diff --git a/bin/cli b/bin/cli
index b61c529c5..314f33dd4 100755
--- a/bin/cli
+++ b/bin/cli
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ program
   .command('token', 'work with the access tokens')
   .command('users', 'work with the application auth')
   .command('migration', 'provides utilities for migrating the database')
-  .command('verify', 'provides utilities for performing data verification')
   .command(
     'plugins',
     'provides utilities for interacting with the plugin system'
diff --git a/bin/cli-migration b/bin/cli-migration
index ca93360ad..63e16f97f 100755
--- a/bin/cli-migration
+++ b/bin/cli-migration
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
  */
 
 const util = require('./util');
+const _ = require('lodash');
 const program = require('commander');
 const inquirer = require('inquirer');
 const mongoose = require('../services/mongoose');
@@ -25,46 +26,60 @@ async function createMigration(name) {
   }
 }
 
-async function runMigrations() {
+async function runMigrations(options) {
+  const { yes, queryBatchSize, updateBatchSize } = options;
   try {
-    let { backedUp } = await inquirer.prompt([
-      {
-        type: 'confirm',
-        name: 'backedUp',
-        message: 'Did you perform a database backup',
-        default: false,
-      },
-    ]);
+    if (!yes) {
+      const { backedUp } = await inquirer.prompt([
+        {
+          type: 'confirm',
+          name: 'backedUp',
+          message: 'Did you perform a database backup',
+          default: false,
+        },
+      ]);
 
-    if (!backedUp) {
-      throw new Error(
-        'Please backup your databases prior to migrations occuring'
-      );
+      if (!backedUp) {
+        throw new Error(
+          'Please backup your databases prior to migrations occuring'
+        );
+      }
     }
 
     // Get the migrations to run.
-    let migrations = await MigrationService.listPending();
+    const migrations = await MigrationService.listPending();
 
     console.log('Now going to run the following migrations:\n');
 
-    for (let { filename } of migrations) {
+    for (const { filename } of migrations) {
       console.log(`\tmigrations/${filename}`);
     }
 
-    let { confirm } = await inquirer.prompt([
-      {
-        type: 'confirm',
-        name: 'confirm',
-        message: 'Proceed with migrations',
-        default: false,
-      },
-    ]);
+    if (!yes) {
+      const { confirm } = await inquirer.prompt([
+        {
+          type: 'confirm',
+          name: 'confirm',
+          message: 'Proceed with migrations',
+          default: false,
+        },
+      ]);
 
-    if (confirm) {
-      // Run the migrations.
-      await MigrationService.run(migrations);
+      if (confirm) {
+        // Run the migrations.
+        await MigrationService.run(migrations, {
+          queryBatchSize,
+          updateBatchSize,
+        });
+      } else {
+        console.warn('Skipping migrations');
+      }
     } else {
-      console.warn('Skipping migrations');
+      // Run the migrations.
+      await MigrationService.run(migrations, {
+        queryBatchSize,
+        updateBatchSize,
+      });
     }
 
     util.shutdown();
@@ -83,8 +98,25 @@ program
   .description('creates a new migration')
   .action(createMigration);
 
+// Bypasses issue that defaults + coercion doesn't work well together.
+// Ref: https://github.com/tj/commander.js/issues/400#issuecomment-310860869
+const parse10 = _.ary(_.partialRight(parseInt, 10), 1);
+
 program
   .command('run')
+  .option(
+    '-q, --query-batch-size <n>',
+    'change the size of queried documents that are batched at a time',
+    parse10,
+    10000
+  )
+  .option(
+    '-u, --update-batch-size <n>',
+    'change the size of documents that are batched before the update is sent',
+    parse10,
+    20000
+  )
+  .option('-y, --yes', 'will answer yes to all questions')
   .description('runs all pending migrations')
   .action(runMigrations);
 
diff --git a/bin/cli-setup b/bin/cli-setup
index b0f5e2efa..282a8a2d7 100755
--- a/bin/cli-setup
+++ b/bin/cli-setup
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ const MODERATION_OPTIONS = require('../models/enum/moderation_options');
 const SettingsService = require('../services/settings');
 const SetupService = require('../services/setup');
 const UsersService = require('../services/users');
+const MigrationService = require('../services/migration');
 const errors = require('../errors');
 
 // Register the shutdown criteria.
@@ -51,6 +52,12 @@ const performSetup = async () => {
   if (program.defaults) {
     await SettingsService.init();
 
+    // Get the migrations to run.
+    let migrations = await MigrationService.listPending();
+
+    // Perform all migrations.
+    await MigrationService.run(migrations);
+
     console.log('Settings created.');
     console.log('\nTalk is now installed!');
 
