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 this richly detailed environment, uncovering everything from advanced weaponry to unexpected costume choices.

As players delve into the game's intricate world and the complexities of their character, they encounter various Thoughts. These Thoughts can be adopted or discarded, gradually shaping the protagonist's internal state. Each Thought influences the player's perspective, impacting various aspects of the game, both positively and negatively. While many Thoughts offer a double-edged approach, some stand out as objectively beneficial. This list highlights some of the best Thoughts in Disco Elysium, categorized for clarity.

Updated December 23, 2024: Disco Elysium's compelling narrative and profound writing enhance every interaction, culminating in a satisfying resolution to the central murder mystery. Exploring Revachol is an immersive experience, with the amnesiac protagonist encountering numerous Thoughts offering various advantages. Unlocking these Thoughts is crucial for maximizing the detective's capabilities and success in skill checks.

Top Thoughts in Disco Elysium

Here are some of the most beneficial Thoughts, categorized for easier understanding:

1. Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre

• Unlock: Learn about the Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre from Trant Heidelstam.
• Effect: +10 XP & 2 Reál for each successful Encyclopedia passive. -2 Suggestion.
• Why it's great: Constantly generates XP and Reál, crucial early-game resources, offsetting the minor Suggestion penalty.

2. Rigorous Self-Critique

• Unlock: Agree to become a "Sorry Cop."
• Effect: INT & PSY red check failures heal +1 Morale; FYS & MOT red check failures heal +1 Health. Learning cap for Pain Threshold increased to 6.
• Why it's great: Turns failures into opportunities for healing, mitigating the risk of game over situations.

3. Actual Art Degree

• Unlock: Agree to become an Art Cop.
• Effect: -1 Hand/Eye Coordination. Conceptualization passives heal +1 Morale & +10 XP.
• Why it's great: Passive healing and XP gain from dialogue alone, making it exceptionally powerful.

4. Mazovian Socio-Economics

• Unlock: Earn 4 Communism points.
• Effect: Left-wing dialogue options give +4 XP. -1 Visual Calculus. -1 Authority.
• Why it's great: Significant XP boost from dialogue choices, outweighing the minor penalties.

5. Indirect Modes of Taxation

• Unlock: Wear the Brown Derbies Trousers or acquire 4 Ultraliberal points.
• Effect: Ultraliberal dialogue options give +1 Reál. -1 Empathy.
• Why it's great: Provides a steady income stream through dialogue choices, useful early in the game.

6. Kingdom of Conscience

• Unlock: Wear the Interisolary Trousers or acquire 4 Moralism points.
• Effect: Moralist dialogue options heal +1 Morale. Learning cap for Volition raised to 5. Learning cap for Logic raised to 5.
• Why it's great: Morale healing and increased skill caps for crucial skills.

7. Bringing of the Law (Law-Jaw)

• Unlock: Call yourself "The Law," "Lawbringer," and a policeman multiple times.
• Effect: Learning cap for Hand/Eye Coordination raised to 6. Automatically succeed all Hand/Eye Coordination passives. -1 Rhetoric.
• Why it's great: Maxes out a key skill and guarantees success in related passives.

8. Jamais Vu

• Unlock: Speak to Lena and Joyce.
• Effect: +1 XP for every orb clicked. All INT learning caps raised by 1.
• Why it's great: Rewards exploration with XP and increases skill caps.

9. Detective Costeau

• Unlock: Call yourself Detective Costeau.
• Effect: +1 Savoir Faire. +1 Esprit de Corps.
• Why it's great: Boosts important social skills.

10. Cleaning Out the Rooms

• Unlock: Pass a Logic check with Soona after investigating the Void of Sound.
• Effect: +1 Suggestion. +1 Inland Empire. +1 Rhetoric.
• Why it's great: Boosts three valuable skills simultaneously.

11. Apricot Chewing Gum Scented One

• Unlock: Smell the card in the damaged ledger's hidden compartment and the apricot chewing gum wrapper.
• Effect: +2 Perception.
• Why it's great: Significant Perception boost from seemingly insignificant actions.

12. Searchlight Division

• Unlock: Speak to certain characters about missing people.
• Effect: +2 Perception.
• Why it's great: Rewards thorough investigation with a substantial Perception bonus.

13. Hardcore Aesthetic

• Unlock: Ask Noid what true life is and pass the Conceptualization check.
• Effect: +1 Volition. +1 Endurance.
• Why it's great: Permanently increases two key stats.

14. Ace's Low

• Unlock: Shoot the Hanged Man and slap it with Interlacing at 5 or greater.
• Effect: +2 Empathy for Kim Kitsuragi. +1 Esprit de Corps.
• Why it's great: Improves your relationship with a key character and boosts Esprit de Corps.

These Thoughts significantly enhance gameplay, offering diverse benefits depending on player choices and preferred playstyles. Remember, the effectiveness of each Thought is subjective and depends on your approach to the game.