Disco Elysium Contemplates Existential Musings

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 unintentionally creating memorable character moments.

As players delve into the game's narrative and unravel the complexities of their character, they encounter various Thoughts, internal monologues that can be adopted, discarded, and eventually internalized. These Thoughts shape the protagonist's mindset, influencing outcomes both positively and negatively. While many Thoughts offer a double-edged sword, some stand out as demonstrably beneficial. This list highlights some of the best Thoughts in Disco Elysium, objectively superior for various compelling reasons.

Updated December 23, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Disco Elysium's masterful writing elevates every interaction, enriching the overarching murder mystery to a satisfying conclusion. Exploring Revachol is an enthralling experience, with the amnesiac protagonist acquiring numerous Thoughts that provide significant advantages. Unlocking these Thoughts is crucial for maximizing the detective's effectiveness in crucial 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 one of Disco Elysium's most beloved characters. Building a strong rapport with Kim is essential, and Ace's Low significantly aids this process. After removing the body from the Hanged Tree and successfully utilizing Interlacing, this Thought enhances Esprit de Corps and strengthens the 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 boosting core stats increases success rates in skill checks. Hardcore Aesthetic achieves this, although its unlock is challenging. Players must locate Noid in the church, inquire about "true life," and successfully pass a Conceptualization check to unlock this valuable Thought.

12. Searchlight Division

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

• +2 Perception

Investigating missing persons is a core detective task. By diligently questioning specific characters about missing individuals, players unlock Searchlight Division, rewarding them with a significant 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 smells, players unlock a Perception bonus, further illustrating the game's unique approach to investigation.

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 yields memorable interactions. After investigating the Void of Sound and conversing with Soona, players unlock Cleaning Out the Rooms, 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 Thought arises from a humorous interaction with Kim Kitsuragi. Failing a Conceptualization check and identifying as Detective Costeau unlocks this Thought, enhancing 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. This Thought grants XP for each orb clicked and increases INT skill learning 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 caters to players embracing an authoritative police persona. It significantly boosts Hand/Eye Coordination, while the minor Rhetoric penalty is easily mitigated.

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 significant benefits. Morale recovery from Moralist dialogue choices, coupled with increased Volition and Logic learning caps, makes it highly valuable.

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 prioritizing wealth. Choosing Ultraliberal dialogue options yields additional Reál, offsetting the minor Empathy reduction.

4. Mazovian Socio-Economics

How to Unlock: Earn 4 Communism points.

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

An alternative to Indirect Modes of Taxation, this Thought rewards communist dialogue choices with substantial XP gains, despite minor penalties to 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 is independent of political alignments, focusing on the "Art Cop" archetype. It offers significant XP and Morale recovery from Conceptualization passives, outweighing the 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 opportunities for recovery. Failing red checks in specific skill categories heals Health or Morale, mitigating the consequences of mistakes.

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

Similar to Actual Art Degree, this Thought enhances Encyclopedia passives, providing consistent XP and Reál gains. The minor Suggestion reduction is easily outweighed by the financial and experience benefits.