What is the Discord AutoMod Rule Builder?
The Discord AutoMod Rule Builder helps you prepare and organize moderation rules for Discord's built-in AutoMod system. AutoMod automatically filters messages based on keywords, patterns, spam detection, and other criteria you define. This tool lets you build comprehensive keyword lists, configure response actions, and preview your rules before entering them into Discord's settings.
Discord's native AutoMod interface works well for simple rules, but managing large keyword lists, testing regex patterns, and planning complex moderation strategies benefits from a dedicated planning tool. Here you can compile extensive word lists, test pattern matches, define escalating responses, and export clean configurations ready to paste into Discord's Server Settings.
Effective auto-moderation reduces the burden on human moderators by catching obvious violations instantly. Slurs, spam links, excessive mentions, invite links, and other unwanted content can be blocked or flagged before other members see it, keeping your community safe while your moderators focus on nuanced situations that require human judgment.
How to Use This Tool
- Select a rule type: block specific words, prevent spam/excessive mentions, filter caps-heavy messages, or block invite links.
- For keyword rules, enter your blocked words and phrases. You can add wildcard patterns to catch variations and common misspellings that bad actors use to evade filters.
- Choose the automated response: delete the message, send a warning via DM, timeout the user, or alert moderators in a designated channel.
- Configure exempt roles and channels. Moderators and bot channels typically need exemptions to function properly.
- Preview the complete rule configuration, including all keywords and settings in a clean format.
- Copy the keyword list and settings to enter into Discord's AutoMod panel under Server Settings then Safety Setup then AutoMod.
Rule Types Explained
- Keyword blocking: matches exact words or wildcard patterns in messages. Discord supports asterisk wildcards for partial matching (e.g., *slur* catches variations).
- Spam prevention: limits mentions per message, detects repeated messages, and flags suspicious mass-messaging behavior.
- Caps filtering: detects messages with excessive capitalization that often indicate shouting or aggressive behavior.
- Invite blocking: automatically removes Discord invite links (discord.gg, discord.com/invite) to prevent advertising and member poaching.
- Regex patterns: advanced pattern matching for catching creative evasion tactics like letter substitution or special character insertion.
- Mention limits: prevents mention spam by limiting the number of unique user or role mentions allowed per message.
Tips for Effective AutoMod Rules
- Start with Discord's preset blocked word lists (profanity, slurs, sexual content) and add community-specific terms on top. The presets cover common offensive language across multiple languages.
- Use wildcard patterns carefully. Too broad a pattern (like blocking "ass" with wildcards) will also block words like "class," "assistant," and "pass." Test patterns against innocent words before deploying.
- Set up a moderator alert channel where AutoMod sends notifications. This lets your team review flagged messages and identify false positives that need rule adjustments.
- Implement graduated responses: first offense gets a warning, repeated violations get a timeout. Discord's AutoMod supports different response severities.
- Exempt your moderator roles and bot channels from all rules. Moderators need to discuss violations without triggering the filter, and bots may legitimately post content that matches patterns.
- Review and update your rules monthly. Bad actors constantly evolve their language to evade filters, so your keyword lists need regular maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many AutoMod rules can I create?
Discord allows up to 6 AutoMod rules per server: up to 3 keyword filter rules, 1 spam rule, 1 mention spam rule, and 1 member profile keyword rule. Each keyword rule supports up to 1000 keywords or patterns.
Does AutoMod work on edited messages?
Yes. Discord's AutoMod checks messages when they are sent AND when they are edited. If a user tries to edit a clean message to add blocked content, AutoMod will catch and act on the edit just as it would a new message.
Can I use regex in Discord AutoMod?
Yes, Discord supports regex patterns in keyword filter rules. You can add up to 10 regex patterns per rule. Regex is powerful for catching evasion techniques like letter substitutions, but complex patterns may impact performance. Keep patterns as simple as possible while still catching target content.
What happens when AutoMod blocks a message?
Depending on your configured response, blocked messages are either silently deleted (only the sender sees a notice), the user receives a DM explaining the violation, the user gets a temporary timeout, or moderators are alerted in a logging channel. You can combine multiple responses for a single rule.
How do I handle false positives?
Monitor your moderator alert channel for incorrectly flagged messages. When you find false positives, either add the innocent word to your rule's allow list, narrow your wildcard pattern to be more specific, or exempt the channel where false positives commonly occur if it has a legitimate reason for containing that content.