The Thought Cabinet in Disco Elysium: A Guide
Want to find out what certain thoughts do in Disco Elysium? Want to know which thoughts you should choose and how? This guide is for the thoughts in your thought cabinet.
Basics of the Thought Cabinet
How exactly does the thought cabinet and the thoughts within it work? As your character learns more about the world of the game and about themselves, they gain access to various thoughts — worldviews, ideologies, personality traits, hobbies.
Some of these thoughts affect your character, altering your skills. Others change the way you interact with the world, grant experience points, healing, or money for certain actions. It's important to note — none of your thoughts change the parameters of your dialogues.
To use one of these thoughts, you must use a skill point to unlock a slot in your cabinet. Once a slot is open, you can choose a thought to internalize. The process will take a few hours, depending on the complexity of the thought. While a thought is being internalized, it will affect your stats.
Remember, time in Disco Elysium only passes when you are exploring something or talking to people. Traveling through the world does not take time. The thought cabinet (thought cabinet) has a total of 12 available slots that can be unlocked — once it's full, you can use skill points to erase an internalized thought. Now you can internalize another thought in this slot for free.
The thought cabinet is divided into two parts — the first lists all available options for the first two days, and the second section mentions the remaining ideas for leveling up. This is because some options require waiting for the third day, which will open access to the floodgate. Note that game time stops at 02:00. This means you can no longer internalize thoughts until you go to sleep. On the other hand, this is a great time to talk to Kim (Kim) and Joyce (Joyce) and just use every response to every dialogue option for free.
Day 1-2
The thoughts listed in this section can be unlocked starting from the main character's first awakening.
Ace's High (Pilot's Greeting)
Temporary bonus:
- +1 Empathy towards character Kim Kitsuragi.
How to get: After successfully removing the corpse from the tree, you need to high five your partner.
Research time: 2 hours 45 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +1 Empathy towards character Kim Kitsuragi;
- +1 Cop wave.
Ace's Low (Pilot's Low Five)
Temporary bonus:
- +2 Empathy towards character Kim Kitsuragi.
How to get: After successfully removing the corpse from the tree, you need to high five your partner.
Research time: 2 hours 45 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +2 Empathy towards character Kim Kitsuragi;
- +1 Cop wave.
Actual Art Degree
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Perception.
How to get: Say five art-related dialogue lines. This requires Conceptualization and Drama with a +4 bonus.
Research time: 1 hour 30 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- -1 Motorics;
- Passive Conceptualization skills heal morale by 1 point and give 10 XP.
Advanced Race Theory
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Drama.
How to get: Talk to Measurehead, pass the Conceptualization check, and agree with his theory.
Research time: 1 hour 40 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- the upgrade cap is increased to 5;
- +1 Conceptualization.
Anti-Object Task Force
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Pain Threshold.
How to get: Hit various physical objects (trash cans, containers, etc.).
Research time: 2 hours 15 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- hitting physical objects heals 1 health point;
- +1 Pain Threshold;
- the cap for all Physique skills is increased by 1.
Apricot Chewing Gum Scented One
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Reaction Speed.
How to get: You need to examine the hidden compartment in the documents found in the trash bin behind the hostel and smell the found roll.
Research time: 5 hours 5 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +2 Perception.
Bankruptcy Sequence
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Empathy.
How to get: You need to talk to the person in the port container, suggest a bad idea, like about a board game, and pass a Conceptualization check.
Research time: 5 hours 15 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- every failed Intellect skill check gives 1 real.
Boiadeiro
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Physical Instrument.
How to get: You need to pass the Inland Empire check when talking to Manana at the strike after asking about the hero's name and having previously talked to Evrart.
Research time: 6 hours 30 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- -1 Cop wave;
- cigarettes give a +2 bonus to intellect.
Caustic Echo
Temporary bonus:
- +1 Volition.
How to get: You need to open the hidden compartment in the hero's documents and immediately throw away the found card.
Research time: 10 hours.
Bonus after research:
- +300 experience points for completion;
- +1 Authority;
- the cap for all Motorics skills is increased by 1.
Coach Physical Instrument
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Encyclopedia.
How to get: You need to talk to the old man René, who plays pétanque near the bookstore. Do not play ball and fail the throw.
