Top 12 Disco Elysium Thoughts and Insights

Disco Elysium is renowned for its surreal narrative style. As a dialogue-rich RPG, the decisions you make along with the characters you encounter breathe life into a plethora of contemplative thoughts, each waiting to be processed in your Thought Cabinet.

This game diverges from traditional RPG mechanics, as the impact of Thoughts is largely philosophical, providing only minor stat adjustments rather than the complex number crunching often found in the genre. The real intrigue lies in how these Thoughts reveal insights into Detective Harrier DuBois’s mind, shaping your journey long before the investigation begins.

In this article, we will rank various Thoughts not solely on their gameplay benefits but also on their representations of the absurdity and philosophical depth inherent in Disco Elysium.

The audio delivery of the Problem and Solution sections by Lenval Brown is worth experiencing—his engrossing voice enhances the impact of these imaginative thoughts. You can listen to his captivating descriptions here.

While compiling my list of top Thoughts was straightforward, organizing them in a definitive ranking proved challenging due to the high quality of writing each possesses. I often used gameplay bonuses to break ties.

WARNING: SPOILERS!

12 Homo-Sexual Underground

Not Beating The Allegations

Maybe you should *stop* obsessing about your own — and other people’s — sexuality? Feels like it’s about time to do that. You’ve thought about this for *eight hours*?! Not only should you stop, you should tell Kim you’ve stopped obsessing about other people’s sexuality too. I’m sure he’d appreciate it. Unless you already got him killed because you were obsessing about your sexuality. (There’s no way of telling from within your brain, but for your own sake, please say you didn’t.)

This Thought showcases the game’s ability to encapsulate small, humorous moments—Harry acquires it simply from a brief chat with the Smoker, who triggers an eight-hour obsession in him. However, its utility is limited, and only serves as a comedic insight into Harry’s character.

It yields no stat enhancements, nor does it drive the narrative forward. Instead, it humorously highlights the absurdity of Harry’s fixation on others’ sexuality. Conversations with Kim lead to blunt, uninspired responses, illustrating character fatigue towards Harry’s antics.

While ostensibly trivial, this Thought has notably contributed to Kim’s characterization within the fandom, fueling fan fiction and deeper connections among the player base.

In hindsight, Harry’s inquiry into Kim’s sexual orientation can come off as quite brash.

11 Advanced Race Theory

We’ve Reached Competitive Racism

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.

Harry gains this Thought after a conversation with the unapologetically racist Measurehead, known for his contradictory logic. While Measurehead’s offensive remarks lean towards the absurd, his presence in the game remains relatively harmless, providing players with a chance to confront and even physically overpower him should they manage the Physical Instrument check.

If players choose to align with Measurehead’s theories, Harry may drift towards Fascism, negatively impacting his Morale via passive Volition checks. The game discourages such paths, emphasizing anti-racist sentiments.

This Thought captivates those intrigued by the ludicrousness of pseudo-scientific race theories and the narratives surrounding them.

10 Magnesium-Based Lifeform

Mag It Up!

Some people say magnesium doesn’t really do anything and you just need to quit. What do we tell them?. .. We tell them: HELL NO. You’re about to become a magnesium-based lifeform. The age of the primitive carbon-man is done. No longer must mankind rely on slow-working background radiation to take us further into our genetic destiny. This is the era of guided evolution, and magnesium is the key. You are the first of your species. The next step in human evolution. An advanced magnesium proto-man who mags it up, drinks it down, and sniffs it sideways!

This Thought arises from a whimsical interaction with Cuno about Magnesium. The implications revolve around elevating Harry’s state of mind through a bizarre addiction to magnesium, thereby enhancing his morale.

As one of the game’s more eccentric Thoughts, it humorously reflects Harry’s spiraling descent into substance abuse, all while providing him a facade of composure and clarity—an amusing contradiction typical of Disco Elysium.

