# Action Initializers Use these functions to create actions. ## Discussion Most actions implement specific predefined animations that are done for you by SpriteKit. If your animation needs fall outside of the suite provided here, then you should: - Consider using the methods in Creating Custom Actions below (never subclass `SKAction`) - Consider the advice in [Drive Game Logic](/documentation/SpriteKit/getting-started-with-actions#Drive-Game-Logic) ### Choose an Initializer for the Property You Want to Alter Most actions allow you to change a node’s properties and some actions specifically apply to specific nodes, like [`SKSpriteNode`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKSpriteNode)’s actions for animating its color or texture. Here are the most common animated properties: - Changing a node’s [`position`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKNode/position) and [`zRotation`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKNode/zRotation) - Changing a node’s `size` or scaling properties - Changing a node’s visibility or making it translucent - Changing a sprite node’s contents so that it animates through a series of textures - Colorizing a sprite node - Playing sounds - Removing a node from the node tree - Calling a block - Invoking a selector on an object See [Action Initializers](/documentation/SpriteKit/action-initializers) for a full list of action types. ### Chaining Actions Actions can be chained together in multiple ways: - A *sequence action* has multiple child actions. Each action in the sequence begins after the previous action ends. - A *group action* has multiple child actions. All actions stored in the group begin executing at the same time. - A *repeating action* stores a single child action. When the child action completes, it is restarted. To delay a subsequent action in the chain, insert a [`wait(forDuration:)`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/wait(forDuration:)) action in the sequence, and remember that groups, sequences, and repeating actions may be nested. ## Topics ### Animating a Node’s Position in a Linear Path Animate linear node movement. [`+ moveByX:y:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/moveBy(x:y:duration:)) Creates an action that moves a node relative to its current position. [`+ moveBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/move(by:duration:)) Creates an action that moves a node relative to its current position. [`+ moveTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/move(to:duration:)) Creates an action that moves a node to a new position. [`+ moveToX:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/moveTo(x:duration:)) Creates an action that moves a node horizontally. [`+ moveToY:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/moveTo(y:duration:)) Creates an action that moves a node vertically. ### Animating a Node’s Position Along a Custom Path Provide a path for the node to follow. [`+ followPath:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/follow(_:duration:)) Creates an action that moves the node along a relative path, orienting the node to the path. [`+ followPath:speed:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/follow(_:speed:)) Creates an action that moves the node along a relative path at a specified speed, orienting the node to the path. [`+ followPath:asOffset:orientToPath:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/follow(_:asOffset:orientToPath:duration:)) Creates an action that moves the node along a path. [`+ followPath:asOffset:orientToPath:speed:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/follow(_:asOffset:orientToPath:speed:)) Creates an action that moves the node at a specified speed along a path. ### Animating the Rotation of a Node Animate the z rotation of a node. If instead you wish to change the x or y rotation of a node, see [`SKTransformNode`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKTransformNode) A node that allows its children to rotate in 3D.. [`+ rotateByAngle:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/rotate(byAngle:duration:)) Creates an action that rotates the node by a relative value. [`+ rotateToAngle:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/rotate(toAngle:duration:)) Creates an action that rotates the node counterclockwise to an absolute angle. [`+ rotateToAngle:duration:shortestUnitArc:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/rotate(toAngle:duration:shortestUnitArc:)) Creates an action that rotates the node to an absolute value. ### Controlling the Action’s Speed Control the speed of an animation. [`+ speedBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/speed(by:duration:)) Creates an action that changes how fast the node executes actions by a relative value. [`+ speedTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/speed(to:duration:)) Creates an action that changes how fast the node executes actions. ### Animating the Scaling of a Node Animate the visual scaling of a node. [`+ scaleBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/scale(by:duration:)) Creates an action that changes the x and y scale values of a node by a relative value. [`+ scaleToSize:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/scale(to:duration:)-43bz6) Creates an action that changes the x and y scale values of a node to achieve [`+ scaleTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/scale(to:duration:)-1xyzs) Creates an action that changes the x and y scale values of a node. [`+ scaleXBy:y:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/scaleX(by:y:duration:)) Creates an action that adds relative values to the x and y scale values of a node. [`+ scaleXTo:y:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/scaleX(to:y:duration:)) Creates an action that changes the x and y scale values of a node. [`+ scaleXTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/scaleX(to:duration:)) Creates an action that changes the x scale value of a node to a new value. [`+ scaleYTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/scaleY(to:duration:)) Creates an action that changes the y scale value of a node to a new value. ### Animating the Transparency of a Node Gradually change a node’s transparency. [`+ fadeInWithDuration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/fadeIn(withDuration:)) Creates an action that changes the alpha value of the node to `1.0`. [`+ fadeOutWithDuration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/fadeOut(withDuration:)) Creates an action that changes the alpha value of the node to `0.0`. [`+ fadeAlphaBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/fadeAlpha(by:duration:)) Creates an action that adjusts the alpha value of a node by a relative value. [`+ fadeAlphaTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/fadeAlpha(to:duration:)) Creates an action that adjusts the alpha value of a node to a new value. ### Animating a Node’s Texture Change a node’s texture