How to Get the Acid Lab in GTA 5 Online

To get the Acid Lab in GTA 5 Online, complete Dax’s six First Dose story missions, finish the separate Acid Lab equipment setup, then pay Mutt at The Freakshop to install the lab in your MTL Brickade 6x6. The First Dose route gets you the truck and unlocks the setup; the business does not begin producing until you complete the equipment step and install the lab. The standard installation fee is GTA$750,000.

The Acid Lab is a GTA Online business, not a feature in Grand Theft Auto V Story Mode. Rockstar describes the First Dose series as six story missions for one to four players and says the lab is installed in the rear of the Brickade after the missions and equipment are secured. The route below reflects Rockstar’s current update notes checked in October 2026.

The Acid Lab unlock route at a glance

Stage	What to do	What it unlocks
First Dose	Meet Ron at Liquor Ace and complete all six missions	The Freakshop, the Brickade route, and the next setup step
Equipment setup	Steal the lab equipment and deliver it to The Freakshop	The option to install the Acid Lab
Installation	Use Mutt’s vehicle workshop and pay the displayed fee	A working mobile Acid Lab
Production upgrade	Complete 10 Fooligan Jobs, then buy the Equipment Upgrade	Faster, more efficient production

Before you start

You need access to GTA Online. GTA+ is not a prerequisite for the normal unlock route.
Set aside GTA$750,000 for the standard lab installation. The Brickade is part of the First Dose progression, so you do not need to buy it from Warstock to follow this route. Check Mutt’s on-screen quote before confirming because an active in-game promotion or benefit can change what your character pays.
The Equipment Upgrade is separate from installing the lab. It costs GTA$250,000 and only becomes available after you complete 10 Fooligan Jobs for Dax. You can start producing before you unlock it.
You can complete the First Dose missions alone or with other players. Rockstar lists them for one to four players, so a crew is optional.

How to get the Acid Lab in GTA 5 Online

1. Enter GTA Online and start First Dose

Load into GTA Online and look for the first Los Santos Drug Wars mission marker. Ron Jakowski is your entry point: meet the Fooliganz at Liquor Ace in Sandy Shores when the marker or call directs you there. After the opening mission, The Freakshop becomes the crew’s base, and you can continue the story missions from there. The Acid Lab cannot be unlocked from the single-player map.

2. Complete all six First Dose missions

Play the missions in story order. Their correct names are:

Welcome to the Troupe
Designated Driver
Fatal Incursion
Uncontrolled Substance
Make War not Love
Off the Rails

Off the Rails is the finale. It sends you after lab chemicals and the MTL Brickade 6x6. Bring the truck back to The Freakshop to finish the story chain. If you stop after an earlier mission, the Acid Lab setup will not be ready.

3. Complete the separate Acid Lab equipment setup

After Off the Rails, watch for the Acid Lab setup prompt or marker in Freemode. Start the job, take the lab equipment from the marked location, load it onto the assigned vehicle, and deliver it to The Freakshop. This is a separate task from the six First Dose story missions, and it is easy to mistake the Brickade reward for a finished business.

4. Install the lab in the Brickade

At The Freakshop, go to Mutt by the Brickade’s vehicle workshop and choose the Acid Lab installation. The standard fee is GTA$750,000. Confirm the amount shown in-game before paying. The installation turns the Brickade into your mobile business; it is not a second purchase of the truck. Once the conversion is complete, you can request the Acid Lab in Freemode and enter it to manage the operation.

5. Unlock the Equipment Upgrade with Dax’s jobs

Call Dax from your in-game phone while in Freemode to request a Fooligan Job. Complete 10 of these jobs to unlock the Acid Lab Equipment Upgrade, then buy it from Mutt’s workshop for GTA$250,000. The upgrade is optional for owning the lab, but it improves production and is the first upgrade to prioritize if you plan to run the business regularly. Do not confuse it with the GTA$750,000 installation fee: they are separate purchases with separate unlock conditions.

6. Resupply, produce, and sell

Use Mutt or the management options inside the Acid Lab to get supplies. You can pay to order them for convenience or launch a resupply job and steal them to keep more of your eventual sale proceeds. When supplies are available, the lab manufactures product while you continue other activities in GTA Online. It does not keep producing while you are offline.

When you are ready, start a Sell Mission from inside the lab and follow its delivery instructions. The payout depends on the amount of product and current bonuses, so use the value shown by the game rather than relying on an old fixed estimate. Business Sell Missions can be played in private sessions. To create an Invite Only session, Rockstar’s support steps are: start in Story Mode, open Pause Menu > Online > Find New Session, then choose Invite Only Session.

Common Acid Lab unlock mistakes

Buying the Brickade too early: the First Dose path provides the truck. Complete the story route before spending money on another Brickade.
Stopping after Off the Rails: finish the separate equipment setup, then return to Mutt to install the lab.
Expecting the production upgrade immediately: the Equipment Upgrade requires 10 Fooligan Jobs and GTA$250,000.
Using outdated income figures: product values and weekly bonuses can change. Check the current sale estimate shown in-game.

If the Brickade or Acid Lab does not appear after you finish the required missions, return to a fresh GTA Online session and check The Freakshop and the Services menu. Rockstar’s July 2025 Title Update 1.71 notes include a fix for players who did not receive the Acid Lab after Off the Rails. If it is still missing, contact Rockstar Support with your platform and mission completion details.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Acid Lab free?

The First Dose missions and access to the Brickade route do not require buying the truck, but the standard Acid Lab installation costs GTA$750,000. Promotions or benefits can change the displayed fee, so check Mutt’s confirmation screen.

Do you need GTA+ to get the Acid Lab?

No. GTA+ is not required to complete First Dose, set up the lab, or run the business. Follow the regular mission route and pay the installation fee shown in-game.

Can you get the Acid Lab solo?

Yes. First Dose missions support one to four players, and the resupply and sale loop can be run without a crew. Invite Only sessions are useful if you prefer to sell without a public lobby.