• FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS (All blocks listed here!)
  
• Motion, Looks & Sound
  
• Events & Control
  
• Operators & Sensing
  
• Variables & Lists
  
• Miscellaneous
  

1. Workarounds for blocks which actually do exist in Scratch. Even if the approach is really creative, this guide is all about blocks which don’t exist in Scratch. Check out the Scratch Wiki for info on workarounds for existing blocks - that’s a more fitting place than here!
   
   
2. Extra workarounds for blocks that are already in the guide, unless they take a significantly different approach. I’m happy to share more than one method, but they have to be pretty different—for example, changing the code in “repeat for seconds” to use “days since 2000” instead of “timer” wouldn’t be a significant enough change. This is somewhat based on opinion, so I apologize if you feel a change is more significant than I do (but you’re welcome to explain your reasoning in a forum post or reply and I’ll do my best to listen and consider what you say!).
   
   
3. Workarounds for blocks with super specific or complex behavior. Even though “platformer physics” and “esey multilayer” and “cloud lists” are all great ideas to create with the blocks Scratch has, they’re too big and involved to include in a to-the-point workaround guide. Later on, I may add links to tutorials (interactive Scratch projects or other forum threads and studios) which explain these ideas in more detail, but I’m not totally decided on that yet. (I want to give the guide some more time to grow with plain old workarounds first!)
   

1. (2016) Ultimate List of Workarounds And More by MathlyCat
   
2. (2017) The Ultimate List of Workarounds and More ②.⓪ by openPoll
   
3. (2019) Workarounds to frequently suggested blocks by Computer_Fizz
   
4. (2020) The Workarounds to Frequently Suggested Blocks by BearSlothCoding
   
5. (2020) Helpful Workarounds for Frequently Suggested Blocks! by shradibop
   
6. (2022) Workarounds for Frequently Suggested Blocks! (vers. 4) by Nezon
   
7. (2022) Scratch Workaround Guide VII by _nix (You are here!)
   

• ✽ point towards x: y:
  
• ✽ rotate around sprite:
  
• ✽ rotate around x: y:
  
• ✽ is showing? / visible?
  
• ✽ color effect reporter, whirl, mosaic, audio effect reporters, etc
  
• ✽ hide all sprites
  
• ✽ previous costume
  
• ✽ last costume
  
• ✽ list of costume names
  
• ✽ # of costumes
  
• ✽ random costume
  

• ✽ when (any condition) is true
  
• ✽ boolean: “I receive (message)”
  
• ✽ wait until I receive message1
  
• ✽ repeat until I receive message2
  
• ✽ broadcast message1 to only sprite1
  
• ✽ repeat for 2 seconds
  
• ✽ while (condition)
  
• ✽ do … while (do … until)
  
• ✽ for each whole number between 5 and 10
  
• ✽ stop all scripts in this sprite
  
• ✽ stop scripts in another sprite
  
• ✽ is a clone?
  
• ✽ delete all clones
  
• ✽ # of clones
  

• ✽ true, false
  
• ✽ x <= y, x >= y
  
• ✽ x XOR y (exclusive or)
  
• ✽ letters x to y of string
  
• ✽ hexadecimal to decimal
  
• ✽ x is even? x is odd? x is divisible by y? x is multiple of y?
  
• ✽ x is an integer/whole number? x is a decimal/fraction?
  
• ✽ decimal part of x / fractional part of x
  
• ✽ round to nearest 100, round to decimal digits
  
• ✽ x to the power of y (exponentiation, x^y)
  
• ✽ distance to x: y:
  
• ✽ mouse clicked this sprite?
  
• ✽ mouse dragging this sprite?
  
• ✽ turbo mode enabled?
  

• ✽ item (last) of list, second to last item, etc
  
• ✽ item (random) of list
  
• ✽ change item 1 of list by 10
  
• ✽ delete last item of list
  
• ✽ for each item of list
  

• ✽ return / report (from custom block)
  
• ✽ extra: demo - context “right click” / double click menu (by Hotwheels_Fan101)
  

// In any sprite you want to use “point towards”...

set [point towards x v] to [200] // These variables are “for all sprites.”
set [point towards y v] to [120]
broadcast [prepare point towards v] and wait
point towards [point towards sprite v]

// In the dedicated “point towards sprite”...

when green flag clicked
hide // You don’t want this sprite to be visible!

when I receive [prepare point towards v]
set x to (point towards x)
set y to (point towards y)

define point towards x: (target x) y: (target y)
point in direction ([atan v] of (((target x) - (x position)) / ((target y) - (y position)))
if <(target y) < (y position)> then
  turn cw (180) degrees
end

define rotate (degrees) degrees around (sprite)
set [direction before custom block ran v] to (direction)
set [distance v] to (distance to (sprite))
point towards (sprite)
set x to (([x position v] of (sprite)) + ((distance :: variables) * ([sin v] of (((direction) + (180)) + (degrees)))
set y to (([y position v] of (sprite)) + ((distance :: variables) * ([cos v] of (((direction) + (180)) + (degrees)))
point in direction (direction before custom block ran)
turn cw (degrees) degrees // This helps the sprite look like it's following the circle.

1. The “cos” and “sin” blocks expect a direction from 0 to 360 while Scratch's “direction” block goes from -180 to +180, so we add 180.
   
2. “cos” and “sin” don't actually deal with distances at all, they just assume you're talking about a circle with radius 1, so we multiply the results by the distance between the running and target sprites to scale to the right radius.
   