Research time: 40 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +2 Physical Instrument, if no item is equipped in the shirt slot;
- -1 Encyclopedia.
Col Do Ma Ma Daqua
Temporary bonus:
- none.
How to get: You need to talk to Lena, the disabled woman about the invisible phasmid, pass the Suggestion check, and use the marker above the hero's head on the street.
Research time: 7 hours 10 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +3 Perception;
- -1 Encyclopedia.
Cop of the Apocalypse
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Rhetoric.
How to get: You need to talk to Lena, the disabled woman about the invisible phasmid, pass the Suggestion check, and use the marker above the hero's head on the street.
Research time: 6 hours 55 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- the upgrade cap for Inland Empire is increased to 6;
- the upgrade cap for Shivers is increased to 6.
Date of Birth Generator
Temporary bonus:
- none.
How to get: Think about your date of birth while searching for information about the hero.
Research time: 7 hours 15 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- the upgrade cap for Logic skills is increased to 4;
- -1 difficulty for all passive Physique checks.
Detective Costeau
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Conceptualization.
How to get: You need to call the hero Detective Costeau, fail the Conceptualization check, and refuse the real name.
Research time: 2 hours 30 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +1 Savoir Faire;
- +1 Cop of the Apocalypse.
Fairweather T-500
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Savoir Faire.
How to get: you need to find one item from the entire set and wear it.
Research time: 3 hours 30 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +2 to Coordination against enemies in FT-500 armor.
Finger on the Eject Button
Temporary bonus:
- +2 Authority;
- +2 Suggestion.
How to get: you need to choose options in dialogues about suicide.
Research time: 2 hours.
Bonus after research:
- thoughts of suicide appear every evening.
Finger Pistols [9mm]
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Savoir Faire.
How to get: you need to get +5 to Composure during the first conversation with the clothing merchant near the sluice and shoot with finger guns.
Research time: 1 hour.
Bonus after research:
- +1 Reaction Speed;
- +1 Suggestion, if no item is equipped in the gloves slot.
Guillaume le Million
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Logic.
How to get: you need to pass an Encyclopedia check with the mirror in the hero's room.
Research time: 4 hours 30 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +1 Pain Threshold;
- the skill cap for Psyche skills is increased by 1.
Hobocop
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Composure.
How to get: become homeless and call yourself homeless.
Research time: 4 hours 20 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- displays containers on the map;
- increases the amount of money received for selling containers;
- the skill upgrade cap for Shivers is increased to 6.
Homo-Sexual Underground
Temporary bonus:
- none.
How to get: you need to pass a Composure check in conversation with the Smoker and ask him about participating in the underground movement.
Research time: 8 hours.
Bonus after research:
- the hero stops fixating on sexuality;
- allows discussing sexuality with the partner.
Indirect Modes of Taxation
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Empathy.
How to get: you need to pick up shoes in the apartment building and wear them, take money from Joyce and Evrart, and choose options that will help get money.
Research time: 1 hour 45 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- ultra-liberal dialogue options (pro-capitalist, anti-working class, anti-tax, money fuss) give 1 real;
- -1 Empathy.
Inexplicable Feminist Agenda
Temporary bonus:
- +2 Authority in conversations with men.
How to get: you need to tell Garte why Sylvie left and inform him that she is a feminist.
Research time: 3 hours 45 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +1 Empathy;
- -1 Electrochemistry.
Jamais Vu [Derealization]
Temporary bonus:
- none.
How to get: you need to talk to Lena, the disabled woman, about understanding reality and discuss reality without Kim with Joyce.
Research time: 3 hours 25 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +1 experience point for each checked sphere (marker)
- the skill cap for all Intellect skills is increased by 1.
Lonesome Long Way Home
Temporary bonus:
- +1 Encyclopedia.
How to get: you need to think about home when researching information about yourself.
Research time: 6 hours 5 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- the skill cap for Perception is increased to 5;
- speeds increase Psyche by 1 unit.
Magnesium-Based Lifeform
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Shivers.
How to get: you need to talk to Kuno about the magnesium in his shack.
Research time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +2 Volition;
- -1 Logic.
Mazovian Socio-Economics
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Visual Calculus.
How to get: you need to choose communist dialogue options and use Rhetoric.
