diff --git a/litecord/enums.py b/litecord/enums.py
index 78a394b..0d2c0c7 100644
--- a/litecord/enums.py
+++ b/litecord/enums.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import inspect
 from typing import List, Any
-from enum import Enum, IntEnum
+from enum import Enum, IntEnum, IntFlag
 
 
 class EasyEnum(Enum):
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class Flags:
         for attr, val in cls._attrs:
             has_attr = (value & val) == val
             # set attributes dynamically
-            setattr(res, f"is_{attr}", has_attr)
+            setattr(res, f"is_{attr.lower()}", has_attr)
 
         return res
 
@@ -247,3 +247,76 @@ class Feature(EasyEnum):
     # unknown
     commerce = "COMMERCE"
     news = "NEWS"
+
+
+class Intents(IntFlag):
+    GUILDS = 1 << 0
+    GUILD_MEMBERS = 1 << 1
+    GUILD_BANS = 1 << 2
+    GUILD_EMOJIS = 1 << 3
+    GUILD_INTEGRATIONS = 1 << 4
+    GUILD_WEBHOOKS = 1 << 5
+    GUILD_INVITES = 1 << 6
+    GUILD_VOICE_STATES = 1 << 7
+    GUILD_PRESENCES = 1 << 8
+    GUILD_MESSAGES = 1 << 9
+    GUILD_MESSAGE_REACTIONS = 1 << 10
+    GUILD_MESSAGE_TYPING = 1 << 11
+    DIRECT_MESSAGES = 1 << 12
+    DIRECT_MESSAGE_REACTIONS = 1 << 13
+    DIRECT_MESSAGE_TYPING = 1 << 14
+
+    @classmethod
+    def default(cls):
+        return cls(-1)
+
+
+EVENTS_TO_INTENTS = {
+    "GUILD_CREATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "GUILD_UPDATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "GUILD_DELETE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "GUILD_ROLE_CREATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "GUILD_ROLE_UPDATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "GUILD_ROLE_DELETE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "CHANNEL_CREATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "CHANNEL_UPDATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "CHANNEL_DELETE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "CHANNEL_PINS_UPDATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    # --- threads not supported --
+    "THREAD_CREATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "THREAD_UPDATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "THREAD_DELETE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "THREAD_LIST_SYNC": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "THREAD_MEMBER_UPDATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "THREAD_MEMBERS_UPDATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    # --- stages not supported --
+    "STAGE_INSTANCE_CREATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "STAGE_INSTANCE_UPDATE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "STAGE_INSTANCE_DELETE": Intents.GUILDS,
+    "GUILD_MEMBER_ADD": Intents.GUILD_MEMBERS,
+    "GUILD_MEMBER_UPDATE": Intents.GUILD_MEMBERS,
+    "GUILD_MEMBER_REMOVE": Intents.GUILD_MEMBERS,
+    # --- threads not supported --
+    "THREAD_MEMBERS_UPDATE ": Intents.GUILD_MEMBERS,
+    "GUILD_BAN_ADD": Intents.GUILD_BANS,
+    "GUILD_BAN_REMOVE": Intents.GUILD_BANS,
+    "GUILD_EMOJIS_UPDATE": Intents.GUILD_EMOJIS,
+    "GUILD_INTEGRATIONS_UPDATE": Intents.GUILD_INTEGRATIONS,
+    "INTEGRATION_CREATE": Intents.GUILD_INTEGRATIONS,
+    "INTEGRATION_UPDATE": Intents.GUILD_INTEGRATIONS,
+    "INTEGRATION_DELETE": Intents.GUILD_INTEGRATIONS,
+    "WEBHOOKS_UPDATE": Intents.GUILD_WEBHOOKS,
+    "INVITE_CREATE": Intents.GUILD_INVITES,
+    "INVITE_DELETE": Intents.GUILD_INVITES,
+    "VOICE_STATE_UPDATE": Intents.GUILD_VOICE_STATES,
+    "PRESENCE_UPDATE": Intents.GUILD_PRESENCES,
+    "MESSAGE_CREATE": Intents.GUILD_MESSAGES,
+    "MESSAGE_UPDATE": Intents.GUILD_MESSAGES,
+    "MESSAGE_DELETE": Intents.GUILD_MESSAGES,
+    "MESSAGE_DELETE_BULK": Intents.GUILD_MESSAGES,
+    "MESSAGE_REACTION_ADD": Intents.GUILD_MESSAGE_REACTIONS,
+    "MESSAGE_REACTION_REMOVE": Intents.GUILD_MESSAGE_REACTIONS,
+    "MESSAGE_REACTION_REMOVE_ALL": Intents.GUILD_MESSAGE_REACTIONS,
+    "MESSAGE_REACTION_REMOVE_EMOJI": Intents.GUILD_MESSAGE_REACTIONS,
+    "TYPING_START": Intents.GUILD_MESSAGE_TYPING,
+}
diff --git a/litecord/gateway/schemas.py b/litecord/gateway/schemas.py
index 4928a37..ed8d12a 100644
--- a/litecord/gateway/schemas.py
+++ b/litecord/gateway/schemas.py
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ from typing import Dict
 
