2 min read
By Mike
Discord AutoMod: Built-In Rules That Filter Messages
AutoMod is Discord's own moderation feature that checks messages against rules you set and then blocks them, alerts staff or times the member out. It runs inside Discord with no bot needed, and it is the baseline that moderation bots build on.
What AutoMod can do
You find it in Server Settings, AutoMod. Each rule has a trigger and one or more actions.
- Keyword filter: your own words and phrases, with wildcards, plus Discord's preset lists for profanity, sexual content and slurs.
- Spam filter: flags messages that Discord's systems consider likely spam.
- Mention spam: a limit on how many unique mentions one message may contain.
- Member profile rules: keyword checks on names and bios.
Actions include blocking the message, sending an alert to a staff channel and timing the member out. You can exempt roles and channels, so moderators are not affected. Rules are limited in number per type, so plan which words go where.
Why owners use it
It is free, runs instantly and does not need a bot online or any permissions to read messages. For many small servers a keyword list and a mention limit already stop most trouble.
What it does not do
- It does not track a member across many channels, such as the same link posted in four places.
- It has no memory of past warnings or an escalation ladder.
- It does not watch who deletes channels or bans members.
That is where a bot fills in. See the comparison in AutoMod versus bot moderation.
AutoMod and Noxyr
The two work well together. Noxyr's anti-spam times out members who send too many messages, duplicates or mentions in a short window, with defaults of 6 messages in 8 seconds, 4 duplicates, 6 mentions and a 10 minute timeout. Link filters delete invites to other servers and stop self-bot scam waves, warnings add a record and escalation, and anti-nuke watches destructive staff actions. Leave AutoMod on for keywords and run Noxyr for the rest. The raids page shows where each tool fits.
A simple starting setup
Create one keyword rule for your worst words and links, one mention limit of around five, and send alerts to a staff-only channel. Exempt your moderator role. Review the alerts for a week, then tighten or loosen. Blocking silently can hide how often a rule fires, so keep the alert channel on at first.
The same advice applies to server nukes: AutoMod will not catch them, so plan the other layers too.
Common questions
Does AutoMod need a bot?
No. It is built into Discord and works from Server Settings, AutoMod.
Can AutoMod time out members?
Yes. A rule can block the message, alert staff and apply a timeout.
Should I use AutoMod or a moderation bot?
Use both. AutoMod handles keywords and mentions. A bot adds warnings, link rules and anti-nuke.
