This guide summarizes an n8n workflow that powers a Discord AI chatbot. The bot listens to messages in selected Discord channels, forwards them to n8n, generates AI replies, and posts responses as threads under the original messages.

Architecture Flow Diagram

On New Discord Message Event
Discord Bot Event Listener (Python) - captures messages and sends them to the n8n webhook
n8n Workflow
- Webhook (to receive events from #2)
- AI Agent Node
- Discord Send Message Response
Discord Receives Message Response

Prerequisites

Install n8n - https://docs.n8n.io/hosting/

1. Create a Discord Bot

Create an application in the Discord Developer Portal.
Reset and save the Bot Token.
Enable privileged intents (Presence, Server Members, Message Content).
Invite the bot to your server with required permissions.

2. Deploy the Discord Bot Event Listener (Python)

Clone https://github.com/TheRealMarcusChiu/discord-ai-chatbot

Install python dependencies (discord, python-dotenv):

pip install -r requirements.txt

Create .env file with:

WEBHOOK_URL=http://<your-n8n-domain>/webhook/getmessage
TOKEN=<discord-bot-token>

In main.py configure the bot to listen only to allowed channel IDs:

LISTEN_CHANNELS = [1465958965824192625, 1465958965824192625]  # Replace with your target channel IDs

Run the Discord Bot Event Listener:

python main.py

3. Run Discord Bot Event Listener 24/7

Exit out of python main.py.

Copy SystemD discord-bot.service file to /etc/systemd/system directory:

sudo cp discord-bot.service /etc/systemd/system/

Reload SystemD and start the Python Bot:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable discord-bot.service
sudo systemctl start discord-bot.service

Verify:

sudo systemctl status discord-bot.service
sudo journalctl -u discord-bot.service -f

3. n8n Workflow

You may import this JSON file into your n8n server

Webhook - receives Discord message events
Chat Agent - conversational agent with concise response constraints
Language Model - example uses ollama
Simple Memory - rememebers chat history
Tools - ptional tools (extendable with search, lookups, etc.).
Discord Response: Posts AI replies as threads linked to the original message.

Once, configured SAVE and PUBLISH the workflow!

4. Testing

Start the Discord bot.
Activate the n8n workflow.
Send a message in an allowed channel.
Confirm the AI reply appears as a thread.

Result

A reliable, context-aware Discord AI chatbot that runs continuously for seamless user interactions. 🚀