 from logbook import Logger
 
-
 from litecord.gateway.errors import DecodeError
 from litecord.schemas import LitecordValidator
+from litecord.enums import Intents
 
 log = Logger(__name__)
 
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ IDENTIFY_SCHEMA = {
                 "large_threshold": {"type": "number", "required": False},
                 "shard": {"type": "list", "required": False},
                 "presence": {"type": "dict", "required": False},
+                "intents": {"coerce": Intents, "required": False},
             },
         }
     },
diff --git a/litecord/gateway/state.py b/litecord/gateway/state.py
index eb2925e..5a17532 100644
--- a/litecord/gateway/state.py
+++ b/litecord/gateway/state.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import os
 
 from typing import Optional
 from litecord.presence import BasePresence
+from litecord.enums import Intents
 
 
 def gen_session_id() -> str:
@@ -93,6 +94,7 @@ class GatewayState:
         self.compress: bool = kwargs.get("compress") or False
 
         self.large: int = kwargs.get("large") or 50
+        self.intents: Intents = kwargs["intents"]
 
     def __bool__(self):
         """Return if the given state is a valid state to be used."""
diff --git a/litecord/gateway/state_manager.py b/litecord/gateway/state_manager.py
index e464cfd..bbfdc2c 100644
--- a/litecord/gateway/state_manager.py
+++ b/litecord/gateway/state_manager.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from logbook import Logger
 
 from litecord.gateway.state import GatewayState
 from litecord.gateway.opcodes import OP
+from litecord.enums import Intents
 
 
 log = Logger(__name__)
@@ -174,6 +175,7 @@ class StateManager:
                         "game": None,
                         "since": 0,
                     },
+                    intents=Intents.default(),
                 )
 
                 states.append(dummy_state)
diff --git a/litecord/gateway/websocket.py b/litecord/gateway/websocket.py
index 8e58c28..a0a7fef 100644
--- a/litecord/gateway/websocket.py
+++ b/litecord/gateway/websocket.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ from logbook import Logger
 from quart import current_app as app
 
 from litecord.auth import raw_token_check
-from litecord.enums import RelationshipType, ChannelType, ActivityType
+from litecord.enums import RelationshipType, ChannelType, ActivityType, Intents
 from litecord.utils import (
     task_wrapper,
     yield_chunks,
@@ -56,8 +56,6 @@ from litecord.gateway.errors import (
 )
 from litecord.gateway.encoding import encode_json, decode_json, encode_etf, decode_etf
 from litecord.gateway.utils import WebsocketFileHandler
-from litecord.pubsub.guild import GuildFlags
-from litecord.pubsub.channel import ChannelFlags
 from litecord.gateway.schemas import (
     validate,
     IDENTIFY_SCHEMA,
@@ -101,6 +99,20 @@ def _complete_users_list(user_id: str, base_ready, user_ready) -> dict:
     return ready
 
 
+def calculate_intents(data) -> Intents:
+    intents_int = data.get("intents")
+    guild_subscriptions = data.get("guild_subscriptions")
+    if guild_subscriptions is False and intents_int is None:
+        intents_int = Intents(0)
+        intents_int |= Intents.GUILD_MESSAGE_TYPING
+        intents_int |= Intents.DIRECT_MESSAGE_TYPING
+        intents_int = ~intents_int
+    elif intents_int is None:
+        intents_int = Intents.default()
+
+    return Intents(intents_int)
+
+
 class GatewayWebsocket:
     """Main gateway websocket logic."""
 
