Top Thoughts in Disco Elysium Revealed

*Disco Elysium: The Final Cut* is a unique, immersive, and celebrated game that invites players to delve into its intricate world, uncovering everything from power armor suits to accidental *Attack on Titan* cosplays. As you navigate the depths of this game and your character's psyche, you'll encounter various Thoughts. These can be adopted, discarded, or internalized over time, each locking your character into a specific mindset that can enhance certain abilities while potentially hindering others. While it's challenging to label some Thoughts as universally superior due to their dual nature, certain Thoughts in *Disco Elysium* stand out for their significant benefits.

***Updated on December 23, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra:*** *Disco Elysium remains one of the most profound and engaging RPGs available. Its exceptional writing enriches every dialogue, culminating in a satisfying resolution to its overarching murder mystery. Exploring the city of Revachol can captivate players for hours, as the amnesiac protagonist discovers a range of intriguing Thoughts that offer unique advantages. To maximize the detective's effectiveness across various skill checks, players should prioritize unlocking some of the best Thoughts in Disco Elysium.*

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, your steadfast partner, evolves into one of the most cherished characters in Disco Elysium. Despite initial skepticism about your detective skills, you can win him over with consistent effort. One effective way to strengthen your bond with Kim is by focusing on Thoughts that enhance your relationship, such as Ace's Low. By cutting down the body from the Hanged Tree and slapping it with a sufficient Interlacing score, you can ponder on Ace's Low. This Thought not only boosts your Esprit de Corps but also deepens your connection with Kim Kitsuragi, making it a valuable early unlock.

13 Hardcore Aesthetic

How To Unlock: Ask Noid What True Life Is And Pass The Conceptualization Check

• +1 Volition
• +1 Endurance

Thoughts that permanently enhance your character's stats are crucial for improving success rates in skill checks, making Hardcore Aesthetic a highly sought-after Thought. Unlocking it, however, requires some legwork. You must locate Noid in the church and engage him about the essence of true life, triggering a Conceptualization check. Upon passing, you can reflect on Hardcore Aesthetic, which subsequently boosts your Volition and Endurance. These enhancements are invaluable and underscore why Hardcore Aesthetic is considered one of the best Thoughts in Disco Elysium.

12 Searchlight Division

How To Unlock: Speak To Certain Characters About Missing People

• +2 Perception

As a detective, investigating missing persons is a staple task, and your journey in Revachol with Kim involves numerous inquiries about these cases. By consistently asking relevant characters about missing individuals, you can unlock Searchlight Division, one of Disco Elysium's best Thoughts. There are no downsides to developing this Thought, and it rewards your diligence with a significant boost to your Perception stat, aiding you in your detective work.

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

While investigating the murder case in Revachol, your character, Harry, might engage in some peculiar actions, like deeply contemplating the scents of a card from a hidden ledger compartment or an apricot chewing gum wrapper. These quirky behaviors endear players to Harry. By spending time reflecting on these scents, you unlock the Apricot Chewing Gum Scented One Thought, which grants a valuable increase in Perception, enhancing your ability to pass 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

The church in Disco Elysium is a fascinating locale filled with memorable encounters. After examining the void of sound within its walls, you can discuss your findings with Soona, unlocking the Cleaning Out The Rooms Thought. This Thought is highly beneficial, offering simultaneous boosts to Suggestion, Inland Empire, and Rhetoric. These skills are pivotal in navigating the game's rich dialogue and scenarios, making Cleaning Out The Rooms an essential Thought to cultivate.

9 Detective Costeau

How To Unlock: Call Yourself Detective Costeau

• +1 Savoir Faire
• +1 Esprit de Corps

Kim Kitsuragi's grounded responses perfectly complement Harry's eccentricities, allowing for engaging and humorous exchanges. A particularly amusing moment occurs when you fail a Conceptualization check and decide to call yourself Raphael Ambrosius Costeau, sticking to the moniker despite knowing your real initials. This not only fosters a deeper bond with Kim but also unlocks the Detective Costeau Thought, boosting your Savoir Faire and Esprit de Corps. It's a fun and rewarding Thought that showcases the game's exceptional writing.

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, represents the sensation of everything seeming unfamiliar. This Thought rewards you with 1 XP for each orb you click in the game and raises the learning cap for all INT skills by one. While these bonuses might seem modest, increasing skill caps and gaining constant XP for exploration are crucial. Jamais Vu exemplifies how Disco Elysium seamlessly integrates narrative with gameplay mechanics, making it a standout Thought.

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

For players who relish portraying a confident, authoritative cop, Bringing of the Law is an appealing choice. This Thought significantly raises the learning cap for Hand/Eye Coordination and ensures you automatically pass all related passives, despite a minor penalty to Rhetoric. To unlock it, consistently choose dialogue options that assert your role as a law enforcer, enhancing your ability to gather crucial information seamlessly.

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 Raided To 5

Committing to the Moralist path in Disco Elysium's Final Cut can be daunting, but Kingdom of Conscience offers substantial benefits. This Thought heals your Morale by one point each time you select a Moralist dialogue option and raises the learning caps for Volition and Logic to five. These skills are vital for navigating the game's challenges, making Kingdom of Conscience a worthwhile investment despite its alignment commitment.

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

Financial struggles are a common theme for Harry in the early game, making Indirect Modes of Taxation an attractive Thought for cash-strapped players. By embracing Ultraliberalism and choosing pro-capitalist dialogue options, including accepting bribes, you can unlock this Thought. Once internalized, it rewards you with additional Reál for each Ultraliberal choice, helping you accumulate a tidy sum over time.

4 Mazovian Socio-Economics

How To Unlock: Earn 4 Communism Points

• Left-Wing Dialogue Options Give +4 XP
• -1 Visual Calculus
• -1 Authority

For players who reject capitalism and favor communism, Mazovian Socio-Economics offers a compelling alternative. By consistently choosing pro-working-class dialogue options, you can unlock this Thought. Despite penalties to Visual Calculus and Authority, the steady XP gain from left-wing choices makes it a valuable asset for long-term progression.

3 Actual Art Degree

How To Unlock: Agree To Become An Art Cop

• -1 Hand/Eye Coordination
• Conceptualization Passives Heal +1 Morale & Give +10 XP

Not all influential Thoughts in Disco Elysium are tied to political alignments. Actual Art Degree aligns with the Art Cop stereotype and is unlocked by choosing artistic responses. Once internalized, it reduces Hand/Eye Coordination by one but compensates with significant benefits: healing one Morale and granting 10 XP for each Conceptualization passive passed. This makes it an exceptionally powerful and accessible Thought.

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

Managing Health and Morale is crucial in Disco Elysium, and Rigorous Self-Critique offers a unique way to mitigate the impact of failures. By consistently apologizing in dialogue, you can unlock this Thought, which heals either Health or Morale whenever you fail a red check. Given the frequency of failures, Rigorous Self-Critique becomes a vital tool for maintaining your character's well-being.

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, Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre enhances Encyclopedia passives, rewarding you with 10 XP and 2 Reál for each. As long as your Encyclopedia skill is high, this Thought ensures a steady supply of money and experience, providing financial security and continuous progression. Despite the penalty to Suggestion, the benefits make Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre an excellent choice for maximizing your resources.