@@ -194,7 +201,7 @@ const performSetup = async () => {
   );
 };
 
-// Start tthe setup process.
+// Start the setup process.
 performSetup()
   .then(() => {
     util.shutdown();
diff --git a/bin/cli-verify b/bin/cli-verify
deleted file mode 100755
index e32c7d169..000000000
--- a/bin/cli-verify
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,58 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env node
-
-/**
- * Module dependencies.
- */
-
-const util = require('./util');
-const program = require('commander');
-const mongoose = require('../services/mongoose');
-const databaseVerifications = require('./verifications/database');
-
-// Register the shutdown criteria.
-util.onshutdown([() => mongoose.disconnect()]);
-
-async function database({ fix = false, limit = Infinity, batch = 1000 }) {
-  try {
-    for (const verification of databaseVerifications) {
-      await verification({ fix, limit, batch });
-    }
-  } catch (err) {
-    console.error(
-      `Failed to process all the ${databaseVerifications.length} verifications`,
-      err
-    );
-    util.shutdown(1);
-    return;
-  }
-
-  util.shutdown();
-}
-
-//==============================================================================
-// Setting up the program command line arguments.
-//==============================================================================
-
-program
-  .command('db')
-  .description('verifies the database integrity')
-  .option('-f, --fix', 'fix the problems found with database inconsistencies')
-  .option(
-    '-l, --limit [size]',
-    'limit the amount of documents to process in a single pass, this will ensure only a maximum number of batch operations are issued [default: inf]',
-    parseInt
-  )
-  .option(
-    '-b, --batch [size]',
-    'batch size to process verifications and repairs of documents [default: 1000]',
-    parseInt
-  )
-  .action(database);
-
-program.parse(process.argv);
-
-// If there is no command listed, output help.
-if (!process.argv.slice(2).length) {
-  program.outputHelp();
-  util.shutdown();
-}
diff --git a/docs/_docs/06-01-migrating-4.md b/docs/_docs/06-01-migrating-4.md
index b66921cf0..c8af6844d 100644
--- a/docs/_docs/06-01-migrating-4.md
+++ b/docs/_docs/06-01-migrating-4.md
@@ -40,28 +40,6 @@ documents rather than performing a nice table alter. If the process crashes
 during the migration, simply re-run it. The migration operations are designed
 to act atomically, and be idempotent to documents already updated.
 
-## Database Verifications
-
-In `v3.*`, we introduced the concept of "verifying the database". Some of our
-operations update cached values that live along side the original document to
-improve performance. Running the cli command for verifying the database's cache
-ensures that all the cached values are up to date.
-
-Running the following will start the database verification process:
-
-```bash
-./bin/cli verify db --fix
-```
-You can notice the `--fix` option, without it, the tool should instead perform
-a dry run of the operations it intends to perform.
-{: .code-aside}
-
-This process, like the migration process, should take some time to complete on
-large databases.
-
-Once you have updated your databases, that's all you have to do! Talk should now
-function even better and faster with all the new features we poured into v4.0.0!
-
 ## Template Change
 
 In `v4.0.0`, we introduced extensive support for compressing our javascript
diff --git a/migrations/1496771633_tags.js b/migrations/1496771633_tags.js
index b21ff671e..6893a5c47 100644
--- a/migrations/1496771633_tags.js
+++ b/migrations/1496771633_tags.js
@@ -1,65 +1,38 @@
 const CommentModel = require('../models/comment');
 
-module.exports = {
-  async up() {
-    // Find all comments that have tags.
-    let comments = await CommentModel.aggregate([
-      {
-        $match: {
-          tags: {
-            $exists: true,
-            $ne: [],
-          },
-        },
-      },
-      {
-        $project: {
-          id: true,
-          tags: true,
-        },
-      },
-    ]);
+// OLD
+//
+// [
+//   {
+//     name: 'OFF_TOPIC',
+//     assigned_by: '',
+//     created_at: new Date()
+//   }
+// ]
 