@@ -460,7 +472,7 @@ class GatewayWebsocket:
 
         return list(filtered)
 
-    async def subscribe_all(self, guild_subscriptions: bool):
+    async def subscribe_all(self):
         """Subscribe to all guilds, DM channels, and friends.
 
         Note: subscribing to channels is already handled
@@ -494,11 +506,7 @@ class GatewayWebsocket:
         channel_ids: List[int] = []
 
         for guild_id in guild_ids:
-            await app.dispatcher.guild.sub_with_flags(
-                guild_id,
-                session_id,
-                GuildFlags(presence=guild_subscriptions, typing=guild_subscriptions),
-            )
+            await app.dispatcher.guild.sub(guild_id, session_id)
 
             # instead of calculating which channels to subscribe to
             # inside guild dispatcher, we calculate them in here, so that
@@ -515,9 +523,7 @@ class GatewayWebsocket:
 
         log.info("subscribing to {} guild channels", len(channel_ids))
         for channel_id in channel_ids:
-            await app.dispatcher.channel.sub_with_flags(
-                channel_id, session_id, ChannelFlags(typing=guild_subscriptions)
-            )
+            await app.dispatcher.channel.sub(channel_id, session_id)
 
         for dm_id in dm_ids:
             await app.dispatcher.channel.sub(dm_id, session_id)
@@ -668,6 +674,8 @@ class GatewayWebsocket:
         shard = data.get("shard", [0, 1])
         presence = data.get("presence") or {}
 
+        intents = calculate_intents(data)
+
         try:
             user_id = await raw_token_check(token, self.app.db)
         except (Unauthorized, Forbidden):
@@ -693,6 +701,7 @@ class GatewayWebsocket:
             large=large,
             current_shard=shard[0],
             shard_count=shard[1],
+            intents=intents,
         )
 
         self.state.ws = self
@@ -703,7 +712,7 @@ class GatewayWebsocket:
         settings = await self.user_storage.get_user_settings(user_id)
 
         await self.update_presence(presence, settings=settings)
-        await self.subscribe_all(data.get("guild_subscriptions", True))
+        await self.subscribe_all()
         await self.dispatch_ready(settings=settings)
 
     async def handle_3(self, payload: Dict[str, Any]):
diff --git a/litecord/pubsub/channel.py b/litecord/pubsub/channel.py
index 483b94f..9db8d7b 100644
--- a/litecord/pubsub/channel.py
+++ b/litecord/pubsub/channel.py
@@ -18,14 +18,13 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 """
 
 from typing import List
-from dataclasses import dataclass
 
 from quart import current_app as app
 from logbook import Logger
 
-from litecord.enums import ChannelType
+from litecord.enums import ChannelType, EVENTS_TO_INTENTS
 from litecord.utils import index_by_func
-from .dispatcher import DispatcherWithFlags, GatewayEvent
+from .dispatcher import DispatcherWithState, GatewayEvent
 
 log = Logger(__name__)
 
@@ -44,14 +43,7 @@ def gdm_recipient_view(orig: dict, user_id: int) -> dict:
     return data
 
 
-@dataclass
-class ChannelFlags:
-    typing: bool
-
-
-class ChannelDispatcher(
-    DispatcherWithFlags[int, str, GatewayEvent, List[str], ChannelFlags]
-):
+class ChannelDispatcher(DispatcherWithState[int, str, GatewayEvent, List[str]]):
     """Main channel Pub/Sub logic. Handles both Guild, DM, and Group DM channels."""
 
     async def dispatch(self, channel_id: int, event: GatewayEvent) -> List[str]:
@@ -69,14 +61,11 @@ class ChannelDispatcher(
                 await self.unsub(channel_id, session_id)
                 continue
 
-            try:
-                flags = self.get_flags(channel_id, session_id)
-            except KeyError:
-                log.warning("no flags for {!r}, ignoring", session_id)
-                flags = ChannelFlags(typing=True)
-
-            if event_type.lower().startswith("typing_") and not flags.typing:
-                continue
+            wanted_intent = EVENTS_TO_INTENTS.get(event_type)
+            if wanted_intent is not None:
+                state_has_intent = (state.intents & wanted_intent) == wanted_intent
+                if not state_has_intent:
+                    continue
 
             correct_event = event
             # for cases where we are talking about group dms, we create an edited
diff --git a/litecord/pubsub/dispatcher.py b/litecord/pubsub/dispatcher.py
index 376aea5..50e3ead 100644
--- a/litecord/pubsub/dispatcher.py
+++ b/litecord/pubsub/dispatcher.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ F_Map = Mapping[V, F]
 
