Civitai + comfyui-mcp

comfyui-mcp has native Civitai search built in — download_model action:"search_civitai" — plus the local half of the loop: download, wire, queue, tag. The full flow (find → install → generate) needs no other server, no API key, and works on EVERY backend, including small local models behind the compact router.

The built-in flow (default path)

download_model({ action: "search_civitai", query, types: ["LORA"], base_models: ["Flux.1 D"] })
        │                    each hit: model_id · model_version_id · trigger words
        ▼
download_model({ action: "download_civitai", model_version_id, target_subfolder: "loras" })
        │
        ▼
list_local_models({ action: "list" })  →  panel_add_node loader / generate_image   # use it

• ALWAYS filter base_models when the user's checkpoint family is known — a Flux LoRA will not load on an SDXL checkpoint (see model-compatibility). CivitAI labels: Flux.1 D, SDXL 1.0, SD 1.5, Pony, Illustrious, Wan Video.
• target_subfolder must match the model type: checkpoints, loras, vae, controlnet, embeddings, upscale_models, …
• Results are SFW-only by default (nsfw: true to opt in).
• Each hit carries trigger words — put them in the prompt after installing.
• Prefer model_version_id over model_id — a Civitai page can list several versions and the user usually means a specific one.

API key (optional). Search needs none. CIVITAI_API_TOKEN (from civitai.com/user/account) unlocks gated/early-access downloads and gated search results — set it once (panel Settings › "Set CivitAI token…" or env).

Recipes

"Find me a good anime LoRA for Flux and install it"

1. download_model({ action: "search_civitai", query: "anime style", types: ["LORA"], base_models: ["Flux.1 D"] }).
2. Present the top 3–5 with name, creator, base model, downloads, and the version id. Let the user pick.
3. download_model({ action: "download_civitai", model_version_id, target_subfolder: "loras" }).
4. In the panel: panel_add_node a LoraLoader, panel_set_widget the lora_name, wire it between checkpoint and sampler — and use the hit's trigger words in the prompt. Headless: generate_image(action="image") / build the workflow.

"Download this Civitai page for me" (user pastes a URL)

• Parse the modelVersionId from the URL if present; otherwise pass the model id from the URL to action:"download_civitai" (it resolves the latest version). A raw civitai.com/api/download/... URL also works via action:"download" with CIVITAI_API_TOKEN set.

Optional: the official Civitai MCP (community surface)

For features beyond search→install — browsing example images and their generation params, collections, posting, reviews, bounties — pair the official remote server (no longer auto-bundled; add it once):

claude mcp add --transport http civitai https://mcp.civitai.com/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_CIVITAI_API_KEY"

Then mcp__civitai__* tools appear alongside comfyui-mcp's. Its discovery results hand off identically (modelVersions[].id → action:"download_civitai").

Boundaries: that server also exposes write/social tools (post, comment, review, DM, follow). Those publish on the user's behalf — surface what you're about to post and get an explicit yes first. This skill is about discovery → local install → generation; don't post or message without being asked.

See also

• model-registry — curated direct download URLs (HF + Civitai notes)
• model-compatibility — base-model / VAE / CLIP pairing (why a LoRA won't load)
• prompt-engineering — Civitai image params are a prompt goldmine

Sources

• Official: Civitai REST API https://civitai.com/api/v1 and Civitai MCP https://mcp.civitai.com/mcp
• Empirical: find→install→generate wiring is comfyui-mcp product guidance, not Civitai's prompting docs.