Research time: 3 hours 10 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- communist dialogue options grant 4 experience points;
- -1 Visual Calculus;
- -1 Authority.
Motorway South
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Visual Calculus.
How to get: you need to talk to Joyce and the truck driver who needs to be revived.
Research time: 8 hours 10 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +1 Inland Empire;
- all white checks for Intellect skills are unlocked.
Opioid Receptor Antagonist
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Electrochemistry.
How to get: you need to talk to Klaasje about her illegal substances and tell her that she has nothing to be proud of.
Research time: 55 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- no positive effects from illegal substances;
- no negative effects from alcohol.
Overproductive Honour Glands
Temporary bonus:
- -4 Drama.
How to get: you need to engage in noble deeds and keep your word, as well as reject bribes from Joyce and Evrart.
Research time: 20 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- the skill cap for Authority is increased to 5.
Regular Law Official
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Inland Empire.
How to get: you need to choose ordinary and boring dialogue options until Drama contacts the protagonist.
Research time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- -1 Shivers;
- -1 Inland Empire;
- the caps for all skills are increased to 3.
Remote Viewers Division
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Perception.
How to get: you need to choose dialogue options related to paranormal abilities.
Research time: 6 hours.
Bonus after research:
- -1 difficulty for all passive checks of Psyche skills
- -1 Drama.
Revacholian Nationhood
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Composure.
How to get: you need to say four traditionalist dialogue options and wait until Endurance contacts the protagonist.
Research time: 9 hours 10 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- -1 to Volition for using nationalist dialogue options;
- +2 to Physique skills when consuming alcohol.
Rigorous Self-Critique
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Authority.
How to get: you need to apologize to everyone and constantly pity yourself.
Research time: 6 hours.
Bonus after research:
- unsuccessful checks of Intellect and Physique skills heal 1 point of Morale;
- unsuccessful checks of Physique and Motorics skills heal 1 point of Health;
- the skill cap for Pain Threshold is increased to 6.
Some Kind of Superstar
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Logic.
How to get: you need to refer to the protagonist as a superstar. Can be activated after completing the task Ask Klaasje about the night of Sunday.
Research time: 1 hour 10 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- -1 Logic;
- the skill caps for Visual Calculus, Suggestion, Electrochemistry, and Composure are increased to 6.
The Bow Collector
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Authority;
- -1 Coordination.
How to get: during a conversation with the ancient reptilian brain in dreams, choose the The Bow Collector option and pass the Conceptualization check. Can be acquired concurrently with the thought White Mourning.
Research time: 6 hours 10 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +3 Shivers.
The Fifteenth Indotribe
Temporary bonus:
- none.
How to get: you need to talk to Joyce about her company Wild Pines and choose the dialogue option 8 percent of all cargo in the world.
Research time: 5 hours 55 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +10 cents for each checked green orb (marker);
- the skill cap for Savoir Faire is increased to 6.
The Insulindian Miracle
Temporary bonus:
- none.
How to get: you need to talk to Joyce about the Union's ultimate goal, then listen to her talk about the discovery of nearby islands.
Research time: 7 hours 55 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- All white checks for skills are unlocked.
The Precarious World
Temporary bonus:
- All Physique skill checks fail.
How to get: you need to pass a Shivers check with the dice maker in the Cursed Commercial Area behind the bookstore.
Research time: 4 hours.
Bonus after research:
- -1 to the chance of critical failures and successes.
The Suicide of Kras Mazov
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Rhetoric.
How to get: You need to inspect the container in the hotel yard and ask Garte for the key. After that, you must pass a passive Rhetoric skill check and choose the option Doesn't this seem heartless to you? Pass another passive skill check, Encyclopedia, and introduce yourself as Kras Mazov. Then, inspect his bust in the apartment building behind the hotel and insist that the protagonist is Kras Mazov.
Research time: 4 hours 45 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +1 Rhetoric;
- Failing a white skill check fully heals Morale.
Torque Dork
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Conceptualization
How to get: You need to start the game with an Encyclopedia skill level of 3 or lower. Inspect your partner's car and choose the dialogue options What are we looking at? and This should have awakened something in me. Return to the car on the second day with a level 4 Encyclopedia and level 6 Hand/Eye Coordination, also without knowing the character's real name. Sequentially choose all dialogue options and report that you definitely know about your love for cars.