 GatewayEvent = Tuple[str, Any]
 
-__all__ = ["Dispatcher", "DispatcherWithState", "DispatcherWithFlags", "GatewayEvent"]
+__all__ = ["Dispatcher", "DispatcherWithState", "GatewayEvent"]
 
 
 class Dispatcher(Generic[K, V, EventType, DispatchType]):
@@ -123,39 +123,3 @@ class DispatcherWithState(Dispatcher[K, V, EventType, DispatchType]):
             self.state.pop(key)
         except KeyError:
             pass
-
-
-class DispatcherWithFlags(
-    DispatcherWithState,
-    Generic[K, V, EventType, DispatchType, F],
-):
-    """Pub/Sub backend with both a state and a flags store."""
-
-    def __init__(self):
-        super().__init__()
-        self.flags: Mapping[K, Dict[V, F]] = defaultdict(dict)
-
-    def set_flags(self, key: K, identifier: V, flags: F):
-        """Set flags for the given identifier."""
-        self.flags[key][identifier] = flags
-
-    def remove_flags(self, key: K, identifier: V):
-        """Set flags for the given identifier."""
-        try:
-            self.flags[key].pop(identifier)
-        except KeyError:
-            pass
-
-    def get_flags(self, key: K, identifier: V):
-        """Get a single field from the flags store."""
-        return self.flags[key][identifier]
-
-    async def sub_with_flags(self, key: K, identifier: V, flags: F):
-        """Subscribe a user to the guild."""
-        await super().sub(key, identifier)
-        self.set_flags(key, identifier, flags)
-
-    async def unsub(self, key: K, identifier: V):
-        """Unsubscribe a user from the guild."""
-        await super().unsub(key, identifier)
-        self.remove_flags(key, identifier)
diff --git a/litecord/pubsub/guild.py b/litecord/pubsub/guild.py
index 3747b90..995837f 100644
--- a/litecord/pubsub/guild.py
+++ b/litecord/pubsub/guild.py
@@ -18,26 +18,34 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 """
 
 from typing import List
-from dataclasses import dataclass
 
 from quart import current_app as app
 from logbook import Logger
 
-from .dispatcher import DispatcherWithFlags, GatewayEvent
-from .channel import ChannelFlags
+from .dispatcher import DispatcherWithState, GatewayEvent
 from litecord.gateway.state import GatewayState
+from litecord.enums import EVENTS_TO_INTENTS
 
 log = Logger(__name__)
 
 
-@dataclass
-class GuildFlags(ChannelFlags):
-    presence: bool
+def can_dispatch(event_type, event_data, state) -> bool:
+    # If we're sending to the same user for this kind of event,
+    # bypass event logic (always send)
+    if event_type == "GUILD_MEMBER_UPDATE":
+        user_id = int(event_data["user"])
+        return user_id == state.user_id
+
+    # TODO Guild Create and Req Guild Members have specific
+    # logic regarding the presence intent.
+
+    wanted_intent = EVENTS_TO_INTENTS.get(event_type)
+    if wanted_intent is not None:
+        state_has_intent = (state.intents & wanted_intent) == wanted_intent
+        return state_has_intent
 
 
-class GuildDispatcher(
-    DispatcherWithFlags[int, str, GatewayEvent, List[str], GuildFlags]
-):
+class GuildDispatcher(DispatcherWithState[int, str, GatewayEvent, List[str]]):
     """Guild backend for Pub/Sub."""
 
     async def sub_user(self, guild_id: int, user_id: int) -> List[GatewayState]:
@@ -52,7 +60,7 @@ class GuildDispatcher(
     ):
         session_ids = self.state[guild_id]
         sessions: List[str] = []
-        event_type, _ = event
+        event_type, event_data = event
 
         for session_id in set(session_ids):
             if not filter_function(session_id):
@@ -68,13 +76,7 @@ class GuildDispatcher(
                 await self.unsub(guild_id, session_id)
                 continue
 
-            try:
-                flags = self.get_flags(guild_id, session_id)
-            except KeyError:
-                log.warning("no flags for {!r}, ignoring", session_id)
-                flags = GuildFlags(presence=True, typing=True)
-
-            if event_type.lower().startswith("presence_") and not flags.presence:
+            if not can_dispatch(event_type, event_data, state):
                 continue
 
             try: