BioShock

51 Achievements

1,100

15-20.5h

Xbox 360

Xbox One

Xbox Series

Tonic Collector

The player has collected or invented 53 Tonics in the Physical, Engineering and Combat tracks

How to unlock the Tonic Collector achievement in BioShock - Definitive Guide

SneezeSomeMilk

TrueAchievements

03 Jan 2011 16:24

First of all, there are only 53 Tonics in the whole game, so you have to get every single one.

UPDATE: 2018-05-20
1. There are different statements regarding the DLC Tonics counting towards this achievement. It seems to be like this:
-> Ultimate Rapture Edition: the DLC Tonics have regular prices (more than 1 Adam) and they do NOT count for the achievement. Xbox One always upgrades your game to his edition!
-> Regular Edition with free DLC: the DLC Tonics cost 1 Adam and they do count for this achievement

For your own safety, try to get all the original tonics. Let us know in the comments what worked or didn't work for you so we can track this down.

2. I've marked the tonics that people claimed to be missable. Unfortunately I can't tell you at what point these become unobtainable as I haven't played this game for such a long time. I got them all in one go, so I'd say they are hard to miss if you watch out for them.

Original Story:
-9 are earned as Research rewards
-8 can be bought from Gatherers Gardens
-3 can be Invented at U-Invent
-3 are earned as Gifts for rescuing Little Sisters (you need all 18 to be saved)
-the other 30 are scattered throughout the whole game (check if you got them all before leaving a level to minimize backtracking)

I will now list the tonics in order they appear in the game:

Welcome to Rapture:
none

Medical Pavilion:
-Hackers Delight
-Wrench Jockey
-Speedy Hacker
-Static Discharge
-Security Expert
Buy at Gatherers:
-EVE Link
-Armored Shell 1

Neptunes Bounty:
-Medical Expert
-Shorten Alarms
-Wrench Lurker
-Focused Hacker
Gatherers: -Extra Nutrition

Smugglers Hideout:
none

Arcadia:
-Security Evasion (missable)
-Hacking Expert
Gatherers: -Human Inferno

Farmers Market:
-EVE Link 2
-Photographers Eye

Fort Frolic:
-Alarm Expert
-Extra Nutrition 2 (missable)
-Medical Expert 2
-Electric Flesh
-Frozen Field
Gatherers: -Hacking Expert 2

Hephaestus:
-Frozen Field 2
-Security Evasion 2
-Damage Research
-Shorten Alarms 2 (missable)
Gatherers: -Wrench Lurker 2

Rapture Central Controll:
none

Olympus Heights:
-Clever Inventor
-Electric Flesh 2
Gatherers: -Speedy Hacker 2

Apollo Square:
-Medical Expert 3
-Focused Hacker 2

Point Prometheus:
-Safecracker 2
-Alarm Expert 2
-Hackers Delight 3
-Damage Research 2
Gatherers: -Human Inferno 2

Proving Grounds:
none

Fontaine:
none

Research Rewards:
-Scrounger (Leadhead Splicer Level 2)
-Static Discharge 2 (Leadhead Splicer Level 4)
-Sportboost (Thuggish Splicer Level 2)
-Sportboost 2 (Thuggish Splicer Level 4)
-Natural Carmouflage (Houdini Splicer Level 2)
-Extra Nutrition 3 (Spider Splicer Level 4)
-Photographers Eye 2 (Rosie level 2)
-Security Expert 2 (Security Bot Level 2)
-Wrench Jockey 2 (Bouncer Level 2)

Little Sisters Gifts:
-Safecracker (after 6 saved Sisters)
-Armored Shell 2 (after 12 saved Sisters)
-Profilic Inventor (after 18 saved Sisters)

U-Invent (credit to HolyHa1fDead)
-Bloodlust
-Boozehound
-Hackers Delight 2

maps of all Tonics

121

03 Jan 2011 16:24

37 Comments

I removed it.

By L4D Pills Here on 25 Jun 2018 16:41

i'd want to add, that the 1 adam download plasmids count towards this, too. i got this achievement in apollo square, before heading to point prometheus.

By Myupyon on 06 Feb 2011 19:47

Just a quick note since you don't have the U-Invent ones on this list yet. :)
Hackers Delight 2
Bloodlust
Boozehound

By AutomaticOcelot on 04 Jun 2011 04:29

I believe you are missing one Gather's Garden Tonic. You said there are 8, but only list 7.

By on 13 Aug 2011 16:20

Your solution was such a huge help.

