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 game's richly detailed environment, uncovering hidden items and engaging in unexpected scenarios.

As players delve into the intricacies of Disco Elysium's world and unravel the complexities of their character, they encounter various Thoughts. These Thoughts can be adopted or discarded, gradually shaping the protagonist's mindset. Each Thought influences the game's progression, sometimes positively and sometimes negatively. While many Thoughts offer double-edged benefits, some stand out as objectively superior due to their advantages. This list highlights some of the best Thoughts in Disco Elysium.

Updated December 23, 2024: Disco Elysium is a deeply engaging RPG celebrated for its exceptional writing and compelling narrative. The game's murder mystery unfolds within the richly detailed world of Revachol, offering hours of immersive gameplay. The amnesiac protagonist acquires numerous Thoughts, each impacting his abilities and interactions. Unlocking specific Thoughts is crucial for maximizing the detective's competence and success in skill checks.

Here are some of the best Thoughts to unlock:

1. Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre:

   • Unlock: Learn about the Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre from Trant Heidelstam.
   • Benefits: +10 XP and 2 Reál for each successful Encyclopedia passive. -2 Suggestion. Provides consistent financial and experience gains.
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2. Rigorous Self-Critique:

   • Unlock: Agree to become a "Sorry Cop."
   • Benefits: INT & PSY red check failures heal +1 Morale; FYS & MOT red check failures heal +1 Health; Learning cap for Pain Threshold increased to 6. Turns failures into opportunities for recovery.
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3. Actual Art Degree:

   • Unlock: Agree to become an Art Cop.
   • Benefits: -1 Hand/Eye Coordination; Conceptualization passives heal +1 Morale and give +10 XP. Provides passive morale and experience gains.
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4. Mazovian Socio-Economics:

   • Unlock: Earn 4 Communism points.
   • Benefits: Left-wing dialogue options give +4 XP. -1 Visual Calculus, -1 Authority. Offers substantial experience gains for embracing communist dialogue.
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5. Indirect Modes of Taxation:

   • Unlock: Wear the Brown Derbies Trousers or acquire 4 Ultraliberal points.
   • Benefits: Ultraliberal dialogue options give +1 Reál. -1 Empathy. Provides consistent monetary gains.
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6. Kingdom of Conscience:

   • Unlock: Wear the Interisolary Trousers or acquire 4 Moralism points.
   • Benefits: Moralist dialogue options heal +1 Morale; Learning cap for Volition raised to 5; Learning cap for Logic raised to 5. Offers morale recovery and skill boosts.
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7. Bringing of the Law (Law-Jaw):

   • Unlock: Call yourself "The Law," "Lawbringer," and a policeman multiple times.
   • Benefits: Learning cap for Hand/Eye Coordination raised to 6; automatically succeed all Hand/Eye Coordination passives. -1 Rhetoric. Provides significant Hand/Eye Coordination advantages.
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8. Jamais Vu:

   • Unlock: Speak to Lena and Joyce.
   • Benefits: +1 XP for every orb clicked; all INT learning caps raised by 1. Rewards exploration and boosts skill caps.
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9. Detective Costeau:

   • Unlock: Call yourself Detective Costeau.
   • Benefits: +1 Savoir Faire, +1 Esprit de Corps. Improves social skills and camaraderie.
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10. Cleaning Out the Rooms:

    • Unlock: Pass a Logic check with Soona after investigating the Void of Sound.
    • Benefits: +1 Suggestion, +1 Inland Empire, +1 Rhetoric. Boosts multiple valuable skills.
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11. Apricot Chewing Gum Scented One:

    • Unlock: Smell the card in the damaged ledger's hidden compartment and the apricot chewing gum wrapper.
    • Benefits: +2 Perception. Enhances investigative abilities.
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12. Searchlight Division:

    • Unlock: Speak to certain characters about missing people.
    • Benefits: +2 Perception. Improves investigative skills.
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13. Hardcore Aesthetic:

    • Unlock: Ask Noid what true life is and pass the Conceptualization check.
    • Benefits: +1 Volition, +1 Endurance. Increases key character stats.
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14. Ace's Low:

    • Unlock: Shoot the Hanged Man and slap it with Interlacing at 5 or greater.
    • Benefits: +2 Empathy for Kim Kitsuragi, +1 Esprit de Corps. Strengthens the relationship with a key character.
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These Thoughts offer significant advantages, enhancing gameplay and enriching the overall Disco Elysium experience. Remember that the effectiveness of each Thought can vary depending on your playstyle and choices.