-    // If no comments were found, nothing needs to be done!
-    if (comments.length <= 0) {
-      return;
-    }
-
-    const updates = [];
-
-    // Loop over the comments retrieved, updating the tag structure.
-    for (let { id, tags } of comments) {
-      // OLD
-      //
-      // [
-      //   {
-      //     name: 'OFF_TOPIC',
-      //     assigned_by: '',
-      //     created_at: new Date()
-      //   }
-      // ]
-
-      // NEW
-      //
-      // [
-      //   {
-      //     tag: {
-      //       name: 'OFF_TOPIC',
-      //       permissions: {
-      //         public: true,
-      //         self: false,
-      //         roles: []
-      //       },
-      //       models: ['COMMENTS'],
-      //       created_at: new Date()
-      //     },
-      //     assigned_by: '',
-      //     created_at: new Date()
-      //   }
-      // ]
-
-      // Remap the tag structure.
-      tags = tags.map(({ name, assigned_by, created_at }) => ({
+// NEW
+//
+// [
+//   {
+//     tag: {
+//       name: 'OFF_TOPIC',
+//       permissions: {
+//         public: true,
+//         self: false,
+//         roles: []
+//       },
+//       models: ['COMMENTS'],
+//       created_at: new Date()
+//     },
+//     assigned_by: '',
+//     created_at: new Date()
+//   }
+// ]
+const transformTags = ({ id, tags }) => ({
+  query: { id },
+  update: {
+    $set: {
+      tags: tags.map(({ name, assigned_by, created_at }) => ({
         tag: {
           name,
           permissions: {
@@ -72,22 +45,34 @@ module.exports = {
         },
         assigned_by,
         created_at,
-      }));
+      })),
+    },
+  },
+});
 
-      updates.push({ query: { id }, update: { $set: { tags } } });
-    }
+module.exports = {
+  async up({ transformSingleWithCursor }) {
+    // Find all comments that have tags.
+    const cursor = CommentModel.collection.aggregate(
+      [
+        {
+          $match: {
+            tags: {
+              $exists: true,
+              $ne: [],
+            },
+          },
+        },
+        {
+          $project: {
+            id: true,
+            tags: true,
+          },
+        },
+      ],
+      { allowDiskUse: true }
+    );
 
-    if (updates.length > 0) {
-      // Create a new batch operation.
-      let batch = CommentModel.collection.initializeUnorderedBulkOp();
-
-      for (const { query, update } of updates) {
-        // Execute the batch operation.
-        batch.find(query).updateOne(update);
-      }
-
-      // Execute the batch update operation.
-      await batch.execute();
-    }
+    await transformSingleWithCursor(cursor, transformTags, CommentModel);
   },
 };
diff --git a/migrations/1507310316_flags.js b/migrations/1507310316_flags.js
index d29a2c25b..1ff3b4248 100644
--- a/migrations/1507310316_flags.js
+++ b/migrations/1507310316_flags.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ const mapping = {
 };
 
 module.exports = {
-  async up() {
+  async up({ processManyUpdates }) {
     const updates = [];
     for (const item_type in mapping) {
       const mappings = mapping[item_type];
@@ -44,15 +44,7 @@ module.exports = {
     }
 
     if (updates.length > 0) {
-      // Setup the batch operation.
-      const batch = ActionModel.collection.initializeUnorderedBulkOp();
-
-      for (const { query, update } of updates) {
-        batch.find(query).update(update);
-      }
-
-      // Execute the batch update operation.
-      await batch.execute();
+      await processManyUpdates(ActionModel, updates);
     }
   },
 };
diff --git a/migrations/1510174676_user_status.js b/migrations/1510174676_user_status.js
index b3d7c0984..80271557b 100644
--- a/migrations/1510174676_user_status.js
+++ b/migrations/1510174676_user_status.js
@@ -1,60 +1,132 @@
 const UserModel = require('../models/user');
 const merge = require('lodash/merge');
 
-const getUserBatch = async () => {
-  let query = {
-    status: {
-      $in: ['ACTIVE', 'BANNED', 'PENDING', 'APPROVED'],
+const transformUser = user => {
+  const created_at = Date.now();
+
+  const { id, status, canEditName, suspension, disabled } = user;
+
+  let update = {
+    $unset: {
+      canEditName: '',
+      suspension: '',
+      disabled: '',
+    },
+    $set: {
+      status: {
+        // The username status is specific to each case.
+        username: {
+          history: [],
+        },
+
+        // The user is not banned by default.
+        banned: {
+          status: false,
+          history: [],
+        },
+
+        // The user is not suspended by default.
+        suspension: {
+          until: null,
+          history: [],
+        },
+      },
+      updated_at: created_at,
     },
   };
 
-  // Find all the users that need migrating.
-  return UserModel.collection.find(query);
-};
-
-module.exports = {
-  async up() {
-    const created_at = Date.now();
-
-    // Get the first batch of users.
-    let cursor = await getUserBatch();
-
-    const updates = [];
-    while (await cursor.hasNext()) {
-      const user = await cursor.next();
-
-      const { id, status, canEditName, suspension, disabled } = user;
-
-      let update = {
-        $unset: {
-          canEditName: '',
-          suspension: '',
-          disabled: '',
+  if (disabled) {
+    update = merge(update, {
+      $set: {
+        status: {
+          banned: {
+            status: true,
+            history: [
+              {
+                status: true,
+                created_at,
+              },
+            ],
+          },
         },
-        $set: {
-          status: {
-            // The username status is specific to each case.
-            username: {
-              history: [],
-            },
+      },
+    });
+  }
 
