2D Physics

Expert guidance for collision detection, triggers, and raycasting in Godot 2D.

NEVER Do

• NEVER scale CollisionShape2D nodes — Use the shape handles in the editor, NOT the Node2D scale property. Scaling causes unpredictable physics behavior and incorrect collision normals.
• NEVER confuse collision_layer with collision_mask — Layer = "What AM I?", Mask = "What do I DETECT?". Setting both to the same value is almost always wrong.
• NEVER multiply velocity by delta when using move_and_slide() — move_and_slide() automatically includes timestep in calculations. Only multiply gravity (acceleration) by delta.
• NEVER forget to call force_raycast_update() for manual raycasts — Raycasts update once per physics frame. If you change target_position/rotation mid-frame, you MUST call force_raycast_update().
• NEVER use get_overlapping_bodies() every frame — Cache results with body_entered/body_exited signals instead. Continuous queries are expensive and unnecessary.

Available Scripts

MANDATORY: Read the script matching your use case before implementation.