--- title: "Discord moderation: how to moderate your server, the complete guide · Orion Shield" description: "Rules, a moderation team, a sanction scale, AutoMod, logs and bots: everything you need to moderate a Discord server well, even when nobody is online." url: https://orion-shield.com/en/guides/how-to-moderate-discord-server language: en alternates: fr: https://orion-shield.com/guides/moderer-serveur-discord --- Guide # Discord moderation: how to moderate your server well A healthy server takes more than good intentions. You need clear rules, a team that sanctions the same way, and tools that take over when nobody is online. Here is how to organize the moderation of your Discord server. Published on October 25, 2026 ## Start with clear rules Good moderation starts before the first sanction: short, visible rules that apply to everyone. Post them in a dedicated channel. On a Community server, Discord can also ask new members to accept them before they can chat. - No insults, harassment or hate speech. - No spam, advertising or unsolicited links. - No NSFW content outside the channels meant for it. - The possible sanctions, and who decides them. ## Build a moderation team An active server needs moderators available when its members are around. A small trusted team is better than a long list of absent moderators. - Create a moderator role with only the permissions it needs: manage messages, time out, kick. - Keep the Administrator permission for very few people. - Require two-factor authentication for moderation actions. - Give the team a private channel to discuss difficult cases. - Agree on one sanction scale. ## A progressive sanction scale Sanction step by step, and always explain the reason to the member: a sanction that is understood is repeated less. - Warning: for a first, minor mistake, often enough. - Timeout: the member can’t chat or speak for a chosen time, up to 28 days. - Kick: the member leaves the server, but can come back with an invite. - Ban: the member can no longer come back to the server. ## Automate what can be automated Discord’s AutoMod filters keywords, mass mentions and messages that look like spam. It’s a good base, but it reads text without understanding the context of an insult, and it doesn’t read what’s inside an image. **With Orion Shield ·** Orion’s AI reads messages and images like a moderator: toxic and hateful messages, NSFW content, scam images, spam. Above your limit, the author is sanctioned automatically and receives a private message that explains the sanction. [Moderation →](https://orion-shield.com/en/discord-moderation-bot) ## Keep a record of every action Discord’s audit log lists what the team does, but it doesn’t keep the content of deleted messages. A logs channel, kept for staff, tells you what happened and why a member was sanctioned. **With Orion Shield ·** Orion’s logs are coloured by severity: alerts mention your notification roles, actions show the member and the sanction, the rest fits on one line. [Moderation →](https://orion-shield.com/en/discord-moderation-bot) ## Protect the server, not just moderate it Moderation handles how your members behave. But some threats need dedicated protections, because they move faster than any moderator. - Against raids: a suitable verification level, a captcha and an automatic raid mode. - Against hacked accounts: limited permissions and an anti-nuke. - Against scams: a filter that reads images, not just text. **With Orion Shield ·** Orion brings anti-raid, anti-nuke and anti-scam together with its moderation, all set in the same place with /settings. [Anti-raid →](https://orion-shield.com/en/anti-raid) ## Frequently asked questions How many moderators does a Discord server need? There is no set number. What matters is having a moderator available when the server is active. A moderation bot covers the rest of the time, especially at night. What is the maximum length of a timeout on Discord? A timeout can last up to 28 days. During that time, the member can’t send messages, react or speak in voice channels. Do I need a moderation bot on Discord? Once the server grows, yes. A moderation bot removes spam, insults and NSFW content around the clock, and leaves your team the decisions that need human judgement. ## Protection [**Moderation** Orion moderates your Discord server day and night: AI against toxic messages and NSFW, anti-spam, automatic sanctions and clear logs. Set up with /settings.](https://orion-shield.com/en/discord-moderation-bot) [**Anti-raid** Orion detects raids on Discord and turns raid mode on by itself. The captcha, the minimum account age and the anti-bot filter accounts that join in waves.](https://orion-shield.com/en/anti-raid) [**All guides** Raids, nukes, scams: how to recognize threats on Discord and protect your server and your members.](https://orion-shield.com/en/guides) ## Protect your server with Orion Anti-raid, anti-nuke, anti-scam and AI moderation: add Orion to your Discord server and set everything up with /settings. [Add bot](https://orion-shield.com/invite) [Discord Server →](https://discord.gg/BC3rE6f7GB)