-            // The user is not banned by default.
-            banned: {
-              status: false,
-              history: [],
-            },
+  // If the user has an "until" property of their suspension, then we need
+  // to reflect that in the new status object.
+  if (suspension && suspension.until !== null) {
+    update = merge(update, {
+      $set: {
+        status: {
+          suspension: {
+            until: suspension.until,
+            history: [
+              {
+                until: suspension.until,
+                created_at,
+              },
+            ],
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    });
+  }
 
-            // The user is not suspended by default.
-            suspension: {
-              until: null,
-              history: [],
+  switch (status) {
+    case 'ACTIVE':
+      if (canEditName) {
+        update = merge(update, {
+          $set: {
+            status: {
+              username: {
+                status: 'UNSET',
+                history: [
+                  {
+                    status: 'UNSET',
+                    created_at,
+                  },
+                ],
+              },
             },
           },
-          updated_at: created_at,
-        },
-      };
-
-      if (disabled) {
+        });
+      } else {
+        update = merge(update, {
+          $set: {
+            status: {
+              username: {
+                status: 'SET',
+                history: [
+                  {
+                    status: 'SET',
+                    created_at,
+                  },
+                ],
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        });
+      }
+      break;
+    case 'BANNED':
+      if (canEditName) {
+        update = merge(update, {
+          $set: {
+            status: {
+              username: {
+                status: 'REJECTED',
+                history: [
+                  {
+                    status: 'REJECTED',
+                    created_at,
+                  },
+                ],
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        });
+      } else {
         update = merge(update, {
           $set: {
             status: {
@@ -67,22 +139,11 @@ module.exports = {
                   },
                 ],
               },
-            },
-          },
-        });
-      }
-
-      // If the user has an "until" property of their suspension, then we need
-      // to reflect that in the new status object.
-      if (suspension && suspension.until !== null) {
-        update = merge(update, {
-          $set: {
-            status: {
-              suspension: {
-                until: suspension.until,
+              username: {
+                status: 'SET',
                 history: [
                   {
-                    until: suspension.until,
+                    status: 'SET',
                     created_at,
                   },
                 ],
@@ -91,138 +152,57 @@ module.exports = {
           },
         });
       }
-
-      switch (status) {
-        case 'ACTIVE':
-          if (canEditName) {
-            update = merge(update, {
-              $set: {
-                status: {
-                  username: {
-                    status: 'UNSET',
-                    history: [
-                      {
-                        status: 'UNSET',
-                        created_at,
-                      },
-                    ],
-                  },
-                },
-              },
-            });
-          } else {
-            update = merge(update, {
-              $set: {
-                status: {
-                  username: {
-                    status: 'SET',
-                    history: [
-                      {
-                        status: 'SET',
-                        created_at,
-                      },
-                    ],
-                  },
-                },
-              },
-            });
-          }
-          break;
-        case 'BANNED':
-          if (canEditName) {
-            update = merge(update, {
-              $set: {
-                status: {
-                  username: {
-                    status: 'REJECTED',
-                    history: [
-                      {
-                        status: 'REJECTED',
-                        created_at,
-                      },
-                    ],
-                  },
-                },
-              },
-            });
-          } else {
-            update = merge(update, {
-              $set: {
-                status: {
-                  banned: {
-                    status: true,
-                    history: [
-                      {
-                        status: true,
-                        created_at,
-                      },
-                    ],
-                  },
-                  username: {
-                    status: 'SET',
-                    history: [
-                      {
-                        status: 'SET',
-                        created_at,
-                      },
-                    ],
-                  },
-                },
-              },
-            });
-          }
-          break;
-        case 'PENDING':
-          update = merge(update, {
-            $set: {
-              status: {
-                username: {
+      break;
+    case 'PENDING':
+      update = merge(update, {
+        $set: {
+          status: {
+            username: {
+              status: 'CHANGED',
+              history: [
+                {
                   status: 'CHANGED',
-                  history: [
-                    {
-                      status: 'CHANGED',
-                      created_at,
-                    },
-                  ],
+                  created_at,
                 },
-              },
+              ],
             },
-          });
-          break;
-        case 'APPROVED':
-          update = merge(update, {
-            $set: {
-              status: {
-                username: {
+          },
+        },
+      });
+      break;
+    case 'APPROVED':
+      update = merge(update, {
+        $set: {
+          status: {
+            username: {
+              status: 'APPROVED',
+              history: [
+                {
                   status: 'APPROVED',
-                  history: [
-                    {
-                      status: 'APPROVED',
-                      created_at,
-                    },
-                  ],
+                  created_at,
                 },
-              },
+              ],
             },
-          });
-          break;
-        default:
-          throw new Error(`${status} is an invalid status`);
-      }
+          },
+        },
+      });
+      break;
+    default:
+      throw new Error(`${status} is an invalid status`);
+  }
 
