Disco Elysium: Best Thoughts

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a captivating and critically acclaimed game known for its intricate world and compelling characters. Players delve into a richly detailed environment, uncovering everything from advanced weaponry to unexpected costume choices.

Throughout the game, players encounter various Thoughts that influence their character's mindset, impacting gameplay 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 for various reasons.

Updated December 23, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Disco Elysium's profound writing and immersive world make it a standout RPG. The murder mystery unfolds satisfyingly, and exploring Revachol offers hours of engaging gameplay. The amnesiac protagonist acquires numerous Thoughts, each offering unique advantages. Unlocking these top Thoughts enhances the detective's capabilities and success in crucial 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 ally, is crucial. Ace's Low boosts this relationship while improving Esprit de Corps. This early-game Thought offers significant advantages.

13. Hardcore Aesthetic

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

• +1 Volition
• +1 Endurance

Permanently increasing core stats is always beneficial. Hardcore Aesthetic achieves this, although unlocking it requires a successful Conceptualization check after conversing with Noid in the church.

12. Searchlight Division

Unlock: Inquire about missing persons with specific characters.

• +2 Perception

Thoroughly investigating missing persons cases rewards players with Searchlight Division, a Thought that significantly boosts Perception, a vital skill for a detective.

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 unusual actions (smelling specific items), provides a valuable Perception boost, aiding in skill checks.

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's Void of Sound and conversing with Soona unlocks this Thought, boosting Suggestion, Inland Empire, and Rhetoric—three highly valuable skills.

9. Detective Costeau

Unlock: Call yourself Detective Costeau.

• +1 Savoir Faire
• +1 Esprit de Corps

This humorous Thought, unlocked by embracing a specific persona, increases Savoir Faire and Esprit de Corps, showcasing the game's unique writing style.

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 raises INT skill caps, encouraging players to thoroughly investigate Revachol.

7. Bringing Of The Law (Law-Jaw)

Unlock: Repeatedly identify yourself as "The Law," "Lawbringer," or 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 cop persona, significantly boosts Hand/Eye Coordination, while the Rhetoric penalty is minimal.

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, heals Morale with moralistic dialogue choices 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 extra Reál with Ultraliberal dialogue choices, although it reduces Empathy.

4. Mazovian Socio-Economics

Unlock: Earn 4 Communism points.

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

This Thought, favoring a communist approach, offers substantial XP bonuses for left-leaning dialogue, despite minor 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, linked to the Art Cop archetype, offers significant XP and Morale gains through Conceptualization passives, despite a slight reduction in Hand/Eye Coordination.

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 turns failures into advantages, healing Health and Morale upon failing specific skill checks, proving invaluable for resource management.

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 Encyclopedia passives, providing consistent XP and Reál gains, making it exceptionally valuable for resource management. The Suggestion penalty is outweighed by the substantial rewards.