10 Best Disco Elysium Thoughts

As a seasoned gamer and lover of narrative-driven games, I’ve found myself utterly captivated by Disco Elysium. This intricate masterpiece has left me pondering for days on end, each thought as profound as the last. One of the game’s most intriguing aspects is its unique approach to character development, and one cannot ignore the powerhouse that are the thoughts in this game.

In the intriguing world of Disco Elysium, the extraordinary is commonplace. As a role-playing game heavily focused on dialogue, the choices you make and the individuals you encounter often present themselves as bite-sized moments of contemplation, ready for you to absorb and store in your Thought Vault.

In contrast to traditional RPGs, Disco Elysium’s gameplay doesn’t revolve around maximizing your stats for enhanced benefits. Instead, the Thoughts provide minor stat bonuses but are primarily intriguing due to their exploration of Detective Harrier DuBois’s mindset before embarking on a case.

In light of this discussion, we will rate thoughts according to both their practical value and their aptitude for expressing the nonsensical and profound ideas found in the game “Disco Elysium.

The Problem and Solution sections of each Thought are excellently narrated by Lenval Brown and his smooth-like-butter voice, so we would recommend taking a listen to their descriptions.

Instead of finding my best thoughts being a breeze, it proved challenging to arrange them in order, as they were all exceptionally written. In cases where they were equally impressive, I had to resort to considering their gameplay benefits as decisive factors for the rankings.

WARNING: SPOILERS!

12. Homo-Sexual Underground

Not Beating The Allegations

Temporary Research Bonus Lasting Bonuses Research Time Acquisition
None Stopped obsessing about sexuality Allows Harry to discuss sexuality with Kim 8h Harry must pass the Composure check when first talking to the Smoker on the Balcony, then ask if he’s in the homo-sexual underground after he appears in the Whirling-in-Rags.

Perhaps it’s high time for you to let go of the constant preoccupation with your and others’ sexuality? It seems like it has been on your mind for quite a while now. I suggest you take a break from that line of thought and inform Kim about this as well. I believe he would be grateful for your newfound focus. Just wanted to clarify, there’s no indication that your preoccupation with sexuality led to any harm coming to him, but just in case, please assure me it hasn’t.

In Disco Elysium, there are numerous subtle instances that add to the game’s brilliance. For instance, Harry gets caught up in a brief chat with the Smoker in Whirling-in-Rags, leading him to ponder on this idea relentlessly for nearly eight hours. However, it seems that this Thought doesn’t contribute much beyond character development.

This item doesn’t provide any statistical advantages and has no impact on gameplay or storyline; it simply fills a slot in your Thought Cabinet and requires eight tedious in-game hours to comprehend, adding to the ludicrousness of fixating on other characters’ sexual orientation.

In other words, it doesn’t offer any significant insights on that matter. When conversing with Kim, you might inquire if he is associated with the Homosexual Underground. Since he’s grown weary of Harry’s antics, his response is direct and unelaborated.

Regardless of its irrelevance, this thought managed to provide some insights into Kim’s private life, further endearing him to his fans. This revelation sparked numerous possibilities for fan fiction involving Kim and Harry (although canon has never been a barrier before).

Besides, it’s a little out of pocket for Harry to just straight up ask Kim if he’s gay.

11. Advanced Race Theory

We’ve Reached Competitive Racism

Temporary Research Bonus Lasting Bonuses Research Time Acquisition
-1 Drama Learning Cap for Rhetoric raised to 5 +1 Conceptualization 1h40m Requires Harry to pass a Conceptualization check while talking to Measurehead.

Everything is calm in the eye of the racestorm. Your mind is lucid and bright. The mindbending phylogenetics appear more distant and, to be fair, a little ridiculous. The great Race Mystery has cleared up. All that’s left to do is to verbalize your thoughts.

As Harry converses with the outspoken bigot, Measurehead, it becomes clear that Harry’s casual prejudice might not be enough. Measurehead openly boasts about his racial supremacy, yet his words are filled with inconsistencies and hypocrisy, contradicting his own racist beliefs in numerous ways.

