What AutoMod can do
AutoMod is Discord's built-in filter. It checks messages in text channels, threads and the text chat of voice channels before they're posted, and it can check member names too. It has five kinds of rule, each with its own limits:
| Rule | What it catches | Per server | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commonly Flagged WordsEnglish only. You can exempt words that are fine in your community. | Discord's ready-made word lists: Insults and Slurs, Sexual Content, Severe Profanity. | 1 | Block message, send alert |
| Custom Keyword rulesUp to 1,000 terms (60 characters each) and 10 regex patterns per rule. Works in any language. | Your own words, phrases and regex patterns. | Up to 6 | Block message, send alert, time out member |
| Block Spam ContentMachine-learning based and English only. It won't catch everything, such as repeated messages across channels. | Messages that look like spam other users have reported, such as unsolicited ads and invite spam. | 1 | Block message, send alert |
| Block Mention SpamThe limit can be set up to 50 mentions per message. | Messages with more unique user and role mentions than the limit you set. | 1 | Block message, send alert, time out member |
| Block Words in Member Profile NamesFound under Server Settings → Safety Setup → AutoMod. | Blocked words in usernames and server nicknames. | 1 | Member must change the name before they can talk |
The three responses
- Block message: the message isn't posted and the sender sees a notice only they can read, plus your custom message if you set one.
- Send alert: posts who, what and where to a channel you choose. Use a private staff channel.
- Time out member: stops them sending messages, reacting or joining voice for a set time. Only Custom Keyword and Block Mention Spam rules can do this.
Build your AutoMod setup
Pick your type of server and the problems you want to block. You get a step-by-step plan plus keyword lists and regex patterns ready to paste. These are starting lists: add words you see in your own server.
Unique user and role mentions. Discord allows up to 50; lower it during a raid.
- Commonly Flagged Words All three lists · Block · Alert
- Block Spam Content Block · Alert
- Block Mention Spam Limit 6 · Block · Alert · Time out
- Keyword rule: Free Nitro and giveaway scams Block message · Send alert · Time out member
- Keyword rule: Invite links to other servers Block message · Send alert
- Keyword rule: Fake support and account threats Block message · Send alert · Time out member
- Keyword rule: Zalgo and Braille text spam Block message
- Member profile names Block scam and impersonation words
free nitro, nitro giveaway, claim your nitro, free steam gift, free robux, crypto giveaway, double your crypto, airdrop*, *discord.gg/*, dm me for support, dm for help, official support team, verify your account, your account will be banned, your account will be disabled
fr[e3]{2}\s*n[i1!l]tr[o0]discord(?:\.gg|(?:app)?\.com/invite)/[a-z0-9-]+[\x{0300}-\x{036F}]{4,}[\x{2800}-\x{28FF}]{5,}
Keywords are copied separated by commas; if your Discord app doesn't split them, add them one at a time. Each regex pattern goes in its own box, up to 10 per rule.
Set up AutoMod step by step
You need the Manage Server or Administrator permission, and AutoMod rules can only be edited on desktop.
- Create a private alerts channel
Make a #mod-log channel only staff can see (deny View Channel for @everyone). AutoMod alerts contain who posted what and where, so they must stay private.
- Turn on Commonly Flagged Words
Server Settings → AutoMod → Commonly Flagged Words → Set Up. Choose the lists that fit your server: Insults and Slurs, Sexual Content and Severe Profanity. Add exempt words for terms your community uses harmlessly.
- Turn on Block Spam Content
Set it to block the message and send an alert. It catches spam other users have reported, such as unsolicited ads and invite spam.
- Set a mention limit
In Block Mention Spam, choose how many unique user and role mentions one message may contain. A single-digit limit suits most servers; tighten it if you're raided.
- Add Custom Keyword rules
Create rules for the problems your server actually has: scams, invite links, fake support, self-promotion. Use the builder above for starting lists, and set a custom message so members know why a message was blocked (up to 150 characters).
- Block words in member names
Server Settings → Safety Setup → AutoMod → Block Words in Member Profile Names. Add scam and impersonation words, such as your staff titles, so nobody can join as “Support Team”.