or the texture’s properties. [`+ resizeByWidth:height:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/resize(byWidth:height:duration:)) Creates an action that adjusts the size of a sprite. [`+ resizeToHeight:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/resize(toHeight:duration:)) Creates an action that changes the height of a sprite to a new absolute value. [`+ resizeToWidth:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/resize(toWidth:duration:)) Creates an action that changes the width of a sprite to a new absolute value. [`+ resizeToWidth:height:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/resize(toWidth:height:duration:)) Creates an action that changes the width and height of a sprite to a new absolute value. [`+ setTexture:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/setTexture(_:)) Creates an action that changes a sprite’s texture. [`+ setTexture:resize:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/setTexture(_:resize:)) Creates an action that changes a sprite’s texture, possibly resizing the sprite. [`+ animateWithTextures:timePerFrame:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/animate(with:timePerFrame:)) Creates an action that animates changes to a sprite’s texture. [`+ animateWithTextures:timePerFrame:resize:restore:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/animate(with:timePerFrame:resize:restore:)) Creates an action that animates changes to a sprite’s texture, possibly resizing the sprite. [`+ setNormalTexture:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/setNormalTexture(_:)) Creates an action that changes a sprite’s normal texture. [`+ setNormalTexture:resize:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/setNormalTexture(_:resize:)) Creates an action that changes a sprite’s normal texture, possibly resizing the sprite. [`+ animateWithNormalTextures:timePerFrame:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/animate(withNormalTextures:timePerFrame:)) Creates an action that animates changes to a sprite’s normal texture. [`+ animateWithNormalTextures:timePerFrame:resize:restore:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/animate(withNormalTextures:timePerFrame:resize:restore:)) Creates an action that animates changes to a sprite’s texture. [`+ colorizeWithColor:colorBlendFactor:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/colorize(with:colorBlendFactor:duration:)) Creates an animation that animates a sprite’s color and blend factor. [`+ colorizeWithColorBlendFactor:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/colorize(withColorBlendFactor:duration:)) Creates an action that animates a sprite’s blend factor. ### Animating Properties of a Node’s Physics Body Physics actions are instantaneous and therefore more useful when `Chaining Actions` or [Reuse Actions](/documentation/SpriteKit/getting-started-with-actions#Reuse-Actions). [`+ applyForce:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/applyForce(_:duration:)) Creates an action that applies a force to the center of gravity of a node’s physics body. [`+ applyTorque:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/applyTorque(_:duration:)) Creates an action that applies a torque to a node’s physics body. [`+ applyForce:atPoint:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/applyForce(_:at:duration:)) Creates an action that applies a force to a specific point on a node’s physics body. [`+ applyImpulse:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/applyImpulse(_:duration:)) Creates an action that applies an impulse to the center of gravity of a physics body. [`+ applyAngularImpulse:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/applyAngularImpulse(_:duration:)) Creates an action that applies an angular impulse to a node’s physics body. [`+ applyImpulse:atPoint:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/applyImpulse(_:at:duration:)) Creates an action that applies an impulse to a specific point of a node’s physics body. [`+ applyImpulse:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/applyImpulse(_:duration:)) Creates an action that applies an impulse to the center of gravity of a physics body. [`+ changeChargeTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changeCharge(to:duration:)) Creates an action that changes the charge of a node’s physics body to a new value. [`+ changeChargeBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changeCharge(by:duration:)) Creates an action that changes the charge of a node’s physics body by a relative value. [`+ changeMassTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changeMass(to:duration:)) Creates an action that changes the mass of a node’s physics body to a new value. [`+ changeMassBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changeMass(by:duration:)) Creates an action that changes the mass of a node’s physics body by a relative value. [`+ strengthTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/strength(to:duration:)) Creates an action that animates a change of a physics field’s strength. [`+ strengthBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/strength(by:duration:)) Creates an action that animates a change of a physics field’s strength to a value relative to the existing value. [`+ falloffTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/falloff(to:duration:)) Creates an action that animates a change of a physics field’s falloff. [`+ falloffBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/falloff(by:duration:)) Creates an action that animates a change of a physics field’s falloff to a value relative to the existing value. ### Reversing an Animation Create a new action that is the opposite of another action. [`- reversedAction`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/reversed()) Creates an action that reverses the behavior of another action. ### Animate the Warping of a Node Interpolate the warping of a node over time. [`+ animateWithWarps:times:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/animate(withWarps:times:)) Creates an action to distort a node through a sequence of [`SKWarpGeometry`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKWarpGeometry) objects. [`+ animateWithWarps:times:restore:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/animate(withWarps:times:restore:)) Creates an action to distort a node through a sequence of [`SKWarpGeometry`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKWarpGeometry) objects. [`+ warpTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/warp(to:duration:)) Creates an action to distort a node based using an [`SKWarpGeometry`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKWarpGeometry) object. ### Controlling the Audio of a Node Audio actions are instantaneous and so, more useful when `Chaining Actions` or [Reuse Actions](/documentation/SpriteKit/getting-started-with-actions#Reuse-Actions). [`+ playSoundFileNamed:waitForCompletion:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/playSoundFileNamed(_:waitForCompletion:)) Creates