Discord Server Rules Templates

Writing rules from scratch is harder than it looks. Here are templates covering different server types — copy, paste, and customise.

Universal Base Template

This works for any server. Customise the specifics for your niche.

1. Be respectful Treat everyone with respect. No harassment, bullying, discrimination, or hate speech of any kind.

2. No spam or self-promotion Do not spam messages, images, or links. No advertising other servers or social media without permission.

3. Keep it appropriate No NSFW content outside of approved channels. This includes profile pictures, usernames, and status messages.

4. No harmful content Do not share malware, phishing links, IP grabbers, or illegal content of any kind.

5. No sensitive topics Avoid divisive political, religious, or controversial discussions unless there's a dedicated channel for it.

6. Use bots in the right channels Keep bot commands in #bot-commands.

7. Respect staff decisions If a moderator asks you to stop, stop. If you believe a decision is wrong, DM a senior staff member — don't argue publicly.

8. Use common sense If you think something might break a rule, it probably does.

Gaming Server Template

No toxicity — trash talk is fine but personal attacks are not
No cheating, hacking, or exploit discussion
Use #lfg to find teammates — don't beg in general chat
Spoilers go in #spoilers with a spoiler tag
No racism, homophobia, or slurs — ever, even 'jokingly'
Voice channels: no earrape, no soundboards without permission

Study Server Template

Stay on topic — keep study channels for studying
No sharing exam answers, paid resources, or copyright materials
Use threads for long questions to keep channels clean
Be patient — volunteers answer when they can
No spam — one message is enough, wait for a response
Encourage, don't discourage — we're all learning here

Tips for Writing Effective Rules

Keep them scannable: Use numbers and emojis. Walls of text get ignored.

Be specific, not vague: 'No bad behaviour' means nothing. 'No slurs, personal attacks, or doxxing' is enforceable.

State consequences: Members are more likely to follow rules when consequences are clear.

Review quarterly: As your community evolves, your rules should too.