
Skills and respect
Driving, motorbike, cycling, flying and weapon skills rise with use. Higher pistol and SMG skill lets CJ dual-wield some weapons. Respect, raised by missions and gang activity, increases how many Grove Street members you can recruit.
Gang territory
After the relevant story mission, attack rival gang members in their territory to start a gang war. Survive the waves to claim the area for Grove Street; rivals may counter-attack later.
Saving and safehouses
Save at safehouses marked by a house icon. Buying more safehouses across the state gives you places to save and change clothes.
Visit the gym regularly but keep some food in CJ's routine: the game penalises both overeating and starvation.
Picture details
Game artwork belongs to its respective rights holders.