Mastering combat in GTA 5 isn’t just about firepower; it’s about making smart decisions on how you spend your hard-earned cash. With so many weapons, upgrades, and gear options available, knowing which combat builds offer the best value is key to dominating fights without draining your wallet. After spending countless hours testing various setups, here are 16 combat builds designed to optimize your money use while maximizing effectiveness.

1. Balanced Assault Build
   Focus on a reliable assault rifle with extended mags and a suppressor. This build balances accuracy and stealth, saving money on expensive explosives.

2. Sniper Precision Build
   Invest in a high-powered sniper rifle with thermal scope and armor-piercing rounds. This lets you pick off enemies from afar, reducing firefights and costly repairs.

3. Close-Quarters Specialist
   Choose a compact SMG with rapid fire and laser sight. It’s cost-effective and perfect for quick eliminations in tight spaces.

4. Explosives Expert
   Use sticky bombs and RPGs sparingly. Equip only one launcher with basic upgrades to save money while maintaining heavy damage potential.

5. Heavy Armor Tank
   Spend on heavy body armor and health boosts. Pair this with a shotgun and melee weapon to minimize ammo expenses.

6. Stealth Assassin
   Go for silenced pistols and knives. Low-cost upgrades like suppressors help avoid alerts and costly confrontations.

7. Dual-Wield Pistol Setup
   Dual pistols with extended clips are cheap and versatile, great for crowd control without excessive spending.

8. Vehicle Combat Build
   Upgrade your vehicle’s armor and weapons moderately. This limits repair costs and provides good firepower on the move.

9. Shotgun Bruiser
   Shotguns paired with armor upgrades offer high damage without expensive attachments.

10. Grenade Launcher Support
    One grenade launcher with basic ammo capacity upgrade keeps costs low and support effective.

11. Tactical Sniper and SMG Combo
    Combine long-range sniping with close-range SMG backup. Spend smartly on necessary mods only.

12. Melee Focus Build
    Invest in melee weapon upgrades and health perks. Minimal ammo costs here save a lot of money over time.

13. Quick Reload Specialist
    Choose weapons with fast reload mods. This keeps you in the fight longer without wasting money on frequent ammo buys.

14. Balanced Explosive and Gunner Build
    Use one explosive and one primary weapon. Avoid upgrading both heavily to maintain a balanced budget.

15. Shotgun and Pistol Pair
    Cheap and effective; minimal upgrades needed while handling most combat scenarios.

16. Sniper and Heavy Pistol Hybrid
    For players who want precision and power without overspending on weapon attachments.

Optimizing your combat builds not only improves performance but also helps manage your in-game finances better. If you find yourself short on cash, consider options like buy GTA 5 money boost services from reputable providers such as U4N to accelerate your progress safely, especially if you play on consoles.

Efficient spending is as vital as combat skill in GTA 5. By focusing on these builds, you can stay deadly on the streets while keeping your wallet intact.