By Solario32 on 20 Sep 2011 16:11

Great solution!!!

By DillionDay on 05 Nov 2011 21:54

It doesn't say in the guide anywhere that Shorten Alarms 2 is missable. I just played through the whole game and was collecting tonics and audio diaries at the end, and I can't get back to this. Its in the core and the lift is disabled.

By IQwz on 02 Dec 2011 04:57

I just read somewhere that it can be purchased for 50 ADAM at Gatherer's Gardens in certain levels?

By IQwz on 02 Dec 2011 05:26

@o0ArA0o: i added that, thanks guys

By SneezeSomeMilk on 27 Jan 2012 19:12

For me security evasion is missing and not where it should be any idea where it might of moved to or if i got a glitch??

By DemonDuffeh on 23 Mar 2012 15:47

I didn't pick up the plasmid or tonic whatever it was, after finishind Sander Cohen's masterpiece. Was this one vital, for the achievement?

By Grotesque Fiend on 10 Aug 2012 10:09

When should the achievement pop up I've downloaded the doc, rescued all sisters, fully researched, invented and brought all tonics.... I've gathered a lot as well, just didn't want to go into the final fight then realise I missed one.....

By UnafraidAverage on 26 Feb 2013 08:24

It's important to note that Extra Nutrition 2 is missable. I've completed the Cohen quest but the locked area to get that tonic is still blocked off, HELP!

By themegamancave on 06 Apr 2013 16:05

@themegamancave- I'm having the same issue, but on the korean version of the game. I've played the american and jap versions back to back and I had no issues but now I am.

By llDurbinll on 28 Apr 2013 06:49

Ok, so I have 51 Tonics and missed the second two earned from saving all of the Little Sisters. I also have the four DLC Tonics.

The achievement has not popped so I'm going to venture out and say the DLC Tonics do not count towards the total for the achievement.

By MoistXeno on 07 May 2013 14:24

I have to agree with GunnyMo. I have 51 of the 53 regular Tonics, and 5 (yes 5) DLC tonics (Machine Buster 1 & 2, Vending Expert 1 & 2, and Eve Saver), for a total of 56 Tonics, and the achievement hasn't popped yet. Maybe it was patched at some point?

By Impdaddyzer0 on 08 May 2013 16:36

I can confirm the DLC tonics do count, I got the achievement after the Focused Hacker 2 in Apollo Square.

By NMANOZ on 08 Oct 2013 04:34

Im only missing 2 achievs on this game but it's pretty sad that i will have to play it again just to get them, for this one i'm missing 2 tonics, and i wasted all my adam without realising at the end of the game, now i cant get them, the other one is the research, the only thing left for me to research are cameras and even tho i'm 1 bar off for the achievement, there are no more cameras for me to research i destroyed or hacked some of them :(

By Jorge Trajano on 11 Dec 2013 09:17

Your solution only lists 50 tonics. You have not listed the 3 that can be invented at U-Invent. They are Bloodlust, Boozehound and Hackers Delight 2.

By HolyHalfDead on 12 Jan 2014 11:00

As Holy said, the U-Invent ones haven't been mentioned. Any change you could add them? Found the solution very useful.

By on 28 Apr 2014 20:06

I just went through the game and after buying my last tonic at a Gatherer's Garden the achievement didn't unlock. I went to a Gene Bank and checked to find that I had all 53. This happened to me years ago, as well, which is why I didn't have the achievement in the first place.

So I downloaded the DLC, loaded up my latest save, bought the DLC tonics/plasmids and with all of those it unlocked!

By Mister Buds on 21 Jul 2014 14:37

Ugh I have all tonics including DLC and no cheeve.. Course.. Only achievement left.. Guess I gotta start all over again

By TulsaFan on 09 Sep 2014 22:18

One thing that is worth mentioning is that the basic tonics like Shorten Alarms 1 and Eve Link 1 are not available late in the game at the Gatherer gardens, you have to backtrack to Arcadia and buy them there.

By Kovy88 on 10 Dec 2014 16:07

I had followed this guide along with a visual provided by NTA on youtube. When I had gotten to point promethius, I decided to go to the Gatherer Gardens and buy the DLC tonics before looking for any of the tonics in Point Promethius. For some reason after I bought all the tonics the achievement unlocked when I still had to collect like 5-6 more.