- Set exemptions
Exempt staff roles where they need to post links or invites, and channels where blocked patterns are normal. Exempting a channel also exempts its threads and voice text chat.
How keywords, wildcards and regex match
A keyword matches when it appears in a message as a whole term. A phrase of several words only matches that exact phrase: this is bananas won't block a message that only says is bananas. Add a * to widen a keyword:
| Keyword | Matches | Example |
|---|---|---|
cat* | Words that start with it | cat-sitter |
*cat | Words that end with it | bobcat |
*ana* | It anywhere, even mid-word | bananas |
Regex for patterns keywords can't catch
Regex patterns go in a Custom Keyword rule and match a shape rather than a word: an email address, a token format, or misspellings such as fr33 n1tro. Discord's rules for them:
- Up to 10 patterns per rule. Keep each one short: Discord's Help Center gives 75 characters as the limit.
- Discord uses the Rust flavour of regex, so test patterns in a Rust-compatible tester. Backreferences aren't supported.
- Matching ignores capital letters by default.
- A careless pattern can block ordinary messages for everyone, so test before relying on it.
An AutoMod raid plan
Before a raid
- Turn on AutoMod with a mention limit and alerts.
- Turn off Mention @everyone, @here, and All Roles for every role except trusted staff.
- Set up Raid Protection alerts in Safety Setup, if your server has them.
- Choose a verification level, and keep the explicit media filter on.
- Make sure a moderator is usually around.
During a raid
- Pause invites: Server Settings → Invites → Pause Invites.
- Turn on slowmode in the channels being flooded.
- Add the raiders' phrases to a Custom Keyword rule with block, alert and timeout.
- Lower the mention limit.
- Raise the verification level, and put it back afterwards.
- Report the raid from the server menu (needs Kick or Ban Members, on desktop, in Community servers).
Need to stop all posting quickly? The emergency lockdown setup in the permissions guide lists the exact overrides.
Test AutoMod before you rely on it
- Use a second account with only the Member role. Staff accounts are exempt.
- Send a few messages that should be blocked, and a few normal ones that shouldn't.
- Check the alert arrives in your private channel and the custom message reads well.
- Try a name with a blocked word to check the member-name rule.
- If a rule blocks something harmless, add an exempt word or narrow the keyword rather than switching the rule off.
AutoMod mistakes to avoid
- Alerts in a public channel
Alerts show the blocked message. Send them to a staff-only channel.
- Testing from a staff account
Administrator and Manage Server are always exempt, so nothing gets caught.
- Wildcards on short words
*ass*also blocks “class” and “pass”. Keep anywhere-wildcards for long, specific terms. - No custom message
Members don't know why they were blocked and post it again. Explain in under 150 characters.
- Blocking every invite with no exemption
Moderators can't share partner invites. Exempt the staff role.
- Set and forget
Scam wording changes. Review alerts monthly and update your keyword rules.
Discord AutoMod FAQ
Does AutoMod work on every Discord server?
Yes. AutoMod is available to all servers. You need the Manage Server or Administrator permission to set it up, and rules can only be edited on desktop.
Why didn't AutoMod block my test message?
Members with Administrator or Manage Server are always exempt from AutoMod rules, as are any roles and channels you exempted. Test from a separate account without staff roles.
Can AutoMod time out members automatically?
Yes, for Custom Keyword rules and the Block Mention Spam rule. The Commonly Flagged Words and Block Spam Content rules can block messages and send alerts, but not time members out.
How do wildcards work in AutoMod keywords?
Without a wildcard, a keyword must match exactly. Add * at the end to match words that start with it (cat* matches cat-sitter), at the start to match words that end with it (*cat matches bobcat), or at both ends to match it anywhere (*ana* matches bananas).
Does AutoMod support other languages?
Custom Keyword rules work in any language. The Commonly Flagged Words lists and the Block Spam Content filter are currently English only.
Can I see the words in Discord's Commonly Flagged Words lists?
No. Discord keeps the lists private so people can't work around them. If a word you want blocked gets through, add it to one of your Custom Keyword rules.