The most significant way to 'build' Toni in Liberty City Stories is by acquiring permanent bonuses through the completion of specific side activities. These bonuses dramatically increase his survivability and make the game much more manageable, especially during later, more challenging missions. Prioritizing these upgrades is highly recommended.
Key Permanent Upgrades:
- Increased Max Health: Achieved by completing Level 12 of Paramedic missions. This doubles Toni's maximum health, making him much harder to kill. This is arguably the most important upgrade for survival.
- Increased Max Armor: Achieved by completing Level 12 of Vigilante missions. This doubles Toni's maximum armor capacity, allowing him to absorb significantly more damage before his health is affected.
- Fire Immunity: Achieved by completing Level 12 of Firefighter missions. Toni becomes completely immune to fire damage, which is incredibly useful against Molotovs, flamethrowers, and burning vehicles.
- Infinite Sprint: Achieved by completing Level 12 of Pizza Boy missions (a delivery side mission). Toni can sprint indefinitely without getting tired, making on-foot travel and chases much easier.
These bonuses are cumulative and transform Toni from a capable mobster into a near-unstoppable force. Aim to complete these side missions as early as possible, especially Paramedic and Vigilante, to reap their benefits throughout the majority of the game.