However, Measurehead’s racist comments might be humorous due to his relatively harmless nature within the game. You have the opportunity to retaliate against him if you successfully pass a Physical Skills test.

Should you choose to endorse his racial ideologies, it could potentially lead Harry down a path towards Fascism, which may negatively impact your spirits if you falter during the passive Willpower tests. The game itself encourages you to avoid behaving abominably.

If you’re intrigued by delving deeper into Harry’s fascination with debunking the absurdity of race-related pseudoscience and eugenics, then I believe this perspective might hold your interest.

10. Magnesium-Based Lifeform

Mag It Up!

Temporary Research Bonus Lasting Bonuses Research Time Acquisition
-1 Shivers: No shakes +2 Volition: Magnesium receptacle glands -1 Logic: No such thing, man 1h15m Talk to Cuno about the Magnesium in his Shack Composure 5+

We can counter their argument by saying: Absolutely not! Prepare for a transformative journey into becoming a magnesium-infused being. The stone age of carbon-centric humans is behind us. No more waiting for slow-acting background radiation to shape our genetic future. Instead, embrace the era of directed evolution, where magnesium plays a pivotal role. You are a pioneer, the first among your kind, stepping into the next phase of human evolution as an advanced magnesium progenitor. Here’s to embracing this new element, drinking it, and even sniffing it with curiosity!

In the town of Martinaise, you can find Magnesium, a pharmaceutical aid, which helps boost your spirits or moral well-being. It fortifies your mental strength, helping you stay resilient and not succumb to despair even in the face of minor setbacks.

One of the wilder Disco Elysium Thoughts, Magnesium-based Lifeform becomes unlockable when you ask Cuno about the magensium in his shack. That’s when Composure and Endurance encourage you to further Harry’s drug addiction and alcoholism.

Through this Idea, Harry gains a sense of calm and balance, but it’s due to his escalating drug addiction which he uses as a means to stabilize himself. To such an extent that accepting this Idea leads him to genuinely think he’s transforming into a magnesium-based lifeform. The thoughts in Disco Elysium are certainly unconventional.

9. Ace’s Low

(Not) Too Slow

Temporary Research Bonus Lasting Bonuses Research Time Acquisition
+2 Empathy towards Kim +2 Empathy towards Kim Kitsuragi +1 Esprit de Corps 2h 45m After successfully shooting down the Hanged Man, Harry can acquire this thought by high-fiving Kim and waiting for an Ace’s Low (requires Interfacing ≥ 5).

For the rest of the world the Ace’s Low is *just some cool Revachol* thing, politically neutral. In Revachol it still holds revolutionary connotations. Also, have you looked at Lieutenant Kitsuragi’s *clothes*? He wears a bomber jacket, just like the ones worn by aeostatic brigades. And those cargo pants look like they could fit tools for hotfixing your burning aerostatic… you should ask him about this.

In Elysium’s terms, you can signal for “up high, down low” after defeating the enemy and Kim gives you a congratulatory slap on the back. If you indicate a “down low,” Kim will follow suit without a doubt.

This instance not just makes Kim likable to the player, but it also provides Harry an opportunity to develop a stronger bond with him. It brings a touch of optimism and positivity into Harry’s otherwise dismal, alcohol-dominated existence.

Without a doubt, Lieutenant Kitsuragi stands out as the most remarkable character across the whole game, and he even ranks among the top supportive characters in any video game. His friendship with Harry has truly shone throughout, and this particular scene significantly strengthened their bond for me.

This idea proves beneficial if you aim to strengthen your connection with Kim for future use, particularly during the Tribunal and crucial later stages of the game.

8. White Mourning

It’s About The Ex-Something.

Temporary Research Bonus Lasting Bonuses Research Time Acquisition
-1 Authority +20% Zoom Out Distance All MOT learning caps raised by 1 5h Available if Harry opens the hidden compartment in his Damaged Ledger, and reads the card inside it.

