Players don't need to be filthy rich to have a good time in Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, but rolling in GMP certainly doesn't hurt anything. Building up an excess of the in-game currency allows players to upgrade equipment and bring more customization to the game, which both lead to additional rewards. Players who take the time to earn some GMP in the best-selling game and purchase upgrades will likely start earning higher ratings and finding more resources. Also, it's just kind of fun to be loaded.

Unlike some other games, getting rich in Metal Gear Solid 5 doesn't actually require too much of a grind at all. It will definitely take some work, but really players just need to approach the regular parts of the game with profit in mind. These steps should help new players get a better idea of how to get the most bang for their buck every step of the way through MGS5.

S-Rank Story Missions

The Metal Gear franchise has rewarded stealthy players since the old days and MGS5 is no exception. Players who achieve S-Rank in a story mission are rewarded with a 20% GMP bonus. Chances are, most players won't score the S-Rank on the first time through a mission unless they are really trying, but it's actually not that hard to pull off. The trick to locking in the high rating is a careful combination of speed and stealth. Ghosting these missions is the way to go if you are looking for the 20% GMP bonus. Stay out of sight and move quickly, soldiers.

Side Ops

Metal Gear Solid 5 is filled to the brim with additional content and the majority of that busywork offers significant reward. The game boasts upwards of 150 side missions and players are rewarded with precious GMP for completing each one. The payout for each side mission varies, but players who stick with them will be rewarded greatly in the later missions. The payout may seem like chump change in the game's first few hours, but by the late game Side Ops will be paying out up to 300,000 GMP. We recommend getting started on these as early as possible.

Deploy the Troops

Players will spend a lot of time and effort recruiting soldiers and bringing them back to Mother Base throughout the game. As a reward for those efforts, players are able to send the soldiers out into the world to do the dirty work for them. This feature works similar to what we're seen in other games (kind of like the fleet in Black Flag), where players can save time by sending troops out and just waiting for them to bring back rewards. This isn't the way to build up GMP the fastest, but it definitely is the method that requires the least amount of work.

Be a Rock Collector

Stopping to pick up rocks may slow Snake down a bit in the middle of missions, but the effort is worth it when some Rough Diamonds are worth up to 100,000 GMP. Most of the stones won't be worth that much, but for the minimal effort it takes to pick them up, it's worth it to slow down and grab any that you manage to spot. Players can get a hold of extra Rough Diamonds by interrogating enemy soldiers. The goons will give up their stones as they crack under the pressure and basically hand you free money. The stones don't all come with the highest price tag, but they are the best way to get cash without going out of your way.

What Else?

Can you think of any other ways to get a revenue stream flowing in MGS5 that we might have missed? Let us know your strategy in the comments and brag about what you've been spending all your GMP on.

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is available on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.