Research time: 25 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +2 Hand/Eye Coordination;
- all white Hand/Eye Coordination checks are unlocked.
Volumetric Shit Compressor
Temporary bonus:
- none.
How to get: The protagonist must vomit twice while inspecting the hanging corpse in the hotel yard, and also tell Kim that the protagonist wishes to quit the police force.
Research time: 30 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- all white Endurance skill checks are unlocked;
- the skill cap for Endurance is increased to 4.
Waste Land of Reality
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Physical Instrument
How to get: You need to always stay sober, explore Modern Race Theory, talk to Measurehead and tell him that you need to sober up. It can also be obtained by talking to Tiago in the church and telling him the same thing about sobriety as you told Measurehead.
Research time: 20 hours.
Bonus after research:
- -1 Physical Instrument;
- -1 Inland Empire;
- -1 Suggestion;
- +1 to all Psyche skills;
- no positive effects from alcohol.
White Mourning
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Authority.
How to get: You need to always stay sober, explore Modern Race Theory, talk to Measurehead and tell him that you need to sober up. You can also get it by talking to Tiago in the church and telling him the same thing about sobriety as you told Measurehead.
Research time: 5 hours.
Bonus after research:
- increases the hero's vision range by 20%;
- the skill cap for all Motorics skills is increased by 1.
Day 3 and later
The thoughts below can be unlocked starting from the third day, as the main character will gain access to the sluice that will allow him to reach the fishing village and its surroundings.
Arno van Eyck
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Hand/Eye Coordination.
How to get: You need to turn the church into a dance club and give the found tape from the tree to Egg Head.
Research time: 50 minutes.
Bonus after research: all white Motorics skill checks are unlocked.
Bringing of the Law (Law-Jaw)
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Rhetoric.
How to get: You need to tell Lilienne that the hero is a lawbringer.
Research time: 2 hours 55 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- the skill cap for Hand/Eye Coordination is increased to 6;
- automatic Hand/Eye Coordination checks;
- -1 Rhetoric.
Cleaning Out the Rooms
Temporary bonus:
- none.
How to get: You need to pass a difficult Logic check when talking to Soona in the church after the first attempt to search for the sound from the anomaly
Research time: 5 hours 35 minutes.
Bonus after research:
+1 Suggestion;
+1 Inland Empire;
+1 Rhetoric.
Hardcore Aesthetic
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Hand/Eye Coordination.
How to get: You need to establish a dance club in the church, get on the same wavelength as Noid, and pass a white Conceptualization check.
Research time: 1 hour 50 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +1 Volition;
- +1 Endurance.
One More Door
Temporary bonus:
- +1 Shivers.
How to get: You need to try to open the door of the bunker located north of the church and fail the check.
Research time: 45 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- -1 Shivers;
- all white Psyche skill checks are unlocked.
Searchlight Division
Temporary bonus:
- none.
How to get: You need to talk to Lena, Lilienne, and the proletarian about the missing people.
Research time: 3 hours 15 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- +2 Perception.
The Jamrock Shuffle
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Cop's Instinct
How to get: You need to unlock many locked doors and items. It may trigger after opening the blue door at the hotel.
Research time: 1 hour 5 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- Allows discovering better loot in locked containers.
The Litany of Contact Mike
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Logic;
- -1 Conceptualization;
- -1 Drama.
How to get: You need to talk to Assel about Contact Mike and pass a passive Encyclopedia check.
Research time: 15 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- Unlocks all white checks for Physique skills.
Wompty-Dompty Dom Centre
Temporary bonus:
- -1 Suggestion
How to get: You need to talk to the man with a child near the fresco about all the tedious things.
Research time: 42 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- passive Encyclopedia checks yield 10 xp and 2 real;
- -2 Suggestion.
Kingdom of Conscience
Temporary bonus:
- -2 Shivers.
How to get: You need to take the pants near the fishing village, wear them, and choose politically neutral dialogue options.
Research time: 1 hour 25 minutes.
Bonus after research:
- moralist dialogue options restore 1 Morale point;
- the skill cap for Volition is increased to 5;
- the skill cap for Logic is increased to 5.
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