-      updates.push({ query: { id }, update });
-    }
+  return { query: { id }, update };
+};
 
-    if (updates.length > 0) {
-      // Create a new batch operation.
-      let bulk = UserModel.collection.initializeUnorderedBulkOp();
+module.exports = {
+  async up({ transformSingleWithCursor }) {
+    // Get the first batch of users.
+    const cursor = UserModel.collection.find({
+      status: {
+        $in: ['ACTIVE', 'BANNED', 'PENDING', 'APPROVED'],
+      },
+    });
 
-      for (const { query, update } of updates) {
-        bulk.find(query).updateOne(update);
-      }
-
-      // Execute the bulk update operation.
-      await bulk.execute();
-    }
+    await transformSingleWithCursor(cursor, transformUser, UserModel);
   },
 };
diff --git a/migrations/1511801783_user_roles.js b/migrations/1511801783_user_roles.js
index 08a0a1abc..961a696e2 100644
--- a/migrations/1511801783_user_roles.js
+++ b/migrations/1511801783_user_roles.js
@@ -13,18 +13,16 @@ const findNewRole = roles => {
 };
 
 module.exports = {
-  async up() {
-    const cursor = await UserModel.collection.find({
+  async up({ transformSingleWithCursor }) {
+    const cursor = UserModel.collection.find({
       roles: {
         $exists: true,
       },
     });
 
