If you‘re an avid Discord user, you‘ve likely encountered bots on servers before – those handy automated programs with the special "BOT" tag next to their name. But did you know it‘s possible for you to get that same bot tag on your own Discord account? By setting up a self-bot, you can effectively "become" a bot on your server, complete with the bot tag and API perks.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about getting the Discord bot tag in 2024. We‘ll explore what the bot tag means, why people use it, and most importantly, provide a step-by-step walkthrough on how to set up your own self-bot. Whether you‘re a curious tinkerer or an aspiring bot developer, this guide will help you safely harness the power of the bot tag. Let‘s dive in!
Understanding Discord Bots and the Bot Tag
Before we jump into the how-to, let‘s establish a clear understanding of Discord bots and the significance of the bot tag.
Discord bots are automated programs that can interact with Discord servers and users. They‘re commonly used to provide helpful utility functions, moderate chats, play music, host games, and more. As of 2024, there are over 430,000 Discord bots in existence, with the most popular ones being used on hundreds of thousands of servers (top.gg).
Source: Statista
One of the key identifiers of a Discord bot is the special "BOT" tag displayed next to its username. This tag distinguishes bot accounts from normal user accounts. Here‘s an example of what it looks like:
[Bot Name] BOT
This bot tag isn‘t just cosmetic – it also grants access to special bot-only features through the Discord API. For instance, bots can:
- Read messages in every channel (even without explicit read permissions)
- Use the special "Manage Webhooks" permission to send messages as other users
- Receive a full member list for servers with over 100K users
These elevated privileges are intended for official, approved Discord bot applications that are hosted continuously to provide useful services.
The Allure (and Risks) of Self-Bots
A self-bot refers to using a user account to run an automated bot, essentially mimicking the functionality and appearance of a real bot. People are drawn to self-botting for a few reasons:
- Pranking/trolling. The bot tag makes it look like an automated bot is chatting, not a real person.
- Exclusive features. Self-botters can tap into the special bot-only API perks on their own account.
- Novelty. Some users simply like the unique appearance of the bot tag on their profile.
However, self-bots come with some significant caveats:
- ToS violation. Using user accounts for botting is strictly against the Discord Developer Terms of Service. Self-botting puts your account at risk of being flagged or banned.
- Limited features. Self-bots can only use a subset of the Discord API compared to official bots. They also can‘t be in more than 100 servers.
- Security concerns. Granting your user account bot access permissions means that if your authentication token gets compromised, attackers have a higher level of control over your account.
So while self-botting may seem like an appealingly easy way to get the bot tag, it‘s crucial to understand the risks involved. We advise only pursuing self-botting for educational or testing purposes, not for active use in public servers.
Step-by-Step: How to Make a Self-Bot
With the precautions in mind, here‘s a step-by-step guide on how to set up your own Discord self-bot:
- Create a new Discord application.
- Go to the Discord Developer Portal and log in with your Discord account.
- Click the "New Application" button and give your app a name (this will be your bot‘s name).
- You‘ll be taken to the application‘s general info page. Here you can add a custom profile photo and description for your bot.
- Add a bot user to your application.
- Navigate to the "Bot" tab in the settings sidebar on the left.
- Click "Add Bot" to create a bot user associated with your application.
- Customize your bot‘s username and icon if desired.
- Copy your bot‘s token and client ID.
- In the "Bot" settings page, look for the "Token" section. This is your bot‘s authentication token that allows it to log in. Click "Copy" to save it somewhere secure. Never share this token publicly!
- Go to the "OAuth2 > General" page and copy the "Client ID" as well.
- Invite your bot to a server.
- Generate an invite link for your bot by inserting your Client ID into this url:
https://discord.com/oauth2/authorize?client_id=YOUR_CLIENT_ID&scope=bot&permissions=PERMISSION_INTEGER - Replace "YOUR_CLIENT_ID" with the Client ID you copied, and "PERMISSION_INTEGER" with the integer value of the permissions you want your bot to have (see this permissions calculator)
- Visit the generated URL to add your bot to a server you manage.
- Set up a bot client and log in.
- You‘ll need a separate program to run your self-bot from. We recommend using a pre-existing open source bot client for simplicity, like discord.js-selfbot-v13.
- Install and run the bot client, providing your bot token to log in.
- You should see your bot come online in the server, with the bot tag next to its name.
- Start chatting with your self-bot!
- With your self-bot online, try sending some messages in your server. They‘ll appear to come from your bot alter-ego.
- Experiment with the unique bot abilities, like using emojis from servers you‘re not in or mentioning/tagging users your account doesn‘t have access to.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Self-Bot
Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind as you set up and use your self-bot:
- Keep your token safe. Your bot token is the key to controlling your account. Avoid hardcoding it in scripts or sharing it publicly. Consider using environment variables or config files.
- Don‘t spam or troll. Using a self-bot to spam or harass others is not only immature, but can quickly get your account banned. Be responsible with your bot abilities.
- Check your invite link. If your bot doesn‘t show up after adding it with your invite link, double check that you set the correct client ID and bot permissions.
- Customize your bot. You can make your self-bot stand out by giving it a unique username, avatar, and even an "About Me" description in its profile.
- Learn more about bots. If you‘re interested in legit bot development, join bot developer communities like the Discord API server. Read the official Discord bot documentation to learn what‘s possible.
Conclusion
Getting the Discord bot tag through self-botting is a neat trick that can enable some fun possibilities, but it‘s not without risks. Self-bots exist in a gray area and are explicitly against Discord‘s terms.
If you do choose to experiment with a self-bot, be smart about it. Use it for harmless entertainment or educational purposes, not disruptive trolling. And above all, protect your account security by keeping your bot token private.
For most users, it‘s safer and more practical to use normal Discord bots made by trusted developers to get that bot experience. But if you venture into self-bot territory, you now have a roadmap to get that coveted bot tag. Use your bot powers wisely!
