Even if you’ve played tons of CRPGs before, nothing can prepare you for the inner monologues, brutal skill checks, and funky outfits. Here are the Disco Elysium basics.
You can and should judge a man by his skills, thoughts, and clothes. If you don’t, Disco Elysium will. You might find yourself unwittingly cozying up to some giant racist scheme just because you didn’t choose the Physical Archetype. Or quit your job altogether all because you had a mental breakdown over a failed attempt to swipe a measly plastic poncho. Yes, Reaction Speed is the worst, but most importantly: you need to sort out your Archetype, Skills, Thoughts, and Clothes in Disco Elysium, or else you’ll never go from Hobocop to Supercop.
Table of contents
Archetypes: All Builds and Best Picks for Your First Playthrough
In Disco Elysium, Archetypes are starting builds you can choose the moment to begin your playthrough. These builds are all about min-maxing your stats: A physical Archetype is great at physique and motorics but lacks intellect.
| Appearance | Archetype name | Explained | Best Skill |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Physical | Talks to inanimate objects and corpses, which comes in handy, but doesn’t work wonders for his sanity. | Hand/Eye Coordination Catches coins mid-air and shoots people in the head. |
 | Sensitive | Encyclopedia Mr. Know-It-All, is great for an amnesiac. | Inland Empire Part-time detective, full-time paranormal investigator. |
 | Thinker | Booksmart. You’ve got a grasp on reality, but a gust of wind can send you flying. | Encyclopedia Mr. Know-It-All, which is great for an amnesiac. |
If this is your first playthrough, I strongly recommend going for the Thinker archetype. You wouldn’t notice just by looking at it, but Disco Elysium isn’t set in our mundane reality; it’s nestled snugly in a futuristic, French-dominated dystopia. The Thinker Archetype maxes out Encyclopedia, a voice that briefs you on little details on the world and the circumstances you’re in.
You can also choose to ditch these Archetypes and create your own build. Though I wouldn’t recommend this for your first playthrough, you could give custom builds a go in your consecutive playthroughs. A Charmer with high Empathy, Drama, and Suggestion, or a Superstar with maxed Electrochemistry, Savoir-Faire, and Reaction Speed.
Skills: How and When to Level Up Skills
Most interactions in Disco Elysium grant EXP. You don’t need a Thinker build to realize that accumulating enough EXP leads to a level-up. But you do need to understand the game’s mechanics to level up your skills.
How to Level Up Skills
When it’s time to level up, open the Character Sheet (the icon with the six squares in the bottom-right corner). Here, you can spend your EXP upgrading one skill in Disco Elysium.
Based on the Archetype you chose at the start of the game, you may be able to further improve certain skills more than others. A Physical character can’t put that many points in Intellect; a Thinker character can’t put that many points in Physique.
When to Level Up Skills
In Disco Elysium, you upgrade skills to pass checks. If you’re standing in front of the hotel room mirror, gaping at *The Expression* in horror, but don’t have enough Electrochemistry to stop it, you can back down from the situation, put some points into the Electrochemistry skills, and try again. This is only true for White Checks:
- White Checks: If failed, can be reattempted after you put some points into the required skill.
- Red Checks: If failed, can’t be reattempted. Unless you cheat.
| TIP | |
|---|---|
 | You can look at failed checks you can re-attempt in the Journal tab. Open the Journal tab and switch to Map. |
Don’t level up a skill until you run into a check you can’t pass in Disco Elysium. Keep that level up stored until you find yourself stuck in a conversation or closed door. Once you fail, or feel that your success score is so low you might fail, open the Character Sheet and put points into that skill. Also, have a look at your thoughts and clothing options.
Thoughts: How to Get More Thought Slots
Thoughts are accessories for the brain in Disco Elysium. Through conversations – whether with other people, corpses, or yourself – you get Thoughts. If you think those Thoughts, they can give you passive Skill buffs.
To internalize a Thought, open the Thought Cabinet in the bottom right corner of the screen. Then, select a Thought, and, if the benefits suit you, internalize it. It takes a few minutes, or even hours, for your character to fully internalize this new thought, but when it’s done, you get a pop-up message.
Each Thought occupies a Thought Slot. You start out with three but can unlock more by hovering over an empty one and spending a Level-Up point.
Clothes: All Clothing Items and Where to Find Them
A navy suit, a white button-up shirt, and a beige trenchcoat are what you’d probably expect from the detective attire. Not in Disco Elysium. From lounging in luxurious silk to clunking around in cumbersome ceramic, or even sporting a threadbare tracksuit, this game’s wardrobe options are as varied as they are bizarre.
Every piece of clothing comes with a skill bonus, so equip them accordingly to pass every skill check — at the expense of looking like an absolute clown.
