August 14, 2022

Disco Elysium is arguably one of the best games ever made, receiving universal acclaim and numerous Game of the Year honours when it was released back in 2019.

There’s no end to the amount of positive things you can say about the debut title from independent game dev ZA/UM. It looks killer, has some excellent storytelling, and there’s plenty of replayability too.

Whilst the RPG originally launched on PC Only, it did make its way to consoles via the release of the Final Cut edition in 2021, allowing even more players to experience everything it has to offer.

If you’re only just getting around to playing this incredible game, then don’t worry, we won’t judge you. But we imagine since you’re here, you’re probably looking for some help with Cuno and his drug problem in Disco Elysium. No problem, we’ve got a full guide to help you out, so read on for everything you need to know.

How Do You Deal With Cuno In Disco Elysium?

You first encounter the legendary Cuno when you begin your investigation into the hanged man’s corpse. When you firs meet him, he;s throwing rocks at the body, with his friend Cunoesse egging him on from the side behind the fence.

Cuno and Cunoesse will repeatedly call Kim and you pigs as well as pedophiles in your conversations. So clearly, he’s a bit unhinged and you need to approach him carefully. You can also get locked out of some side quests very early in the game depending on how your relationship with Cuno develops.

Generally speaking though, when it comes to your dialogue choices with Cuno, follow the advice below:

Do:

• Ask him about his name (this leads to being able to punch him)
• Pass the Empathy check to ‘figure out what’s up with this kid’ and get him on your side
• Visit his home and attempt to deny him further use of amphetamine drugs
• Let him watch the autopsy and find the bullet in the courtyard
• Tell him you liked the pig head at his shack
• Pick dialogue options which encourage him away from his current lifestyle
• Pick dialogue options which encourage his artistic side (This requires Conception skill)

Do Not:

• Belittle him
• Apologise to him
• Thank him for anything
• Attempt to force him to take a certain point of view
• Try to convince him that Cunoesse is a bad influence on him
• Shoot or Attempt to shoot at Cunoesse when given the option (more on that further down).

Should You Punch Cuno?

Only in Disco Elysium will players encounter a moral quandary over whether they should punch an annoyingly angry small child. But in a strange way, punching Cuno can be a good thing.

You can punch Cuno, but it’s possible to fail and miss. It requires you pass a red Physical Instrument Challenging check.

If you choose not to punch Cuno, it will cause Cuno to see Harry as weak, making it much harder to earn his respect.

If you are successful in punching Cuno, it makes it easier to earn his respect further down the line.

And if you fail to punch Cuno (a swing and a miss), you’ll need to buy him cigarettes to make amends.

So assuming you can pass the check, it’s actually worth punching Cuno when given the opportunity.

What Happens If You Point The Gun At Cunoesse

When attempting to shoot down the hanged man’s body, there is an option to point the gun at Cunoesse. You can even choose to kill Cunoesse if you want, which will lead to a unique game over screen. Watch below to see what you’re missing.

Split a Kilo with Cuno – Should You Give Cuno The Drugs?

To unlock this side task you will first have to become friends of a sort with Cuno.

He’ll tell you his dad is a “major supplier” of speed and asks you to get some drugs from his dad’s apartment. To do so, you’ll need the boltcutters from Kim’s toolbox. Next head to apartment number 12 at the Capeside Apartments.

When you have retrieved the vial of drugs and return to Cuno you can decide whether or not you want to give it to him.

Regardless of your decision, you’ll earn 70 xp for completing the task.

The game will warn you this is a major decision, however, it doesn’t make all that much difference in the grand scheme of things.

If you don’t give Cuno the drugs, nothing happens beyond Cuno not liking you. But if you do give him the drugs, he’ll join you as your partner for the remainder of the game when Kim ends up in the hospital. This also unlocks the achievement, ‘Recruit Detective Kuuno de Ruyter’.

Can You Save Cuno?

Cuno is a troubled kid. That much is for sure. When you first meet him, he’s an aggressive punk addicted to “brain-boosting” drugs like amphetamine and nicotine. Riding the lightning and causing trouble is all he knows, egged on by his partner in crime, Cunoesse.

But Cuno can be saved, more or less.

Assuming you manage to recruit Cuno as your partner when Kim is in Hospital, he will stay by your side and help finish the investigation. Afterward, during the final debriefing, you will be able to recruit Cuno for the junior officer training material.

There’s nothing to gain, but you can finish the game with the knowledge that you have at the very least set Cuno on the right path to a better life away from drugs.

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That’s everything you need to know about how to help Cuno in Disco Elysium. However, if you’re looking for more guides then follow the links below for more helpful tips, tricks, and explainers.

How to Fast Travel In Disco Elysium | Should You Arrest Klaasje In Disco Elysium | Where To Find Ruby In Disco Elysium | A Guide To Cuno In Disco Elysium | How Many Days Are There In Disco Elysium