Grand Theft Auto has featured plenty of compelling protagonists with their own twisted moral codes, but one of the most notorious of all time is undoubtedly Trevor Philips. As one of GTA 5‘s three protagonists, Trevor is the wild card of the bunch, and it’s given him a reputation as a vile, unpredictable, and violent character who can also be shockingly emotionally vulnerable and smart. This fascinating blend has made him one of the most memorable Grand Theft Auto protagonists to ever grace the franchise.
Over the years, Trevor Philips has been seen as GTA’s strongest protagonist, but a few main characters throughout the series could still take him on. It definitely wouldn’t be an easy fight, but there are a handful of GTA protagonists that could secure a win against Trevor; or at the very least, survive.
How do you think GTA 6‘s Lucia and Jason would match up against Trevor?
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – Tommy Vercetti
Calm, Cool, and Collected
The main edge that Tommy Vercetti has going for him in a fight against Trevor is that he’s way more calculated and methodical. Trevor can be shockingly intelligent for his demeanor, but that intelligence can be completely overridden by his violent outbursts and unpredictability. This member of the GTA 5 trio has done some horrific things throughout his life that showcase just how unhinged he is. Just a few of Trevor’s most shocking crimes include:
- Assaulting his high school hockey coach with a hockey stick after being cut from the team
- One in-game encounter implies that Trevor killed his brother.
- Wreaking havoc in Floyd and Debra’s lives, which leads to their deaths.
- Stomping Johnny Klebitz’s head in
- Torturing Mr. K
That’s just a small glimpse at what Trevor is capable of, but these kinds of animalistic tendencies can be outsmarted when both brains and strategic calculation are brought into the equation, which is something that Tommy Vercetti has in spades. He has the fighting prowess of a street thug and the mental fortitude of a business tycoon. Because of this, he would be one step ahead of Trevor in a fight.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – Carl “CJ” Johnson
Street Smarts and Pumping Iron
CJ Johnson has two advantages if he ever gets in a scrap with Trevor: the Grove Street Families and GTA: San Andreas‘ weightlifting mechanics. CJ can call in his fellow Grove Street Families gang members, while Trevor is usually a lone wolf when he isn’t working with Franklin or Michael.
Not only does CJ have the Grove Street Families on his side, but he also gets to do physical activities like weightlifting and karate. GTA 5 doesn’t feature these side activities, so San Andreas‘ protagonist gets a serious edge with this feature. Yes, this is a bit nitpicky on my part, but it’s an essential difference between the two games. Now that it’s been confirmed that GTA 6‘s side activities will include San Andreas-like workout options, it’s going to be interesting to see how those will compare to CJ’s exercise mechanics.
Grand Theft Auto Online – You
Get Ready for the Fight of Your Life
There is one main reason why this is even on the list: GTA Online‘s list of exclusive weapons and vehicles. Some of the best weapons in GTA Online can only be found in GTA 5‘s multiplayer counterpart, and that alone gives players the wild amount of firepower needed to blow Trevor Philips to smithereens. Ridiculously over-the-top weapons like the sci-fi ray gun Up-n-Atomizer would completely catch Trevor off guard.
Even the Compact Grenade Launcher would be enough to throw Trevor off his game. Imagine driving the Pegassi Toreador towards Trevor at full speed and then launching a grenade at him. That combo alone is enough to send Trevor flailing into the afterlife. Yeah, there are plenty of outlandish weapons and vehicle choices in GTA 5‘s base story mode, but the GTA Online arsenal is simply too powerful to realistically compete with.
Put the consoles in the correct order.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories – Toni Cipriani
Trevor’s Morally Corrupt Equal
It’s no secret that Trevor has committed some heinous crimes throughout his life, but Toni Cipriani might be a GTA protagonist who is just as notorious when it comes to bad behavior. For example, one of the most notable examples of Toni’s moral bankruptcy is seen in the Liberty City Stories mission “Bringing the House Down.”
In this mission, Toni is tasked with planting bombs under the Porter Tunnel, which completely obliterates the Fort Staunton neighborhood. This results in mass casualties, and worst of all, Toni did this for a measly $5,000. No amount of money is worth leveling a city district and ending lives, but $5,000 is laughable. Another highlight of Toni’s insanity is the “Dead Meat” mission. After killing local butcher Giovanni Casa, Toni processes the dead man’s body into meat and delivers it to Casa’s own deli to be sold.
This same ruthlessness and violent unpredictability have fueled Trevor for so long. Toni may not be one of the most popular GTA main characters out there, but when it comes to unapologetic violence and lack of morals, he is Trevor’s equal.
Grand Theft Auto 4 – Niko Bellic
Driven by Survival and Trauma
When comparing every GTA game in the series, Niko Bellic is the protagonist that a lot of fans have the most sympathy for, and for good reason. Niko grew up in poverty in Yugoslavia before moving to America, and his childhood and early adulthood were tarnished by abuse and war. His experience in the Yugoslav Wars left him with deep emotional scars and trauma, which instilled the idea that violence is a necessary means for survival.
Between his harsh upbringing, his military experience, and his survivalist instincts, Niko has the necessary grit and ruthlessness needed to take down Trevor. He’s probably the one GTA protagonist who could put up the strongest fight against Trevor in any situation. Whether it’s a showdown with guns blazing or a hand-to-hand brawl, Niko is one of the franchise’s most capable lead characters.
