Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a captivating and critically acclaimed game, renowned for its immersive world and complex character development. Players are encouraged to thoroughly explore the game's environment, uncovering hidden details and engaging in a variety of interactions. The game's unique "Thoughts" system allows players to adopt and internalize various mindsets, each impacting gameplay in both positive and negative ways. While many Thoughts offer a double-edged sword, some stand out as particularly beneficial.

Updated December 23, 2024: Disco Elysium stands as one of the most engaging and thought-provoking RPGs available. Its exceptional writing enhances every conversation, contributing to a compelling murder mystery with a satisfying conclusion. Exploring Revachol is a richly rewarding experience, with the amnesiac protagonist acquiring numerous intriguing thoughts that provide distinct advantages. Unlocking certain key Thoughts is crucial for maximizing the detective's competence and success in skill checks.

Here are some of the best Thoughts in Disco Elysium, categorized for clarity:

Relationship & Teamwork:

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 bond with your crucial partner, Kim.

Stat Boosts:

13. Hardcore Aesthetic:
    • Unlock: Ask Noid about true life and pass the Conceptualization check.
    • Benefits: +1 Volition, +1 Endurance. Permanent stat increases are always valuable.

12. Searchlight Division:
    • Unlock: Speak to specific characters about missing people.
    • Benefits: +2 Perception. Rewards diligent investigation.

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. A quirky but effective way to boost a key stat.

Skill & Attribute Enhancement:

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 important skills simultaneously.

9. Detective Costeau:
   • Unlock: Call yourself Detective Costeau.
   • Benefits: +1 Savoir Faire, +1 Esprit de Corps. A humorous but effective way to improve skills.

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 improves skill progression.

Gameplay Modifiers:

7. Bringing of the Law (Law-Jaw):
   • Unlock: Repeatedly identify yourself as "The Law," "Lawbringer," and a policeman.
   • Benefits: Learning cap for Hand/Eye Coordination raised to 6, automatically succeed all Hand/Eye Coordination passives, -1 Rhetoric. Significant advantage in Hand/Eye Coordination checks.

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. Supports a moralist playstyle with significant benefits.

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 a consistent income stream.

4. Mazovian Socio-Economics:
   • Unlock: Earn 4 Communism points.
   • Benefits: Left-wing dialogue options give +4 XP, -1 Visual Calculus, -1 Authority. Rewards a communist playstyle with significant XP gains.

3. Actual Art Degree:
   • Unlock: Agree to become an Art Cop.
   • Benefits: -1 Hand/Eye Coordination, Conceptualization passives heal +1 Morale & give +10 XP. Passive healing and XP gain from Conceptualization checks.

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 healing.

1. Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre:
   • Unlock: Learn about the Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre from Trant Heidelstam.
   • Benefits: Encyclopedia passives give +10 XP & 2 Reál, -2 Suggestion. Consistent XP and Reál gains from Encyclopedia passives.

This list highlights some of the most impactful Thoughts, but experimentation is key to discovering the optimal combination for your playstyle. Remember that the consequences of each Thought can be complex and far-reaching.