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.

Throughout their investigation, players encounter various "Thoughts," internal monologues that influence the protagonist's actions and perspectives. These Thoughts can be adopted or discarded, shaping the character's development over time. While many Thoughts offer a double-edged sword of benefits and drawbacks, some are undeniably advantageous. This list highlights some of the most beneficial Thoughts in Disco Elysium.

Updated December 23, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Disco Elysium's compelling narrative and intricate writing enhance every interaction. The murder mystery unfolds engagingly, culminating in a satisfying resolution. Exploring Revachol is an immersive experience, with the amnesiac protagonist acquiring numerous Thoughts that offer strategic advantages. Unlocking these Thoughts is crucial for maximizing the detective's competence and success in skill checks.

Here are some of the best Thoughts to unlock in Disco Elysium:

14. Ace's Low

Unlock Method: 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 enhances this relationship while boosting Esprit de Corps. This early-game Thought provides significant benefits.

13. Hardcore Aesthetic

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

• +1 Volition
• +1 Endurance

Permanently increasing core stats like Volition and Endurance significantly improves success rates in skill checks. While the unlock process is challenging, the rewards are substantial.

12. Searchlight Division

Unlock Method: Inquire about missing persons with specific characters.

• +2 Perception

Thoroughly investigating missing persons cases rewards players with this Thought, providing a valuable boost to Perception.

11. Apricot Chewing Gum Scented One

Unlock Method: Smell the card in the damaged ledger's hidden compartment and the apricot chewing gum wrapper.

• +2 Perception

This Thought, unlocked through seemingly inconsequential actions, offers a substantial Perception boost, impacting skill checks.

10. Cleaning Out The Rooms

Unlock Method: 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 interacting with Soona unlocks this Thought, boosting three valuable skills simultaneously.

9. Detective Costeau

Unlock Method: Call yourself Detective Costeau.

• +1 Savoir Faire
• +1 Esprit de Corps

This humorous Thought, unlocked through a specific dialogue choice, enhances Savoir Faire and Esprit de Corps.

8. Jamais Vu

Unlock Method: Speak to Lena and Joyce.

• +1 XP for every orb clicked
• All INT Learning Caps raised by 1

Jamais Vu provides continuous XP rewards for exploration and increases skill caps, encouraging thorough investigation.

7. Bringing Of The Law (Law-Jaw)

Unlock Method: Repeatedly identify yourself as "The Law," "Lawbringer," and a policeman.

• Learning Cap for Hand/Eye Coordination raised to 6
• Automatically succeed all Hand/Eye Coordination passives
• -1 Rhetoric

This Thought boosts Hand/Eye Coordination significantly, offsetting the minor Rhetoric penalty.

6. Kingdom Of Conscience

Unlock Method: 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, provides Morale healing and boosts Volition and Logic skill caps.

5. Indirect Modes Of Taxation

Unlock Method: Wear the Brown Derbies Trousers or acquire 4 Ultraliberal points.

• Ultraliberal dialogue options give +1 Reál
• -1 Empathy

This Thought benefits players who favor Ultraliberal dialogue choices, providing additional in-game currency.

4. Mazovian Socio-Economics

Unlock Method: Earn 4 Communism points.

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

This Thought rewards players who embrace communist dialogue options with significant XP gains.

3. Actual Art Degree

Unlock Method: Agree to become an Art Cop.

• -1 Hand/Eye Coordination
• Conceptualization passives heal +1 Morale & +10 XP

This Thought, tied to the Art Cop archetype, provides Morale healing and substantial XP rewards for successful Conceptualization passives.

2. Rigorous Self-Critique

Unlock Method: 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 failed skill checks into opportunities for healing, mitigating the impact of failures.

1. Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre

Unlock Method: Learn about the Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre from Trant Heidelstam.

• Encyclopedia passives give +10 XP & 2 Reál
• -2 Suggestion

This Thought significantly enhances Encyclopedia passives, providing substantial XP and currency rewards.

These Thoughts, when strategically utilized, can significantly enhance the player's experience in Disco Elysium: The Final Cut.