-    const updates = [];
-    while (await cursor.hasNext()) {
-      const user = await cursor.next();
-
-      updates.push({
+    await transformSingleWithCursor(
+      cursor,
+      user => ({
         query: {
           id: user.id,
         },
@@ -38,19 +36,8 @@ module.exports = {
             roles: '',
           },
         },
-      });
-    }
-
-    if (updates.length > 0) {
-      // Create a new batch operation.
-      const bulk = UserModel.collection.initializeUnorderedBulkOp();
-
-      for (const { query, update } of updates) {
-        bulk.find(query).updateOne(update);
-      }
-
-      // Execute the bulk update operation.
-      await bulk.execute();
-    }
+      }),
+      UserModel
+    );
   },
 };
diff --git a/migrations/1516920154_action_counts.js b/migrations/1516920154_action_counts.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7558b5eb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/1516920154_action_counts.js
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+const ActionModel = require('../models/action');
+const UserModel = require('../models/user');
+const CommentModel = require('../models/comment');
+
+module.exports = {
+  async up({ transformSingleWithCursor }) {
+    const models = [
+      { Model: CommentModel, item_type: 'COMMENTS' },
+      { Model: UserModel, item_type: 'USERS' },
+    ];
+    for (const { Model, item_type } of models) {
+      let cursor = ActionModel.collection.aggregate(
+        [
+          {
+            $match: {
+              group_id: { $ne: null },
+              item_type,
+            },
+          },
+          {
+            $group: {
+              // group unique documents by these properties, we are leveraging the
+              // fact that each uuid is completely unique.
+              _id: {
+                item_id: '$item_id',
+                action_type: '$action_type',
+                group_id: '$group_id',
+              },
+
+              // and sum up all actions matching the above grouping criteria
+              count: {
+                $sum: 1,
+              },
+            },
+          },
+          {
+            $project: {
+              // suppress the _id field
+              _id: false,
+
+              // map the fields from the _id grouping down a level
+              item_id: '$_id.item_id',
+              action_type: { $toLower: '$_id.action_type' },
+              group_id: { $toLower: '$_id.group_id' },
+
+              // map the field directly
+              count: '$count',
+            },
+          },
+        ],
+        { allowDiskUse: true }
+      );
+
+      // Transform those documents.
+      await transformSingleWithCursor(
+        cursor,
+        ({ item_id, action_type, group_id, count }) => ({
+          query: { id: item_id },
+          update: {
+            $set: {
+              [`action_counts.${action_type}_${group_id}`]: count,
+            },
+          },
+        }),
+        Model
+      );
+
+      // Secondly, we'll collect the group group id's (all the actions for a
+      // specific action type) to update counts of.
+      cursor = ActionModel.collection.aggregate(
+        [
+          {
+            $match: {
+              item_type,
+            },
+          },
+          {
+            $group: {
+              // group unique documents by these properties, we are leveraging the
+              // fact that each uuid is completely unique.
+              _id: {
+                item_id: '$item_id',
+                action_type: '$action_type',
+              },
+
+              // and sum up all actions matching the above grouping criteria
+              count: {
+                $sum: 1,
+              },
+            },
+          },
+          {
+            $project: {
+              // suppress the _id field
+              _id: false,
+
+              // map the fields from the _id grouping down a level
+              item_id: '$_id.item_id',
+              action_type: { $toLower: '$_id.action_type' },
+
+              // map the field directly
+              count: '$count',
+            },
+          },
+        ],
+        { allowDiskUse: true }
+      );
+
+      // Transform those documents.
+      await transformSingleWithCursor(
+        cursor,
+        ({ item_id, action_type, count }) => ({
+          query: { id: item_id },
+          update: {
+            $set: {
+              [`action_counts.${action_type}`]: count,
+            },
+          },
+        }),
+        Model
+      );
+    }
+  },
+};
diff --git a/migrations/1516920160_reply_counts.js b/migrations/1516920160_reply_counts.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fc81bd912
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/1516920160_reply_counts.js
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+const CommentModel = require('../models/comment');
+
+const transformComments = ({ _id: parent_id, reply_count }) => ({
+  query: { id: parent_id, reply_count: { $ne: reply_count } },
+  update: { $set: { reply_count } },
+});
+
+module.exports = {
+  async up({ transformSingleWithCursor }) {
+    const cursor = CommentModel.collection.aggregate(
+      [
+        {
+          $match: {
+            parent_id: { $ne: null },
+            status: { $in: ['NONE', 'ACCEPTED'] },
+          },
+        },
+        {
+          $group: {
+            _id: '$parent_id',
+            reply_count: {
+              $sum: 1,
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      ],
+      { allowDiskUse: true }
+    );
+
+    // Transform those documents.
+    await transformSingleWithCursor(cursor, transformComments, CommentModel);
+  },
+};
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 17af19867..b3afdc9b6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
   },
   "talk": {
     "migration": {
-      "minVersion": 1511801783
+      "minVersion": 1516920160
     }
   },
   "repository": {
@@ -222,6 +222,10 @@
   },
   "pre-commit": {
     "silent": false,
-    "run": ["lint", "test:client", "test:server"]
+    "run": [
+      "lint",
+      "test:client",
+      "test:server"
+    ]
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/migration/helpers.js b/services/migration/helpers.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5eb33aadf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/migration/helpers.js
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+const debug = require('debug')('talk:services:migration');
+
+/**
+ * processUpdates processes batches of updates on the given model.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} model mongoose model that should perform the operations on
+ * @param {Array<Object>} updates array of updates to execute
+ */
+const processUpdates = async (model, updates) => {
+  // Create a new batch operation.
+  const bulk = model.collection.initializeUnorderedBulkOp();
+
+  for (const { query, update } of updates) {
+    bulk.find(query).updateOne(update);
+  }
+
+  // Execute the bulk update operation.
+  await bulk.execute();
+};
+
+const debugProcessStatistics = (count, totalCount) => {
+  if (totalCount > 0) {
+    debug(
+      `processed ${(count / totalCount * 100).toFixed(
+        2
+      )}% (${count}/${totalCount}) updates`
+    );
+  } else {
+    debug(`processed ${count} updates`);
+  }
+};
+
+const transformSingleWithCursor = ({
+  queryBatchSize,
+  updateBatchSize,
+}) => async (query, process, Model) => {
+  debug('starting transform');
+
+  // We'll manage the updates that we store inside this object.
+  let updates = [];
+
+  // Count the elements in the transformation.
+  let totalCount = 0;
+  try {
+    totalCount = await query.count();
+  } catch (err) {}
+
+  // First we'll collect all the individual actions with specific group id's.
+  const cursor = await query.batchSize(queryBatchSize);
+
+  let count = 0;
+  while (await cursor.hasNext()) {
+    const result = await cursor.next();
+
+    const transformed = await process(result);
+    if (transformed) {
+      updates.push(transformed);
+    }
+
+    if (updates.length > updateBatchSize) {
+      // Process the updates.
+      await processUpdates(Model, updates);
+      count += updates.length;
+      debugProcessStatistics(count, totalCount);
+
+      // Clear the updates array.
+      updates = [];
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (updates.length > 0) {
+    // Process the updates.
+    await processUpdates(Model, updates);
+    count += updates.length;
+    debugProcessStatistics(count, totalCount);
+
+    // Clear the updates array.
+    updates = [];
+  }
+
+  debug('finished transform');
+};
+
+/**
+ * processManyUpdates processes batches of updates on many models with the given
+ * model.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} model mongoose model that should perform the operations on
+ * @param {Array<Object>} updates array of updates to execute
+ */
+const processManyUpdates = async (model, updates) => {
+  // Create a new batch operation.
+  const bulk = model.collection.initializeUnorderedBulkOp();
+
+  for (const { query, update } of updates) {
+    bulk.find(query).update(update);
+  }
+
+  // Execute the bulk update operation.
+  await bulk.execute();
+};
+
+module.exports = ctx => ({
+  processManyUpdates,
+  processUpdates,
+  transformSingleWithCursor: transformSingleWithCursor(ctx),
+});
diff --git a/services/migration.js b/services/migration/index.js
similarity index 82%
rename from services/migration.js
rename to services/migration/index.js
index f8f09d469..e0da3cddf 100644
--- a/services/migration.js
+++ b/services/migration/index.js
@@ -1,17 +1,20 @@
-const MigrationModel = require('../models/migration');
+const MigrationModel = require('../../models/migration');
 const fs = require('fs');
+const ms = require('ms');
 const path = require('path');
 const Joi = require('joi');
 const debug = require('debug')('talk:services:migration');
 const sc = require('snake-case');
-const { talk: { migration: { minVersion } } } = require('../package.json');
+const helpers = require('./helpers');
+const { stripIndent } = require('common-tags');
+const { talk: { migration: { minVersion } } } = require('../../package.json');
 