Intellect Cop Clothes
Conceptualization
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Saramirizian Lounge Jacket | +1 Conceptualization | In locked apartment with Bust, near cleaner. |
 | White Satin Shirt | +1 Conceptualization -1 Suggestion | On shower rack in your room. |
Drama
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Bow Knot | +2 Drama | Abandoned shack southeast of fishing village. |
 | Leather Jacket Pissf****t | +1 Drama -1 Authority | Half-Light check with Skulls by Kim’s car (after Day 4). |
 | Insane Mesh Tank Top | +1 Drama | Basement of Doomed Commercial Area, near outside exit. |
Encyclopedia
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Dick Mullen’s Hat | +1 Encyclopedia | Convince bookstore owner, talk to daughter. |
 | Mega-Bino’s Prescription Lenses | +2 Encyclopedia, -1 Perception | Container in fish market, boardwalk (after Day 3). |
Logic
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | FALN Pipo Pipo | +2 Logic -1 Perception | Southwest area of the boardwalk in a container (after Day 3). |
 | Samaran Conical Hat | +1 Logic -1 Suggestion | Inside the apartment of the smoker on the balcony (After 21:00, after Day 2). |
 | Flip-up Glasses The Auditor | +1 Logic -1 Authority | In the closet across from the back door entrance to the Apartment Building. |
 | Korojev Jacket | +1 Logic | Found in the fishing village’s free shack. |
 | Interisolary Dress Shirt | +1 Logic | Found in a drawer in Gary’s home. |
Rhetoric
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Medal The Setting Sun | +1 Rhetoric | South of radio tower, Land’s End, west of closed bunker. |
 | White Polo Shirt | +1 Rhetoric -1 Empathy | South of radio tower, Land’s End, near closed bunker. |
Visual Calculus
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Neat Office Shades | +1 Visual Calculus -1 Drama | Union building bathroom. |
 | RCM Commander’s Jacket | +1 Esprit de Corps +1 Visual Calculus | In your car. |
Psyche Cop Clothes
Electrochemistry
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Shades of Self-Destruction | +1 Electrochemistry -1 Logic | Investigate glasses next to Siileng, buy from Siileng. |
 | Party Dragon’s Silk Robe | +1 Drama +1 Electrochemistry | Apartment of smoker on balcony (after 21:00). |
 | Fingerless Gloves | +1 Electrochemistry | Dumpster outside pawn shop. |
 | Flare-cut Trousers | +1 Electrochemistry -1 Savoir Faire | Your room at start of game. |
 | Pour L’Homme Labourer Jeans | +1 Electrochemistry -1 Reaction Speed | Coal room near Cindy the Skull. |
 | Speedfreaks DONKS | +1 Physical Instrument +1 Electrochemistry -1 Interfacing | Call Speedfreaks FM after Lilienne’s Twin mentions voices on Island. |
Endurance
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | FRITTTE Plastic Rain Coat | +1 Endurance | Steal (interfacing check) or buy from Frittte. |
 | Reflective Construction Vest | +1 Endurance -1 Reaction Speed | Obtained in Communist Vision Quest. |
Half Light
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Fairweather T-500 Helmet | +1 Half Light -1 Suggestion | Nest on islet with ruins (after Day 3). |
 | FALN Faln Windbreaker | +1 Pain Threshold +1 Half Light -1 Drama | Fishmarket area of boardwalk (after Day 3), cleaned by old lady. |
 | Leather Jacket Fuck the World | +1 Half Light -1 Rhetoric | Pass Half-Light check with Skulls by Kim’s car (after Day 4). |
 | FALN Ultra Series Gloves | +1 Half Light | Harbor area, next to Evart’s container. |
 | Itchy Pants | +2 Half Light -1 Composure -1 Savoir Faire | Fail Composure check when investigating container near Siileng. |
Pain Threshold
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Fairweather T-500 Cuirass | +1 Pain Threshold +1 Volition -1 Empathy | Speak with Gary past the Fishing Village and pass a composure check. |
| FALN Faln Windbreaker | +1 Pain Threshold +1 Half Light -1 Drama | Fishmarket area of boardwalk (after Day 3), cleaned by old lady. |
 | Mesque Banger’s Silk Scarf | +1 Pain Threshold | Inside ruined Church (after Day 3). |
Physical Instrument
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Scented Scarf | +1 Shivers -2 Physical Instrument | On post in water near Land’s End (after Day 3). |
 | T-Shirt Man From Hjelmdall | +1 Physical Instrument +1 Shivers -2 Authority | Bought at the pawn shop. |
 | White Tank Top | +1 Physical Instrument | Next to King Filippe’s statue in lorry jam. |
 | FALN Modular Track Pants | +1 Savoir Faire +1 Physical Instrument | Talk to Cuno about dumpster clothing, buy from him. |
| Speedfreaks DONKS | +1 Physical Instrument +1 Electrochemistry -1 Interfacing | Call Speedfreaks FM after Lilienne’s Twin mentions voices on Island. |
Shivers
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Polar Anorak | +1 Composure +1 Shivers | Under the Feld Building along tunnel pathway after passive perception check. |
 | RCM Patrol Cloak | +1 Esprit de Corps +1 Shivers | On a railing outside western exit of Union building. |