As you ascend higher, the tiny figure appears to shrink, becoming visible from various perspectives such as the snowy landscape, city streets, a corner store, and ultimately a matchbox abode. He’s found by the window, with white blossoms adorning the windowsill – a scent that reaches you here, unpleasant and sorrowful, symbolizing a contemporary grief – perhaps a separation or something analogous. All you can manage is to maintain a greater distance from him, making him seem less like you, less *you*.

A painful memory washes over you, and you faint. The game gives you a fake game-over screen where you talk to your Ancient Reptilian Brain.

Everything unfolded due to finding a message your former companion had left behind. What was the content of this message?

Indeed, it seems like you’re describing quite an affectionate message. It appears you’ve penned a heartfelt note, filled with words about Harry’s deep spirit, the happiness he brought her, or even more so, repeated expressions of affection like “kisses.

The intense sorrow from such a broken heart is more than anyone could bear, and given Harry’s vulnerable mental state, revisiting that breakup feels like it might push him towards an untimely demise.

As Harry experiences deep sadness and emotional upheaval, you, as the player, may find yourself empathizing with him deeply. To alleviate this shared distress, the game provides an option for you to step back slightly, allowing for a broader perspective on Harry’s story.

The little guy is nothing more than pixels on a screen. He’s not you. You are not him. Snap out of it.

7. The Bow Collector

Everything Is Interconnected.

Temporary Research Bonus Lasting Bonuses Research Time Acquisition
-1 Authority: Hell on earth -1 Hand/Eye Coordination: Hell on earth +3 Shivers: The third presence 6h10m If Harry has >6 Conceptualization after opening the hidden compartment in the Damaged Ledger and did not throw away the card, he will gain this thought while speaking to the Ancient Reptilian Brain about the bow collector. May be acquired alongside White Mourning.

At the break of dawn, the world is a deep, mysterious blue. Sparks dance across her features, creating an intricate pattern of triangles. As I stand there waving, a shape in the distance appears to stretch out, like a dolly zoom effect on a movie set. There’s an intangible quality about the air, something that has existed since time immemorial. It feels as if you can see right through the world, and the echo of Revachol lingers between us, transmitting our emotions. It’s as if a divine messenger is present.

One of Disco Elysium’s best aspects is the beautiful prose written for the narration. They’re incredibly descriptive and immerse you into Harry’s psyche.

The Idea of the Bow Gatherer offers a deeper understanding of Harry’s past, specifically his life prior to the case and his misery, during the time he was still in a relationship with his ex. It portrays their daily morning routines, where they would stroll together to work every day.

For Harry, this recollection holds a sense of positivity amidst his heartrending sorrow, yet dwelling on it causes intense anguish. Pondering it often makes him feel like a failure, undermining his confidence and affecting his skills in both mental tasks and physical dexterity, causing his performance to decline. However, when he absorbs the lesson from this memory, it brings him some understanding.

In simpler terms, The Bow Collector is designed for gamers who prefer to uncover information about the game’s universe not by using the Encyclopedia skill, but rather through an intuitive sense known as Shivers, which establishes Harry with a profound, gut feeling connection with Revachol.

Despite its minimal impact on gameplay, Shivers helps Harry build a deeper connection, not only to the city itself, but also to its inhabitants. This interaction offers players glimpses into the daily lives of Revacholians.

6. Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre

Temporary Research Bonus Lasting Bonuses Research Time Acquisition
-1 Suggestion: Outsider -2 Suggestion: Pretentious wanker Encyclopedia passives give +10XP and +2 reál 42m Talk to Trant Heidelstam about the Feld building, specifically asking how its tape computers worked. He can be found admiring the mural on the boardwalk west of the fishing village after day 2.

You’re at home, not among the art community, a group that many find distasteful. You have no fondness for them, and neither do most people, even they seem to dislike themselves. It’s all about superficial charm, champagne, and questionable business practices – let’s call it what it is: a sector known for its tax evasion schemes. The Wompty Dompty Dom Centre stands as the epicenter of this strange blend of aesthetics and financial optimization. Now that you understand it, you too can be a part of it!

