Tonics may be found in the overworld, in plain sight, or in challenging locations. Equipping tonics that help the player may reduce the number of quills received in the level, while tonics that hinder the player's ability may increase the number of quills received in a level. Non-cosmetic tonics can help the player, or provide a more difficult challenge, and the player is allowed to equip 3 tonics at once. Tonics reappear in Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair and have a bigger presence overall. All of the tonics unlocked on one save file will be found on others, which can provide the player with an additional challenge or early access to powerful tonics at the beginning of a new playthrough. Only one Play-Tonic upgrade can be used at a time.
In Yooka-Laylee, the player can obtain these Play-Tonics from Vendi, who is found in every world, and multiple times throughout Hivory Towers. The tonics can also provide different entertaining graphical effects to the game. Play-Tonics, also referred to as Tonics, are unlockable game modifiers in the Yooka-Laylee series that allow Yooka and Laylee to upgrade themselves by enhancing their stats and abilities.