| Scented Scarf | +1 Shivers -2 Physical Instrument | On post in water near Land’s End (after Day 3). |
| T-Shirt Man From Hjelmdall | +1 Physical Instrument +1 Shivers -2 Authority | Bought at the pawn shop. |
Psyque Cop Clothes
Authority
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | RCM Lieutenant’s Cap | +1 Authority | Obtain from The Pigs on the boardwalk after disarming her (after Day 3). |
 | RCM Lieutenant’s Pants | +1 Authority +1 Suggestion | Found in hostel in Cop’s room on shelf after tribunal. |
 | Fairweather T-500 Greaves | +2 Authority -1 Composure | Steal from corpse before processing, clean in Whirling-in-Rags kitchen. |
Empathy
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Jamrock Biker-Cop Sunnies | +1 Empathy -1 Logic | Container near water lock, by raised drawbridge (after Day 3). |
 | Pinball Maker’s Coat | +1 Empathy +1 Hand/Eye Coordination | Behind blue door in Whirling-in-Rags kitchen. |
 | Army Surplus Winter Scarf | +2 Empathy -1 Composure | Islet in ruined area (after Day 3). |
 | Mesque Banger’s Red Brogues | +1 Empathy | Ruined Church (after Day 3). |
Esprit de Corps
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Disco-Ass Blazer | +1 Esprit de Corps | Found on the floor of your Hostel room. |
| RCM Commander’s Jacket | +1 Esprit de Corps, +1 Visual Calculus | In your car. |
| RCM Patrol Cloak | +1 Esprit de Corps, +1 Shivers | On railing outside western exit of Union building. |
Inland Empire
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Specialist-Grade Headset | +2 Inland Empire -1 Reaction Speed | Complete moralist vision quest without airship pickup |
 | Sunglasses Sub-Insulindic Rendezvous | -1 Perception +1 Inland Empire | Pass Conceptualization check at Siileng’s box. |
 | Eight-Eyed Teratorn Tie | +1 Inland Empire +1 Volition | Check traps for Morell, then talk to him at Whirling-In-Rags. |
 | Horrific Necktie | +1 Inland Empire | On fan in your room at start of game, pass Savoir Faire check. |
Suggestion
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Interisolary Suit Jacket | +1 Suggestion | Beneath Feld building, in locker (afer Day 3). |
 | Signal-Blue Naval Coat | +1 Suggestion -1 Half Light | Container below Cindy the Skull, requires prybar. |
| RCM Lieutenant’s Pants | +1 Authority +1 Suggestion | In hostel, Cop’s room shelf after tribunal, won’t appear if Pinball Maker’s Coat is picked up. |
Volition
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eight-Eyed Teratorn Tie | +1 Inland Empire +1 Volition | Check traps for Morell, then talk to him at Whirling-In-Rags. |
| Fairweather T-500 Cuirass | +1 Pain Threshold +1 Volition -1 Empathy | Pass perception check when talking to Gary, then active composure check. |
Motoric Cop Clothes
Composure
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Dynamic Winderbreaker Surf | +1 Composure -1 Shivers | Pass active Composure check at Siileng’s container. |
| Polar Anorak | +1 Composure +1 Shivers | Succeed passive perception check under Feld Building tunnel pathway. |
 | Regular Black Jeans | +1 Composure | Found in Cuno’s apartment, hanging on clothesline above his father. |
 | Green Snakeskin Shoes | +1 Composure -1 Savoir Faire | One on coat rack in room, one outside on balcony. |
Hand/Eye Coordination
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinball Maker’s Coat | +1 Empathy +1 Hand/Eye Coordination | Behind blue door in Whirling-in-Rags kitchen. |
 | FALN Arrower Shirt | +1 Hand/Eye Coordination | On islet in ruined area (after Day 3). |
 | FALN Ultra Series Sneakers | +1 Reaction Speed +1 Hand/Eye Coordination -1 Encyclopedia | Buy from Siileng. |
Interfacing
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Fairweather T-500 Gauntlets | +2 Interfacing | Talk to Cindy the SKULL, then Lily Carter in fishing village (after Day 3). |
 | Yellow Gardening Gloves | +1 Interfacing | Talk to Gardener outside Whirling-in-Rags, ask for gloves. |
Perception
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Amphibian Sports Visor | +1 Perception | Fail active Conceptualization check at Siileng’s containers. |
Reaction Speed
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Orange Bum Hat | +1 Reaction Speed -1 Rhetoric | In container behind greenhouse next to Gary’s door. |
| FALN Ultra Series Sneakers | +1 Reaction Speed +1 Hand/Eye Coordination -1 Encyclopedia | Bought from Siileng. |
 | Royal Carabineer Pants | +1 Reaction Speed | Found in Rene’s shack in the Harbor (after Day 5). |
Savoir Faire
| Appearance | Clothing Item | Boost | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Oversized Superstar Sunglasses | +1 Savoir Faire -1 Visual Calculus | In container south of cryptozoologists (after Day 3). |
| FALN Modular Track Pants | +1 Savoir Faire +1 Physical Instrument | Buy from Cuno. |
Check out our full walkthrough page for Disco Elysium for more resources, tips, tricks, and guides.
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