By Uncle Ungle on 07 May 2015 12:03

just to mention that dlc tonics do count,i got my cheevo before the last four tonics

By AbyssArtorias85 on 04 Jun 2016 19:28

I played the game with the "Ultimate Rapture Edition" installed and the DLC tonics (whose adam cost was increased as well) did not count towards the 53 total. I wonder if they only count if you play the standard edition of the game with the free DLC installed but not the Ultimate Rapture Edition.

By Dresden N7 on 09 Jul 2017 23:42

Playing on XBO with a standard Bioshock disc and the Ryam Plasmid DLC. XBO gave me the "Ultimate Rapture Edition" seemingly for free. Playing the game, the DLC tonics/plasmids were not 1 Adam, but were 20, 50 etc. and they DID NOT count toward this achievement. However, my achievement popped when I collected the final non-DLC tonic.

By Musikfreak007 on 03 Jan 2018 04:22

yep just bought last DLC tonic for 1 point and achievement popped, lucky because I havnt been saving the little sisters

By IZZY MELI on 20 May 2018 03:55

Thanks for all the input. I have updated the guide with the latest input. If you have anything to add just let us know.

By SneezeSomeMilk on 20 May 2018 08:31

you don't mention anything about Winters Blast, do i have to buy it? can i find it for free?, theres a few not mentioned

By L4D Pills Here on 24 Jun 2018 21:00

Why is nitro splicers not on it?? I Cant make the achievement work for its research

By Meowwh on 06 Jan 2021 12:41

@Meowwh: Not sure what you mean. Nitro Splicer is an enemy type. This achievement is for tonics.

By SneezeSomeMilk on 06 Jan 2021 12:49

They’re not missable. You can buy them later on according to the wiki page.

By fighterx93chipp on 21 Feb 2021 02:48

I think you missed to mention that you can buy Armored Shell 1 at the Gatherers Garden in Medical Pavillion. Not a missable one, but for completion ;).
Would also solve the problem of Chrono with the 8 Tonics mentioned but only 7 listed.
Positive vote -

By o0ArA0o on 27 Jan 2012 10:25

There is the DLC, "The Protector Trials," which gives you additional tonics that can make getting this achievement so much easier because instead of getting tonic in the game, you can miss few and still get 53. You still have to go through the game with the intention of collecting tonics, but don't worry if you miss one or two.

By Vigormaster on 11 Aug 2012 15:30

@L4D Pills Here: The reason Winter Blast is not mentioned here is simpe: it is a Plasmid. And not a Tonic. This achievement is only for Tonics.

By SneezeSomeMilk on 25 Jun 2018 16:51

@sneezedsomemilk
Yeah sorry I mean my achievement for researching the nitro wont unlock only realized you don't get tonics from the research on nitros but also my tonic one wont unlock even tho I have all of them, so 3 achievement I cannot get
All tonics
Max research
Nitro research

By Meowwh on 09 Jan 2021 12:41

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Vinicius Menti

TrueAchievements

30 Jan 2011 01:18

The 53 TONICS are obtained from finding them, researching subjects with the camera, saving Little Sisters, inventing them at U-Invent machines, and purchasing them with ADAM at the Gatherer’s Garden. Tonics obtained in this way count towards the 53 that you need for the achievement. All of the new ones from the DLC cost one ADAM.

With this in mind, you must SAVE ALL little sisters and I recommend not killing Cohen until you find him at Olympus Heights as he gives you a tonic for free (you can buy it later) and there are achievements related to him.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Tonics you buy for 1 Adam (from the free DLC) DO COUNT towards this achievement, as I got it before getting all the normal tonics. The following are the tonics from the DLC:

EVE saver (use less EVE for plasmids),
Vending Expert (reduce vending machine prices), and
Machine Buster (increases damage to...well, machines).

Here is the complete list of tonics (DLC not included):

Tonics (53 Total)

Physical Tonics (19)

