$wait is a simple but essential function for introducing timed delays in command execution. It suspends the command for the exact duration specified, then resumes on the next line.

How It Works

1. $wait[duration] is encountered during execution.
2. The command pauses for the specified duration.
3. After the delay, execution continues with the next line.

All variables, scopes, and states are preserved during the wait. The delay is applied server-side and does not consume resources on the client.

Duration Format

Format	Example	Meaning
Seconds	1s, 10s, 2s	Exactly N seconds
Milliseconds	500ms, 100ms, 2000ms	Exactly N milliseconds
Minutes	1m, 2m	Exactly N minutes
Default (no suffix)	3	Treated as “3s” (seconds)

The default unit when no suffix is provided is seconds. $wait[3] is equivalent to $wait[3s].

Important: Use with $defer

If your command uses $wait and the total execution time may exceed Discord’s 3-second interaction timeout, you must call $defer before any $wait:

$defer
$wait[5s]
$sendMessage[Done after 5 seconds.]

Without $defer, Discord will show “This interaction failed” because no response was sent within the 3-second window.

When to Use

• Sequential messaging: Send multiple messages with delays between them.
• Countdowns: Create a countdown effect with multiple $wait and $sendMessage calls.
• Rate limiting simulation: Slow down automated processes.
• UI pacing: Make bot responses feel more natural by introducing human-like delays.

When Not to Use

• Waiting for user input: Use $awaitFunc instead — it resumes on an actual event rather than a fixed timer.
• Cooldown enforcement: Use $cooldown instead — it persists across command invocations.
• Long delays (>15 minutes): Discord interaction tokens expire, so very long waits may fail. Use alternative approaches like scheduled tasks or workflows.