How it works
The four-step detection and response pipeline
1
Honeyguard watches your server
Once added and configured, Honeyguard silently monitors all messages across every channel it has access to, checking against a set of detection rules.
2
Suspicious content is scored
Messages are analysed and assigned a threat score. Signals like scam links, fake Nitro offers, invite spam, and suspicious keywords raise the score. Low scores may only log an event; high scores trigger immediate action.
3
An action is taken automatically
Depending on your configured thresholds, Honeyguard will warn, mute, kick, or ban the offending user — and optionally delete their message and log the event to a mod channel.
4
You stay in control
All settings — thresholds, actions, ignored roles, log channels — are managed from your server's dashboard. You can review every action Honeyguard has taken in the stats panel.
What Honeyguard detects
Threat categories monitored in real time
Invite spam
Unsolicited Discord invite links, especially when paired with scam keywords.
Nitro scams
Messages promising free Nitro, gifts, or airdrops — a common phishing vector.
Raid activity
Rapid joins and coordinated message floods from multiple new accounts.
Custom keywords
Add your own blocked phrases or patterns to catch server-specific issues.
Suspicious accounts
New or unverified accounts that match threat patterns get extra scrutiny.
Repeat offenders
Users who accumulate multiple low-score warnings are escalated automatically.
Available actions
What the bot can do when triggered
Ban
Permanent removal from the server
Kick
Removed but can rejoin
Mute
Timed or indefinite silence
Warn
DM or channel notice only
Log only
Record the event, no action
Required permissions
What the bot needs when invited
Read messages & history
Scan incoming messages
Manage messages
Delete flagged content
Manage roles
Apply mute roles
Kick members
Remove users when triggered
Ban members
Permanently remove users
Send messages
Post warnings and logs
Tips before you start
Recommended setup steps for new servers
Give Honeyguard a high role
Honeyguard can only act on members whose highest role is below its own. Place the Honeyguard role near the top of your role list — below admins, above everyone else.
Start with "log only" mode
When first setting up, set actions to log-only for a week so you can see what Honeyguard would have caught before enabling automatic bans or kicks.
Whitelist trusted roles
Add your mod, admin, and verified member roles to the ignore list so they are never caught by automated rules.
FAQ
Common questions about Honeyguard
Will Honeyguard catch legitimate messages?
Honeyguard uses a scoring system rather than a simple word blocklist. A single suspicious word won't automatically trigger action — multiple signals need to appear together. You can also whitelist trusted roles to ensure regular members are never incorrectly flagged.
Can I undo a ban or mute Honeyguard issued?
Yes. Honeyguard logs every action to your configured log channel with the reason and score. You can unban or unmute users manually from Discord as normal. Honeyguard won't re-flag a user you've manually cleared unless they trigger new rules.
Does Honeyguard read private messages?
No. Honeyguard only has access to server channels it can see. It cannot read DMs between users and will not monitor channels it lacks read permissions for.
What does "protection inactive" mean on my server card?
It means Honeyguard is in your server but protection has been turned off in your dashboard settings. The bot is present but not monitoring anything. Head to your server's settings page to re-enable it.
What's the difference between caught, banned, kicked, and muted?
Caught is the total number of messages or events Honeyguard flagged. Banned, kicked, and muted are the specific actions taken as a result. A single user could be caught multiple times before a ban is issued, which is why caught is always the highest number.
How do I add Honeyguard to a server I don't see listed?
You need Manage Server permission in the target server. If you have it but the server still isn't showing, use the Add to server button on any server card — it will prompt you to select the correct server in Discord's invite flow. Refresh the page after adding.