This information suits those who consider themselves well-versed, eager to demonstrate their knowledge to no end. If your encyclopedic knowledge is moderately strong (a score of 6 would be sufficient), you can acquire a substantial amount with minimal exertion.

As a sharp-witted gamer like Harry, if you’re aiming for an intellectually inclined character and seeking passive income from being a bit of a know-it-all, then the Wompty Dompty Dom Center should definitely be on your list of in-game acquisitions.

You’ll always have enough funds available, and an additional increase in experience points (XP) will help you accumulate skill points more swiftly, which can be used to advance other abilities or refresh White Checks.

5. The Jamrock Shuffle

You’re A Detective. Detect.

Temporary Research Bonus Lasting Bonuses Research Time Acquisition
-1 Esprit de Corps: Confusing behavior Find better loot in locked containers 1h5m Open a bunch of locked doors, even if it’s technically B&E. Break into 3 places.

To some extent, yes. It appears that you are engaging in a search for hidden treasures, much like the officers from Precinct 41 do what is known as the Jamrock Shuffle – opening containers. Many of these officers hail from Jamrock or Coal City, impoverished areas of Revachol which also encompass the royal catacombs called Le Royaume, lying beneath the city’s streets. As children in those neighborhoods, you would all explore underground, hoping to discover treasures, and often came back with a rat’s tail or a used needle. This childlike sense of adventure may still be within you. Who knows? Perhaps one day, you will uncover the Orbe de Montagne, the Holy Scepter, and the Cocaine Skull!

It’s like the game has become self-aware, rewarding players for, well, playing a video game.

Any role-playing game enthusiast might be drawn to explore and open various containers, regardless if it’s allowed or not. With an adequate skill level in handling physical objects or using the appropriate tool, even the most robust locks would prove no match for this diligent explorer.

This is an extremely useful skill for any player who loves opening things. Not only that, it gives a little bit of world-building insight into the other members of Harry’s precinct.

4. Jamais Vu (Derealization)

You Should Know This

Temporary Research Bonus Lasting Bonuses Research Time Acquisition
None 1XP for every orb clicked All INT learning caps raised by 1 Gives a +12 bonus to the Conceptualization check discussing the fundamentals of reality with Joyce Messier 3h25m Talk to Lena about understanding your reality. She will refer you to Joyce, who you can converse with about reality.

Experiencing something that feels strangely unfamiliar, much like a distant memory from childhood suddenly resurfacing, is called “Jamais vu.” It’s the opposite of “déjà vu,” where you feel like you’ve experienced something before. In Jamais vu, things that should seem familiar appear new and strange to you. This sensation has been with you for quite some time now, leaving you to wonder about the nature of our reality. You might want to consult Joyce Messier on this subject; she can help shed light on the enigma of our world.

During the initial stages of the game, especially for newcomers, this concept arises promptly, since most players seek a swift grasp of the game’s setting.

In this game, everything – terms, locations, names, ideas – feels strange and new, even though it resembles our world in some ways but differs in others. The fact that Harry can’t remember anything due to amnesia allows players to ask questions about the world without disrupting the overall experience.

Jamais Vu stands out as a valuable Thought since it awards 1XP for each orb you click, urging you to explore and engage with the game environment more actively. The XP earned can compensate for the skill point cost and even surpass it in your initial playthrough, making this particular Thought indispensable for new players.

3. Apricot Chewing Gum Scented One

Everything Makes You Think Of Her

Temporary Research Bonus Lasting Bonuses Research Time Acquisition
-1 Reaction Speed: Living in the past +2 Perception: Betrayal lingers, everywhere 5h5m Open the hidden compartment in the clipboard, smell your Ledger’s Note, check the Pour L’Homme Labourer Jeans for the Apricot Chewing Gum Wrapper, examine the wrapper and take a deep breath.