1. BloodLust - U-Invent machine / Inventable after Arcadia
2. Booze Hound - U-Invent MAchine / Inventable after Arcadia
3. Eve Link - Sold at Gatherer's Garden machines
4. Eve Link 2 - Farmer's Market / On the ground near U-Invent & vending machines.
5. Extra Nutrition - Sold at Gatherer's Garden machines.
6. Extra Nutrition 2 - Storage Basement of the mall area in Fort Frolic. Covered by metal grate if Cohen dies. Also purchasable.
7. Extra Nutrition 3 - Research Spider splicers
8. Hacker's Delight - Cremate the body in the Medical Pavillion.
9. Hacker's Delight 2 - U-Invent machine / Inventable after Arcadia
10. Hacker's Delight 3 - Proving Grounds / Same room as the Big Daddy Helmet.
11. Medical Expert - Neptune's Bounty / In the center of the muddy section of the Lower Wharf.
12. Medical Expert 2 - Fort Frolic / Awarded by an alive Cohen or bought in Hephestus
13. Medical Expert 3 - Near the toilets in Dr. Suchong's Clinic on the second floor of Artemis Suites.
14. Natural Camoflouge - Research the Houdini Splicers
15. Scrounger - Research Leadhead splicers
16. Security Evasion - Arcadia / In the center of a group of splicers, near an Invent machine.
17. Security Evasion 2 - Hephaestus / Heat Monitoring / Across from electricuted ghost scene, sitting on desk
18. Sportboost - Research Thuggish splicers
19. Sportboost 2 - Research Thuggish Splicers

Engineering Tonics (16)

1. Alarm Expert - Fort Frolic / Theater / Top Left balcony sitting on the ledge
2. Alarm Expert 2 - Point Prometheus / Optimized Eugenics / on filing cabinet
3. Clever Inventor - Suchong's Apartment / Beside the tape recorder
4. Focused Hacker - Neptune's Bounty / In the area right before fighting Peach Wilkins.
5. Focused Hacker 2 - Hestia Fourth Floor, on the desk in the corner of the room near the safe.
6. Hacking Expert - Arcadia / Sitting on the first desk in Langford Labs
7. Hacking Expert 2 - Available in Gatherer's Garden vending machine, starting in the Fort Frolic area.
8. Prolific Inventor - Awarded for saving Little Sisters / Last Tonic reward
9. Safecracker - Awarded for saving Little Sisters / First Tonic reward
10. Safecracker 2 - In the Autopsy room in the downstairs of the Little Wonders Educational Facility.
11. Security Expert - Medical Pavilion / On a small chest in the morgue.
12. Security Expert 2 - Research the flying Security Bot
13. Shorten Alarms - Neptune's bounty / Near "Saw Masha Today" recording or buy it at a Gatherer's Garden machine in Arcadia.
14. Shorten Alarms 2 - Hephaestus / On the floor right before setting off the EMP.
15. Speedy Hacker - Medical Pavilion / On the desk in the dentist's lab.
16. Speedy Hacker 2 - Available at Gatherer's Garden vending machines, starting in the Olympus Heights area.

Combat Tonics (18)

1. Armored Shell - Available at Gatherer's Garden vending machine, starting with the Medical Pavilion area.
2. Armored Shell 2 - Awarded for saving Little Sisters / Second Tonic Reward
3. Damage Research - Hephaestus / Across from the EMP bomb on a table
4. Damage Research 2 - In the Mendel Family Library, on a desk in the rear of the room.
5. Electric Flesh - Fort Frolic / The Projector Room in the Theater / On bookshelf
6. Electric Flesh 2 - Olympic Heights / Fontaine's apartment / In the office on the desk
7. Frozen Field - Fort Frolic / Awarded for killing the Cohen victim in the freezer
8. Frozen Field 2 - Hephaestus - Room off entrance to Ryan's office - on desk
9. Human Inferno - Arcadia Gatherer's Garden machine / 20 Adam
10. Human Inferno 2 - Available at Gatherer's Garden vending machine starting in the Point Prometheus area.
11. Photographer's Eye - In the bunk room of the wine cellar in Farmer's Market.
12. Photographer's Eye 2 - Research the Rosie Big Daddy.
13. Static Discarge - Medicial Pavilion / In the hallway after fighting Steinman.
14. Static Discharge 2 - Research Leadhead splicers
15. Wrench Jockey - Medical Pavilion / Seen from a window. In a back room, reached by airshaft.
16. Wrench Jockey 2 - Research Bouncer Big Daddy
17. Wrench Lurker - Neptune's Bounty / Sitting on the ledge near the plasmid machine.
18. Wrench Lurker 2 - Available at Gatherer's Garden vending machine, starting at Olympus Heights.

Sources: http://www.xbox360achievements.org/forum/showthread.php?t=35... and http://www.xbox360achievements.org/game/bioshock/guide/

30 Jan 2011 01:18

7 Comments

If there is anything wrong with this solution, make sure you make a comment before giving it a negative vote.