9 Ace’s Low

(Not) Too Slow

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.

Similar to the game’s playful interactions, after an intense moment, Harry can bolster his camaraderie with Kim through this high-five gesture, symbolizing their partnership amid chaos.

This moment encourages players to deepen their friendship with Kim, injecting hope into an otherwise bleak narrative. Kim emerges as a standout character in the game; his friendship offers Harry a chance at redemption.

Employing this Thought is beneficial for cultivating a meaningful bond with Kim, especially advantageous as the game progresses toward its climax during the Tribunal.

8 White Mourning

It’s About The Ex-Something.

…and the little guy gets smaller and smaller as you rise above the doll house world. You see him out in the snow, on the streets, in the shop on the corner, and, finally, in a matchbox house. Sitting by the window, white flowers on the windowsill. You can smell them from up here: it’s awful. A white mourning. A modern death. Divorce, or something similar. All you can do is put more distance between you and him, make him smaller. Make him less *you*.

This Thought beautifully conjures the anguish of heartache, as Harry recoils from a painful memory sparked by reading a love letter from his past relationship.

Described through compelling narrative prose, players experience firsthand Harry’s palpable sorrow, leading to a false game-over screen where he communes with his Ancient Reptilian Brain. This scene deftly symbolizes the psychological burden of a lost love.

Internalizing this Thought prompts both Harry and the player to confront the visceral aftermath of emotional trauma. The distancing mechanic aids in coping with Harry’s pain, reminding players of the transient nature of existence.

7 The Bow Collector

Everything Is Interconnected.

It’s early in the morning. The world is dark blue. The sparks light her face. A delicate composition of triangles. The street seems to grow longer, like in a dolly zoom. And there’s something in the air as you stand there and wave back at the shape growing smaller and smaller. Something that has *always* been there. A great see-through world. The tenderness you feel. The ghost of Revachol between you, carrying your signals. The holy messenger.

One of Disco Elysium’s standout features is its poetic narrative style, which fully immerses players in Harry’s complex psyche. The Bow Collector Thought provides a window into Harry’s life prior to his current downfall, evoking memories of shared walks with his ex-girlfriend.

While bittersweet, this Thought illustrates Harry’s struggle with self-worth, triggering a decline in his skills as he reminisces.

This Thought offers players a glimpse into the intricate tapestry of Revachol and enriches the experience beyond mere skill checks, providing poignant emotional connections to the world.

6 Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre

You’re at home, stupid cop, not with the art crowd. You hate them, everyone hates them, even they hate themselves. It’s nauseating — an industry built on sprezzatura and sparkling wine. And, let’s be honest, tax evasion schemes. The Wompty Dompty Dom Centre is the heart of this unholy symbiosis of aesthetics and tax optimization, and now that you’ve internalized it – you can have a piece too!

This Thought caters to players interested in proving their intellectual prowess and gaining passive income effortlessly through high Encyclopedia skills. For those pursuing an intellectual build for Harry, the Wompty Dompty Dom Centre offers significant benefits.

With this Thought, players will find their finances bolstered, allowing them to allocate resources toward developing other skills, significantly enhancing the gameplay experience.

5 The Jamrock Shuffle

You’re A Detective. Detect.

In a way, yes. You *are* treasure hunting. Most officers from Precinct 41 do what is called the Jamrock Shuffle — cracking open containers. Most of them are from Jamrock or Coal City, the poorest parts of Revachol that also overlap with the network of royal catacombs called Le Royaume, just beneath the streets. As children you would all go underground, hoping to find treasure, and come back with a rat’s tail or a used needle. That playful curiosity must still be in you. Who knows? Maybe one day the Orbe de Montagne, the Holy Scepter, and the Cocaine Skull will all be yours!

This Thought cleverly reflects the intrinsic curiosity of RPG players, rewarding players for exploring the environment and engaging in the world around them. The Jamrock Shuffle puts a spotlight on an often-overlooked aspect of police work, showcasing a lighter, nostalgic side of Harry’s neighborhood.