2nd August: Toward the end of a sun-kissed summer. Alighting from a streetcar, you find yourself in Le Jardin, east of the river. Her parents belong to the middle class. The light rustle of her tiny jacket’s nylon fabric brushes against you, whispering like autumn leaves in the night. Her heels tap rhythmically on the pavement. As you approach the gate of their home, she offers a piece of chewing gum and seals it with a kiss. A surge of electricity courses through your body, signaling an entry into a new, unfamiliar realm.

In a precarious state of mind, Harry occasionally performs bizarre and unusual actions, such as inhaling discarded chewing gum wrappers while rummaging through his grubby ledger. Yet it’s exactly these quirky behaviors that make playing as Harry so delightful for us.

What makes this thought stand out is that such a random, minor act could trigger a deep memory of his past. He remembers everything about that moment when his ex-something once chewed gum. The anger of whatever betrayal he feels makes him more alert to his surroundings.

The idea behind Disco Elysium is often overlooked, yet the exquisite writing given to this seemingly simple concept adds significantly to its well-deserved recognition.

2. The Precarious World

Always Will Be A Loser

Temporary Research Bonus Lasting Bonuses Research Time Acquisition
All Red Checks Fail Critical success and failure thresholds lowered by 1 A 2d6 roll of 5+6 counts as an automatic success regardless of difficulty check. Likewise, 1+2 counts as an automatic failure. 4h Pass the White Shivers check with the Dice Maker inside the Doomed Commercial Area behind the Bookstore.

To avoid losing, it seems like an impossible task due to the precarious nature of life. It’s a challenging game where tension is always high, and you’re driven forward by factors such as financial strain, rejection, and physical pain. The alternatives are either to engage in the struggle or retreat into seclusion, perhaps becoming insignificant like salt or a group of seagulls. However, your adversaries would find great pleasure in seeing you give up. Alternatively, you can choose to stand your ground. The only way to influence fate is by persisting in the fight.

As an enthusiast, I must caution myself: Delving into this line of thought could lead to perilous consequences within the game, as it causes my Red Checks to malfunction for a staggering four-hour period.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that this game feature doesn’t exactly spell out its function clearly, but what I gather is it essentially expands the spectrum of my critical hits and misses, making every skill check more precise and reducing the leeway for errors.

Remember that skill checks act like hidden dice throws within the game. By hovering over a skill check, you can view the equation the game employs to calculate the likelihood of its success.

This skill isn’t just beneficial for boosting your chances of triumph, it also clearly emphasizes the game’s core idea: persistence is more important than the final outcome, whether you win or lose.

For anyone grasping the essence of the game, this could serve as a guiding principle: Embrace the present amidst life’s hardships and existential fears, seeking solace and optimism along the way.

1. Volumetric Shit Compressor

Get It Together

Temporary Research Bonus Lasting Bonuses Research Time Acquisition
None All Endurance White Checks unlocked Learning cap for Endurance raised to 4 Gives a +6 Bonus to the Endurance Check before investigating the Hanging Corpse 30m Throw up a second time while looking at the Hanging Corpse. Kim has to be present to tell you to get your shit together.

Strange scientific developments emerged from Revachol West today, as a police officer’s feces was found under unusual pressure, estimated at approximately 495 giga-decimals. Such high levels of metallic hydrogen density were believed to occur only within the core of collapsing stars, not in everyday law enforcement. The duration of this extraordinary phenomenon, resembling a singularity, remains uncertain.

If Kim advises Harry to organize himself better, there’d hardly be a scene reminiscent of “Disco Elysium” if the unconventional detective didn’t interpret it quite literally.

In your role as the primary investigator for a homicide case, as a police detective, it’s crucial that you maintain composure and organization, so you can approach the autopsy calmly, even if the gruesome nature of the task makes you feel nauseous.

This is a crucial (and hilarious) Thought for any playthrough. The description is hilarious, and it makes gameplay a little tolerable by giving you extra White Checks and an increase in endurance.

Additionally, it subtly alters the conversation when encountering the phasmid towards the end of the game. Take a look to verify this.

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2024-12-21 16:40