Uncover the Genius of 'Disco Elysium: Best Thoughts'

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a captivating and critically acclaimed game renowned for its unique gameplay and immersive world. Players are encouraged to explore every detail of Revachol, uncovering hidden secrets and engaging in a variety of interactions, from donning power armor to unintentionally creating an Attack on Titan cosplay.

Throughout their investigation, players encounter numerous Thoughts within their character's mind. These Thoughts, which can be adopted or discarded, significantly impact the protagonist's mindset, influencing outcomes both positively and negatively. While many Thoughts present a double-edged sword, some are undeniably advantageous. This list highlights some of the best Thoughts in Disco Elysium, objectively superior for various reasons.

Updated December 23, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Disco Elysium's profound writing and intricate narrative create a compelling murder mystery. Exploring Revachol and the protagonist's evolving psyche is a rewarding experience, with the acquisition of Thoughts offering significant benefits. Unlocking these Thoughts is crucial for maximizing the detective's competence across various skill checks.

14. Ace's Low

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

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

Strengthening the bond with Kim Kitsuragi, a key character, is vital. Ace's Low enhances this relationship while boosting Esprit de Corps, offering early-game advantages.

13. Hardcore Aesthetic

Unlock: Ask Noid about true life and pass the Conceptualization check.

• +1 Volition
• +1 Endurance

Permanently increasing core stats significantly improves success rates in skill checks. Unlocking Hardcore Aesthetic, while requiring a Conceptualization check, provides valuable boosts to Volition and Endurance.

12. Searchlight Division

Unlock: Inquire about missing people with specific characters.

• +2 Perception

Diligent investigation into missing persons unlocks Searchlight Division, rewarding players with a substantial Perception bonus.

11. Apricot Chewing Gum Scented One

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

• +2 Perception

This Thought, unlocked through seemingly insignificant actions, provides a valuable Perception boost, impacting skill check outcomes.

10. Cleaning Out The Rooms

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

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

Investigating the church and interacting with Soona unlocks this Thought, boosting three crucial skills: Suggestion, Inland Empire, and Rhetoric.

9. Detective Costeau

Unlock: Call yourself Detective Costeau.

• +1 Savoir Faire
• +1 Esprit de Corps

This humorous interaction with Kim Kitsuragi, resulting from a failed Conceptualization check, unlocks a Thought that increases Savoir Faire and Esprit de Corps.

8. Jamais Vu

Unlock: Speak to Lena and Joyce.

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

Jamais Vu rewards exploration with bonus XP and increases INT skill caps, encouraging thorough investigation.

7. Bringing Of The Law (Law-Jaw)

Unlock: Repeatedly identify yourself as "The Law," "Lawbringer," and a policeman.

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

This Thought, ideal for players embracing an authoritative police persona, significantly enhances Hand/Eye Coordination while incurring a minor penalty to Rhetoric.

6. Kingdom Of Conscience

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, aligning with the Moralist path, offers Morale healing and boosts Volition and Logic skill caps.

5. Indirect Modes Of Taxation

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

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

For players prioritizing wealth, this Thought provides bonus Reál for Ultraliberal dialogue choices, offsetting the Empathy penalty.

4. Mazovian Socio-Economics

Unlock: Earn 4 Communism points.

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

This Thought rewards players embracing communist dialogue with bonus XP, despite penalties to Visual Calculus and Authority.

3. Actual Art Degree

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, offers significant XP and Morale gains from successful Conceptualization passives, despite a minor Hand/Eye Coordination penalty.

2. Rigorous Self-Critique

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 transforms failed skill checks into opportunities for healing, mitigating the risk of game over scenarios.

1. Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre

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

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

This Thought significantly boosts the rewards from Encyclopedia passives, providing consistent XP and Reál gains, despite a minor Suggestion penalty.