an action that plays a sound. [`+ play`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/play()) Creates an action that tells an audio node to start playback. [`+ pause`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/pause()) Creates an action that tells an audio node to pause playback. [`+ stop`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/stop()) Creates an action that tells an audio node to stop playback. [`+ changePlaybackRateTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changePlaybackRate(to:duration:)) Creates an action that changes an audio node’s playback rate to a new value. [`+ changePlaybackRateBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changePlaybackRate(by:duration:)) Creates an action that changes an audio node’s playback rate by a relative amount. [`+ changeVolumeTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changeVolume(to:duration:)) Creates an action that changes an audio node’s volume to a new value. [`+ changeVolumeBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changeVolume(by:duration:)) Creates an action that changes an audio node’s volume by a relative value. [`+ changeObstructionTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changeObstruction(to:duration:)) Creates an action that changes an audio node’s obstruction to a new value. [`+ changeObstructionBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changeObstruction(by:duration:)) Creates an action that changes an audio node’s obstruction by a relative value. [`+ changeOcclusionTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changeOcclusion(to:duration:)) Creates an action that changes an audio node’s occlusion to a new value. [`+ changeOcclusionBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changeOcclusion(by:duration:)) Creates an action that changes an audio node’s occlusion by a relative value. [`+ changeReverbTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changeReverb(to:duration:)) Creates an action that changes an audio node’s reverb to a new value. [`+ changeReverbBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/changeReverb(by:duration:)) Creates an action that changes an audio node’s reverb by a relative value. [`+ stereoPanTo:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/stereoPan(to:duration:)) Creates an action that changes an audio node’s stereo panning to a new value. [`+ stereoPanBy:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/stereoPan(by:duration:)) Creates an action that changes an audio node’s stereo panning by a relative value. ### Removing a Node from the Scene Instantaneous action that is useful when `Chaining Actions` or [Reuse Actions](/documentation/SpriteKit/getting-started-with-actions#Reuse-Actions). [`+ removeFromParent`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/removeFromParent()) Creates an action that removes the node from its parent. ### Running Actions on Children Run an action on a child node by its name. [`+ runAction:onChildWithName:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/run(_:onChildWithName:)) Creates an action that runs an action on a named child object. ### Chaining Actions Create an action that contains a series, or chain, of other actions. [`+ group:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/group(_:)) Creates an action that runs a collection of actions in parallel. [`+ sequence:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/sequence(_:)) Creates an action that runs a collection of actions sequentially. [`+ repeatAction:count:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/repeat(_:count:)) Creates an action that repeats another action a specified number of times. [`+ repeatActionForever:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/repeatForever(_:)) Creates an action that repeats another action forever. ### Delaying Actions Delay a subseqent action in a sequence of other actions. [`+ waitForDuration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/wait(forDuration:)) Creates an action that idles for a specified period of time. [`+ waitForDuration:withRange:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/wait(forDuration:withRange:)) Creates an action that idles for a randomized period of time. ### Performing Inverse Kinematics [Working with Inverse Kinematics](/documentation/SpriteKit/working-with-inverse-kinematics) Gain fine-tuned control of objects that are connected by joints. [`+ reachTo:rootNode:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/reach(to:rootNode:duration:)-9gdvl) Creates an action that performs an inverse kinematic reach. [`+ reachTo:rootNode:velocity:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/reach(to:rootNode:velocity:)-8xv45) Creates an action that performs an inverse kinematic reach. [`+ reachToNode:rootNode:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/reach(to:rootNode:duration:)-1db76) Creates an action that performs an inverse kinematic reach. [`+ reachToNode:rootNode:velocity:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/reach(to:rootNode:velocity:)-7gbvx) Creates an action that performs an inverse kinematic reach. ### Creating Custom Actions Provide code that implements your own action. [`+ actionNamed:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/init(named:)) Creates an action of the given name from an action file. [`+ actionNamed:duration:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/init(named:duration:)) Creates an action of the given name from an action file with a new duration. [`init(named:fromURL:)`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/init(named:fromURL:)) Creates an action of the given name from an action file. [`init(named:fromURL:duration:)`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/init(named:fromURL:duration:)) Creates an action of the given name from an action file with a new duration. [`+ customActionWithDuration:actionBlock:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/customAction(withDuration:actionBlock:)) Creates an action that executes a block over a duration. [`+ performSelector:onTarget:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/perform(_:onTarget:)) Creates an action that calls a method on an object. [`+ runBlock:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/run(_:)) Creates an action that executes a block. [`+ runBlock:queue:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/run(_:queue:)) Creates an action that executes a block on a specific dispatch queue. ### Controlling Node Visibility Control a node’s visibility. [`+ unhide`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/unhide()) Creates an action that makes a node visible. [`+ hide`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKAction/hide()) Creates an action that hides a node. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. 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