By Vinicius Menti on 21 Feb 2011 17:10

I really really really suggest that you put the note about DLC tonics counting AT THE TOP of the solution! :)
It was a surprise for me just now. I could have saved about half an hour of trekking around before realizing I didn't have enough ADAM to buy the remaining expensive ones. :)

By AutomaticOcelot on 04 Jun 2011 04:45

AutomaticOcelot, you have a good point regarding putting the note in the top, thanks for that. I've put it right before the regular tonic list.
Also make sure you take a general look on guides to avoid that problem, :)
Good luck on the game!

By Vinicius Menti on 04 Jun 2011 11:25

Is there any reason to save the little sisters? Wouldnt it be better to harvest them to ensure one has enough adam to purchase them all?

By Brooklyn Gin on 29 Sep 2012 09:04

You need to save them to get some tonics.

By Vinicius Menti on 29 Sep 2012 14:24

When you save them, you get tonics you cannot buy as rewards.

By Vinicius Menti on 29 Sep 2012 14:27

Cheers Menti. Just starting a second playthrough. You saved me from going through it and doing it wrong.

By Brooklyn Gin on 29 Sep 2012 20:09

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Plasma SKX

TrueAchievements

09 Dec 2012 07:39

DO NOT USE NO ADAM! SORRY!!! That i didnt say this in video
i no this is an old game but i have done an collectible guide for the

Audio Diary's
All Plasmids (Tonics)
Power To The Power (Upgrade stations)

All in videos with voice over the video to help you get what you need

Click Here For More Guides

http://www.youtube.com/needtoachieve

Hope these helps

09 Dec 2012 07:39

4 Comments

+1!

Thanks for the guide - looks like it's going to be very useful.

By DrShoe1976 on 28 Feb 2013 11:46

Just followed the guide from beginning to end in one go, excellent guide, got both tonic collector and historian (my last two achievements) without much trouble. Only thing I would suggest is to say in the FIRST video not to buy any health/eve upgrades OR slots for your plasmids, etc. I assumed you could buy everything except the upgrades and almost didn't have enough adam to complete the game. But all in all great guide, thanks again!

By YAY ITS BOSS on 11 Mar 2013 00:13

Bugger - am half-way thru and bought (I think) two Plasmid slots!

By DrShoe1976 on 11 Mar 2013 09:03

Thanks for the vids!

By on 14 Jan 2017 12:53

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flip

XboxAchievements

Some of these are received by research, some are found hidden in the levels and some are given as gifts by the Little Sisters. You need to save every Little Sister to get this achievement, seeing as they give you a tonic as a gift at the end of the game.

Check this thread for all the locations.

flip

XboxAchievements

Check this thread for all the locations.

Thai, J

XboxAchievements

This achievement is highly missable!

Due to four DLC Tonics being added to the remastered version of this game, you only need to collect 53/57 Tonics in order to get this achievement. This achievement is still highly missable due to the fact that ADAM is a finite resource which is needed for multiple achievements. You will also need to play though the game as a ‘Good’ character by saving all of the Little Sisters due to the fact that you will have a gift delivered to the nearest Gatherer’s Garden station after every third Little Sister that you save. Every so often, this gift will include a Tonic. Here is a breakdown of where the Tonics are acquired from and a link to a detailed guide is also listed below:

30 Tonics are spread throughout Rapture
9 Tonics are awarded for completing research with the Research Camera
8 Tonics will need to be purchased with ADAM from Gatherer’s Garden stations
3 Tonics will need to be invented at U-Invent machines
3 Tonics are rewards for saving Little Sisters

If you save every Little Sister in the game, combined with the gifts that you receive for every three rescues, you will earn a grand total of 3,080 ADAM. You will need to spend 1,360 ADAM on 12 Tonic and 4 Plasmid slots in order to get the “Maxed All Tracks" achievement. Therefore, you must be very careful when deciding to upgrade any Plasmids, your maximum Health, or your maximum EVE before you have earned this achievement. I personally upgraded my Health and EVE a couple of times and upgraded my Electro Bolt and Incinerate only.

For a detailed text guide for all Plasmids, Tonics, Power to the People Stations, Audio Diaries, and Little Sister locations, please refer to Fizzmatix’s guide that was created for the Xbox 360 version of the game but is compatible with this remastered version. All credit for this guide should go to Fizzmatix. This is the guide that I used for my Xbox 360 and Xbox One playthroughs:

BioShock: Plasmids, Tonics, Upgrades, Diary's & Little Sister Guide by Fizzmatix

NOTE: Tonics that you collected on your first playthrough will carry over to a New Game + playthrough. If you did not collect all Tonics during your first playthrough, you can collect whatever you missed on a New Game + playthrough.