-const migrationTemplate = `module.exports = {
-  async up() {
-    
-  }
-};
+const migrationTemplate = stripIndent`
+  module.exports = {
+    async up({ queryBatchSize, updateBatchSize }) {
 
+    }
+  };
 `;
 
 class MigrationService {
@@ -44,7 +47,7 @@ class MigrationService {
   static async listPending() {
     // Get all the migration files.
     let migrationFiles = fs.readdirSync(
-      path.join(__dirname, '..', 'migrations')
+      path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', 'migrations')
     );
 
     // Ensure that all migrations follow this format.
@@ -61,6 +64,7 @@ class MigrationService {
 
     // Parse the migrations from the file listing.
     let migrations = migrationFiles
+      .filter(filename => versionRe.test(filename))
       .map(filename => {
         // Parse the version from the filename.
         let matches = filename.match(versionRe);
@@ -75,7 +79,7 @@ class MigrationService {
         }
 
         // Read the migration from the filesystem.
-        let migration = require(`../migrations/${filename}`);
+        let migration = require(`../../migrations/${filename}`);
         Joi.assert(
           migration,
           migrationSchema,
@@ -109,17 +113,26 @@ class MigrationService {
    *
    * @param {Array} migrations a list of migrations returned by `listPending`
    */
-  static async run(migrations) {
+  static async run(
+    migrations,
+    { queryBatchSize = 10000, updateBatchSize = 20000 } = {}
+  ) {
     if (migrations.length === 0) {
       console.log('No migrations to run!');
       return;
     }
 
+    // Create the context helpers.
+    const ctx = helpers({ queryBatchSize, updateBatchSize });
+
     for (let { filename, version, migration } of migrations) {
       try {
+        const startTime = new Date();
         console.log(`Starting migration ${filename}`);
-        await migration.up();
-        console.log(`Finished migration ${filename}`);
+        await migration.up(ctx);
+        const endTime = new Date();
+        const totalTime = endTime.getTime() - startTime.getTime();
+        console.log(`Finished migration ${filename} in ${ms(totalTime)}`);
       } catch (e) {
         console.error(`Migration ${filename} failed`);
         throw e;
diff --git a/test/server/migrations/1510174676_user_status.js b/test/server/migrations/1510174676_user_status.js
index 8e1ceca5d..f9af655d8 100644
--- a/test/server/migrations/1510174676_user_status.js
+++ b/test/server/migrations/1510174676_user_status.js
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 const migration = require('../../../migrations/1510174676_user_status');
 const UserModel = require('../../../models/user');
+const helpers = require('../../../services/migration/helpers');
 
 const chai = require('chai');
 chai.use(require('chai-datetime'));
 const { expect } = chai;
 
+const performMigration = () =>
+  migration.up(helpers({ queryBatchSize: 100, updateBatchSize: 100 }));
+
 describe('migration.1510174676_user_status', () => {
   describe('active user', () => {
     beforeEach(async () => {
@@ -24,7 +28,7 @@ describe('migration.1510174676_user_status', () => {
       expect(user).to.have.property('canEditName', false);
 
       // Perform the migration.
-      await migration.up();
+      await performMigration();
 
       user = await UserModel.collection.findOne({ id: '123' });
 
@@ -54,7 +58,7 @@ describe('migration.1510174676_user_status', () => {
       expect(user).to.have.property('canEditName', true);
 
       // Perform the migration.
-      await migration.up();
+      await performMigration();
 
       user = await UserModel.collection.findOne({ id: '123' });
 
@@ -85,7 +89,7 @@ describe('migration.1510174676_user_status', () => {
       expect(user.canEditName).to.equal(true);
 