Players who delight in exploration will find this Thought invaluable, enhancing the game’s narrative depth while building on Harry’s fellow officers’ backstories.

4 Never Seen (Derealization)

You Should Know This

Jamais vu. The opposite of déjà vu. Not *already* seen, but *never* seen. Everything that should be familiar appears strange and new. Like some half-forgotten day in your childhood, only *now*. That’s the feeling you’ve been having. And for who knows how long? You should go and ask Joyce Messier about this — what world are we in? This is the fundamental question.

Players accumulate XP through engaging interactions, stimulating further exploration. Jamais Vu encourages curiosity, making it a cornerstone for any player’s inaugural experience.

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	Unlock by opening the hidden compartment in the clipboard, smelling the Ledger’s Note, and examining the Apricot Chewing Gum Wrapper.

August 2nd. Early late summer. You’re getting off the streetcar in Le Jardin, east of the river. Her father and mother are middle class. The nylon of her little jacket rustles next to you, in the dark, like autumn leaves. Her heels click on the pavement. You’re walking up to the gate in front of her parents’ house. She takes out her chewing gum and you kiss her. A feeling like electricity flows through your whole body. Immediately you know you’ve entered a completely different world.

Harry’s unconventional habit of smelling old chewing gum wrappers reveals how keenly he clings to memories of his ex. This Thought captures a moment of vulnerability as he reflects on their relationship, instilling an air of nostalgia and regret.

The juxtaposition of trivial actions triggering profound thoughts illustrates Disco Elysium’s penchant for beautifully crafted prose. It engages players emotionally while showcasing Harry’s complex internal struggles.

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; 1+2 counts as an automatic failure.	4h	Achieved after passing the White Shivers check with the Dice Maker located within the Doomed Commercial Area behind the Bookstore.

How *not* to lose? It is impossible not to. The world is balanced on the edge of a knife. It’s a game of frayed nerves. You’re pushed on by numbers and punitive measures: pain, rejection, and unpaid bills. You can either play or you can crawl under a boat and waste away — turn into salt or a flock of seagulls. Your enemies would *love* that. Or you can fight. The only way to load the dice is to keep on fighting.

Embarking on this Thought entails certain risks, as it automatically triggers failure in Red Checks for a duration of four in-game hours. However, the long-term effects broaden the parameters for critical successes and failures, thus tightening the margins for skill checks.

The essence of this Thought captures the game’s core philosophy: the importance of perseverance amidst adversity. Players must realize that victory is secondary to the journey—a statement that resonates with anyone facing existential challenges in life.

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; +6 Bonus to the Endurance Check before investigating the Hanging Corpse.	30m	Harry must vomit a second time while observing the Hanging Corpse, with Kim present to prompt him to get it together.

Bizarre scientific news from Revachol West today, where a police officer’s shit has been observed at a pressure of around 495 giga-decimals. These metallic hydrogen levels of shit-togetherness were thought to exist only at the center of collapsing stars, not law officials. It remains to be seen how long the shit-singularity lasts.

Kim’s urging for Harry to “get his shit together”takes on a literal interpretation, causing transitions in gameplay as Harry confronts the requirements of his investigative role. This Thought’s comical framing lightens the serious nature of his tasks while boosting endurance for the eventual autopsy scene.

A humorously critical Thought like this not only enhances gameplay dynamics but also generates memorable moments that resonate with players. It underscores the necessity for Harry to navigate his harrowing circumstances, converting the mundane into the extraordinary.

This Thought, packed with both practical benefits and hilarity, dos effectively stand as a hallmark of the game’s unique tone. To explore its effects, players can observe minor modifications in dialogue during the final encounter with the phasmid.

For a deeper look into the mechanics and nuances of Disco Elysium’s Thoughts, you can visit the original source and images here.

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