Chainsaw
The Chainsaw is a heavy melee weapon in Grand Theft Auto. It first appeared in Vice City (2002) and returns in San Andreas, Liberty City Stories, Vice City Stories and Chinatown Wars. It hits hard but slows the player to a walk, and revving it in public scares bystanders and can bring the police.
What is the Chainsaw in GTA?
The Chainsaw is one of the strongest close-range weapons of the 3D era. It sits in the melee slot alongside bats and blades. GTA Wiki notes two drawbacks in Vice City and San Andreas: the player can only walk while holding it, and in San Andreas cannot jump. Unlike the Katana, it never removes a head. More on weapon slots is in our weapons hub.
Which GTA games have the Chainsaw?
It appears in Vice City, San Andreas, Liberty City Stories, Vice City Stories and Chinatown Wars. It is missing from the HD games, so there is no Chainsaw in GTA IV or GTA V. In the PSP release of Vice City Stories, GTA Wiki rates it the weakest melee weapon because it cannot kill in one hit; the later PS2 version restores that.
Where do you get the Chainsaw?
| Game | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Vice City | Bought for $500 at Screw This hardware stores after The Chase; a free one in an Ocean Beach apartment bathroom |
| San Andreas | About ten spawn points, e.g. Ocean Docks and Hunter Quarry; also at Helena Wankstein's shed in Flint Range |
| Liberty City Stories | Behind the Trenton sawmill, and a garage in Pike Creek |
| Vice City Stories | Behind a pawn shop in Ocean Beach |
| Chinatown Wars | Hairy Al's scrapyard in the Firefly Projects, and building sites in Bohan and Castle Gardens |
In Vice City, collecting 20 hidden packages also makes a Chainsaw appear at Tommy Vercetti's safehouses, GTA Wiki says. The Ocean Beach bathroom spot is a nod to the film Scarface, which the game borrows from heavily.
Which missions use the Chainsaw?
Vice City hands it to Tommy in Treacherous Swine. In Liberty City Stories, Toni Cipriani faces enemies armed with them in The Portland Chainsaw Masquerade, and can take one from them. In Vice City Stories, Victor Vance pulls one from the hull of a ship during Leap and Bound.
How does the Chainsaw behave?
Per GTA Wiki, revving the saw sends pedestrians running, and doing it near officers can earn a one-star wanted level. It can carve into cars, and a badly damaged car may catch fire. In San Andreas, long use counts as exercise and slowly lifts CJ's health, muscle and stamina, and it can even open a locked door if the player is patient. In Chinatown Wars, using it on a car lets Huang Lee take the car in front of the police.
- ConfirmedAppears in Vice City, San Andreas, LCS, VCS and Chinatown Wars only. GTA Wiki
- Not knownShop prices outside Vice City; GTA Wiki does not list them.
Sources
- GTA Wiki — Chainsaw read 2 Nov 2026