       // Perform the migration.
-      await migration.up();
+      await performMigration();
 
       user = await UserModel.collection.findOne({ id: '123' });
 
@@ -117,7 +121,7 @@ describe('migration.1510174676_user_status', () => {
       expect(user.canEditName).to.equal(false);
 
       // Perform the migration.
-      await migration.up();
+      await performMigration();
 
       user = await UserModel.collection.findOne({ id: '123' });
 
@@ -153,7 +157,7 @@ describe('migration.1510174676_user_status', () => {
       const until = user.suspension.until;
 
       // Perform the migration.
-      await migration.up();
+      await performMigration();
 
       user = await UserModel.collection.findOne({ id: '123' });
 
@@ -187,7 +191,7 @@ describe('migration.1510174676_user_status', () => {
       expect(user.status).to.equal('BANNED');
 
       // Perform the migration.
-      await migration.up();
+      await performMigration();
 
       user = await UserModel.collection.findOne({ id: '123' });
 
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 38f5963ec..d13397fee 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@
     to-fast-properties "^2.0.0"
 
 "@coralproject/eslint-config-talk@^0.1.0":
-  version "0.1.0"
-  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@coralproject/eslint-config-talk/-/eslint-config-talk-0.1.0.tgz#3ddc5f6fb4362a1cd05a5fea56cdb3095afc8cc3"
+  version "0.1.1"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@coralproject/eslint-config-talk/-/eslint-config-talk-0.1.1.tgz#71991b4937a3ffe657128d7f1170da4b5fb75c9e"
   dependencies:
     babel-eslint "^8.0.1"
     eslint-config-prettier "^2.9.0"
@@ -2507,7 +2507,13 @@ dns-prefetch-control@0.1.0:
   version "0.1.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/dns-prefetch-control/-/dns-prefetch-control-0.1.0.tgz#60ddb457774e178f1f9415f0cabb0e85b0b300b2"
 
-doctrine@^2.0.0, doctrine@^2.0.2:
+doctrine@^2.0.0:
+  version "2.1.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/doctrine/-/doctrine-2.1.0.tgz#5cd01fc101621b42c4cd7f5d1a66243716d3f39d"
+  dependencies:
+    esutils "^2.0.2"
+
+doctrine@^2.0.2:
   version "2.0.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/doctrine/-/doctrine-2.0.2.tgz#68f96ce8efc56cc42651f1faadb4f175273b0075"
   dependencies:
@@ -2746,7 +2752,7 @@ error-ex@^1.2.0, error-ex@^1.3.1:
   dependencies:
     is-arrayish "^0.2.1"
 
-es-abstract@^1.4.3, es-abstract@^1.7.0:
+es-abstract@^1.4.3:
   version "1.9.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/es-abstract/-/es-abstract-1.9.0.tgz#690829a07cae36b222e7fd9b75c0d0573eb25227"
   dependencies:
@@ -2756,7 +2762,7 @@ es-abstract@^1.4.3, es-abstract@^1.7.0:
     is-callable "^1.1.3"
     is-regex "^1.0.4"
 
-es-abstract@^1.6.1:
+es-abstract@^1.6.1, es-abstract@^1.7.0:
   version "1.10.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/es-abstract/-/es-abstract-1.10.0.tgz#1ecb36c197842a00d8ee4c2dfd8646bb97d60864"
   dependencies:
@@ -2873,8 +2879,8 @@ eslint-config-prettier@^2.9.0:
     get-stdin "^5.0.1"
 
 eslint-plugin-jest@^21.6.1:
-  version "21.6.1"
-  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/eslint-plugin-jest/-/eslint-plugin-jest-21.6.1.tgz#adca015bbdb8d23b210438ff9e1cee1dd9ec35df"
+  version "21.7.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/eslint-plugin-jest/-/eslint-plugin-jest-21.7.0.tgz#651f1c6ce999af3ac59ab8bf8a376d742fd0fc23"
 
 eslint-plugin-mocha@^4.11.0:
   version "4.11.0"
@@ -2883,8 +2889,8 @@ eslint-plugin-mocha@^4.11.0:
     ramda "^0.24.1"
 
 eslint-plugin-prettier@^2.4.0:
-  version "2.4.0"
-  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/eslint-plugin-prettier/-/eslint-plugin-prettier-2.4.0.tgz#85cab0775c6d5e3344ef01e78d960f166fb93aae"
+  version "2.5.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/eslint-plugin-prettier/-/eslint-plugin-prettier-2.5.0.tgz#39a91dd7528eaf19cd42c0ee3f2c1f684606a05f"
   dependencies:
     fast-diff "^1.1.1"
     jest-docblock "^21.0.0"