Disco Elysium: Best Thoughts

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a captivating and critically acclaimed game renowned for its immersive world and complex characters. Players are encouraged to thoroughly explore the game's environment, uncovering hidden details and items, from powerful armor to unexpected cosplay opportunities.

As players delve into the game's narrative and unravel the intricacies of their character, they encounter various Thoughts, internal monologues that can be adopted, discarded, and internalized over time. Each Thought shapes the player's mindset, influencing outcomes both positively and negatively. While many Thoughts offer a double-edged sword, some stand out as particularly beneficial. This list highlights some of the best Thoughts in Disco Elysium, objectively superior due to their significant advantages.

Updated December 23, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Disco Elysium is a deeply engaging RPG celebrated for its exceptional writing and compelling murder mystery. Exploring the city of Revachol is a rewarding experience, with the amnesiac protagonist acquiring numerous Thoughts that offer distinct benefits. Unlocking these key Thoughts is crucial for enhancing the detective's capabilities and successfully navigating skill checks.

14. Ace's Low

How To Unlock: Shoot the Hanged Man and slap it with Interlacing at 5 or greater.

• +2 Empathy for Kim Kitsuragi
• +1 Esprit de Corps

Kim Kitsuragi is a key companion who develops into a favorite character. Improving your relationship with Kim is vital, and Ace's Low provides a significant boost. After removing the body from the Hanged Tree and successfully using Interlacing, this Thought enhances Esprit de Corps and strengthens your bond with Kim.

13. Hardcore Aesthetic

How To Unlock: Ask Noid what true life is and pass the Conceptualization check.

• +1 Volition
• +1 Endurance

Permanently increasing core stats significantly improves success rates in skill checks. Hardcore Aesthetic achieves this, although unlocking it requires interacting with Noid in the church and successfully completing a Conceptualization check. The increased Volition and Endurance are invaluable.

12. Searchlight Division

How To Unlock: Speak to certain characters about missing people.

• +2 Perception

Investigating missing persons is a central aspect of the detective's role. By diligently questioning relevant characters, players unlock Searchlight Division, granting a substantial Perception bonus.

11. Apricot Chewing Gum Scented One

How To Unlock: Smell the card in the damaged ledger's hidden compartment and the apricot chewing gum wrapper.

• +2 Perception

This Thought highlights the game's quirky nature. By focusing on seemingly insignificant smells, players unlock a Perception bonus.

10. Cleaning Out The Rooms

How To Unlock: Pass a Logic check with Soona after investigating the Void of Sound.

• +1 Suggestion
• +1 Inland Empire
• +1 Rhetoric

Exploring the church leads to memorable interactions. Investigating the Void of Sound and conversing with Soona unlocks this Thought, boosting Suggestion, Inland Empire, and Rhetoric simultaneously.

9. Detective Costeau

How To Unlock: Call yourself Detective Costeau.

• +1 Savoir Faire
• +1 Esprit de Corps

This humorous Thought arises from failing a Conceptualization check and embracing the alias. It strengthens the bond with Kim and increases Savoir Faire and Esprit de Corps.

8. Jamais Vu

How To Unlock: Speak to Lena and Joyce.

• +1 XP for every orb clicked
• All INT Learning Caps raised by 1

Jamais Vu, the opposite of déjà vu, rewards exploration. It grants XP for each orb interaction and raises INT skill caps, encouraging thorough investigation.

7. Bringing Of The Law (Law-Jaw)

How To Unlock: Call yourself The Law, Lawbringer, and a Policeman multiple times.

• Learning Cap for Hand/Eye Coordination raised to 6
• Automatically succeed all Hand/Eye Coordination passives
• -1 Rhetoric

This Thought benefits players who adopt an authoritative cop persona. It significantly enhances Hand/Eye Coordination, while the Rhetoric penalty is minor.

6. Kingdom Of Conscience

How To Unlock: Wear the Interisolary Trousers or acquire 4 Moralism points.

• Moralist dialogue options heal +1 Morale
• Learning Cap for Volition raised to 5
• Learning Cap for Logic raised to 5

This Thought aligns with the Moralist path, offering morale regeneration and increased skill caps for Volition and Logic.

5. Indirect Modes Of Taxation

How To Unlock: Wear the Brown Derbies Trousers or acquire 4 Ultraliberal points.

• Ultraliberal dialogue options give +1 Reál
• -1 Empathy

This Thought benefits players who favor Ultraliberalism, providing additional Reál for pro-capitalist dialogue choices.

4. Mazovian Socio-Economics

How To Unlock: Earn 4 Communism points.

• Left-wing dialogue options give +4 XP
• -1 Visual Calculus
• -1 Authority

This Thought rewards players who embrace Communism, offering increased XP for pro-working-class dialogue.

3. Actual Art Degree

How To Unlock: Agree to become an Art Cop.

• -1 Hand/Eye Coordination
• Conceptualization passives heal +1 Morale & +10 XP

This Thought, tied to the Art Cop archetype, provides morale and XP bonuses for successful Conceptualization passives.

2. Rigorous Self-Critique

How To Unlock: Agree to become a Sorry Cop.

• INT & PSY red check failures heal +1 Morale
• FYS & MOT red check failures heal +1 Health
• Learning Cap for Pain Threshold increased to 6

This Thought turns failures into opportunities for healing, mitigating the consequences of failed skill checks.

1. Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre

How To Unlock: Learn about the Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre from Trant Heidelstam.

• Encyclopedia passives give +10 XP & 2 Reál
• -2 Suggestion

This Thought significantly enhances Encyclopedia passives, providing substantial XP and Reál rewards. The Suggestion penalty is offset by the significant gains.