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 thoroughly explore the richly detailed environment, uncovering hidden treasures and even stumbling upon unexpected cosplay opportunities.

As players delve into the game's intricate world and unravel the complexities of their character, they encounter various Thoughts. These Thoughts can be adopted, discarded, and internalized over time, shaping the player's mindset and influencing outcomes. While many Thoughts offer a double-edged sword of advantages and disadvantages, some stand out as demonstrably beneficial. 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 is a deeply engaging RPG celebrated for its exceptional writing and compelling narrative. The game's murder mystery unfolds in the captivating city of Revachol, offering hours of exploration and intriguing interactions. The amnesiac protagonist acquires numerous Thoughts throughout his journey, each offering unique benefits. Unlocking certain Thoughts is crucial for maximizing the detective's competence and success in 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

Strengthening the bond with Kim Kitsuragi, a key character in Disco Elysium, is advantageous. Ace's Low enhances this relationship while boosting Esprit de Corps. This early-game Thought provides significant benefits.

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 successfully completing a Conceptualization check after conversing with Noid in the church.

12. Searchlight Division

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

• +2 Perception

Investigating missing persons is a common task for detectives. Diligent inquiry with specific characters unlocks Searchlight Division, rewarding players with a substantial Perception boost.

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 scents, the player unlocks a Perception bonus, aiding in skill checks.

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 a memorable interaction with Soona. Successfully completing a Logic check unlocks Cleaning Out The Rooms, boosting three valuable skills simultaneously.

9. Detective Costeau

How To Unlock: Call yourself Detective Costeau.

• +1 Savoir Faire
• +1 Esprit de Corps

This humorous Thought arises from a failed Conceptualization check. Embracing the persona of Detective Costeau strengthens the bond with Kim Kitsuragi while improving 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 Deja Vu, rewards exploration. It grants XP for each orb clicked and increases the learning cap for all INT skills.

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 caters to players who embrace an authoritative police persona. It significantly boosts Hand/Eye Coordination while imposing a minor penalty to Rhetoric.

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 healing for moralistic dialogue choices and boosting Volition and Logic skill caps.

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

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

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 favors communist dialogue choices, providing substantial XP gains while slightly reducing Visual Calculus and Authority.

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, linked to the Art Cop archetype, offers significant Morale and XP rewards for successful Conceptualization passives, despite a minor Hand/Eye Coordination reduction.

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 transforms failures into healing opportunities, restoring Health and Morale upon failing red checks, making it invaluable for resource management.

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 consistent XP and Reál gains, making it exceptionally useful for resource management.

These Thoughts represent some of the most advantageous choices in Disco Elysium, offering significant benefits that enhance gameplay and overall experience. The choices are strategic, and their impact varies based on player preference and play style.