3. “cos” and “sin” also don't deal with position, they assume you're talking about a circle centered at (0, 0). So, we use normal addition blocks to translate (move) the point so it's relative to the target sprite.
   

define rotate (degrees) degrees around x: (x) y: (y)
set [direction before custom block ran v] to (direction)
get distance to x: (x) y: (y) :: custom // Check out the workaround for this!
point towards x: (x) y: (y) :: custom // Check out the workaround for this, too!
set x to ((x) + ((distance to position) * ([sin v] of (((direction) + (180)) + (degrees)))))
set x to ((x) + ((distance to position) * ([cos v] of (((direction) + (180)) + (degrees)))))
point in direction (direction before custom block ran)
turn cw (degrees) degrees // This helps the sprite look like it's following the circle.

define go to circle around x: (x) y: (y) direction: (dir) radius: (radius)
set x to ((x) + ((radius) * ([sin v] of (dir))
set y to ((y) + ((radius) * ([cos v] of (dir))

define hide and remember
hide
set [visible? v] to [false]

define show and remember
show
set [visible? v] to [true]

when I receive [update v]
...
if <some condition :: grey> then
  set [visible? v] to [true]
else
  set [visible? v] to [false]
end
...
if <(visible?) = [true]> then
  show
else
  hide
end

when green flag clicked
clear graphic effects
set [color effect v] to [0]
forever
  change [color v] effect by (10) :: looks
  change [color effect v] by (10)
  if <((color effect) mod (200)) > [100]> then
    set [mosaic v] effect to [10]
  else
    set [mosaic v] effect to [0]
  end
end

when green flag clicked
forever
  if <(brightness effect) > [100]> then
    set [brightness effect v] to [100]
  else
    if <(brightness effect) < [-100]> then
      set [brightness effect v] to [-100]
    end
  end
end

broadcast [hide all sprites v] and wait

// Put this in every sprite:

when I receive [hide all sprites v]
hide

switch costume to ((costume [number v] :: looks) - (1))

switch costume to (join [previous c] [ostume])

switch costume to ((0) + (0))

delete all of [costume names v] :: list
switch costume to ((0) + (1)) // So you can start at whatever is the first costume!
repeat until <<(costume [number v] :: looks) = [1]> and <(length of [costume names v]) > [0]>>
  add (costume [name v] :: looks) to [costume names v]
  next costume
end

set [original costume v] to (costume [name v] :: looks)
... // all the code in the previous script
switch costume to (original costume)

set [# of costumes v] to (length of [costume names v])

switch costume to ((0) + (0))
set [# of costumes v] to (costume [number v] :: looks)

set [original costume v] to (costume [name v] :: looks)
switch costume to ((0) + (0))
set [# of costumes v] to (costume [number v] :: looks)
switch costume to (original costume)

switch costume to (pick random (1) to (# of costumes :: variables))

switch costume to ((0) + (0)) // Scratch "wraps" the number 0 to mean "last costume"
switch costume to (pick random (1) to (costume [number v] :: looks))

when [timer v] > ((timer) - <(costume [name v] :: looks) = [costume4]>
say [Wowie wow! I look like a taco now!] for (3) seconds :: looks

when [timer v] > ((timer) - (0))

when [timer v] > <(timer) - <<(x position) = [50]> or <(x position) = [100]>>>

set [have I received message1? v] to [false]
wait until <(have I received message1?) = [true]>
say [I received it!] for (1) secs

when I receive [message1 v]
set [did I receive message1? v] to [true]

set [have I received message2? v] to [false]
repeat until <(have I received message2?) = [true]>
  turn cw (30) degrees
end
say [I received it!] for (1) secs

when I receive [message2 v]
set [did I receive message2? v] to [true]

ask [Who's going to dance next?] and wait
set [who's receiving do a cool dance v] to (answer)
broadcast [do a cool dance v] and wait
play sound [Hooray! v] until done

when I receive [do a cool dance v] // in Gobo's code
if <(who's receiving do a cool dance) = [Gobo]> then
  point in direction (45 v)
  repeat (4)
    repeat (10)
      move (10) steps
    end
    turn cw (90) degrees
  end
end

when I receive [do a cool dance v] // in Tera's code
if <(who's receiving do a cool dance) = [Tera]> then
  set rotation style [left-right v]
  repeat (5)
    point in direction (90 v)
    glide (1) secs to x: (50) y: (100)
    point in direction (-90 v)
    glide (1) secs to x: (50) y: (-50)
  end
end

delete all of [who's receiving sing along v] :: list
add [Dee] to [who's receiving sing along v]
add [Devin] to [who's receiving sing along v]
add [Sam] to [who's receiving sing along v]
add [Scratch Cat] to [who's receiving sing along v]
broadcast [sing along v]

when I receive [sing along v]
if <[who's receiving sing along v] contains [Scratch Cat]> then
  set [pitch v] effect to (0) :: sound
  repeat (3)
    play sound [Meow v] until done
    change [pitch v] effect by (20) :: sound
  end
end

when I receive [join the team v]
if <(who's joining the team) = [Pico]> then
  set [part of the team v] to [true] // local variable, "for this sprite only"
end

when green flag clicked
set [part of the team v] to [false]
wait until <(part of the team) = [true]>
forever
  ... follow the leader ... :: grey
end

set [when to stop v] to ((timer) + (2))
repeat until <(timer) > (when to stop)>
  turn cw (10) degrees
  change size by (2)
end

set [loop finished? v] to [false]
broadcast [inside loop v] // note this is NOT a “broadcast and wait” block
wait (2) secs
set [loop finished? v] to [true]
broadcast [inside loop v]

when I receive [inside loop v] // make sure you use a different message for each loop
if <(loop finished?) = [false]> then
  forever
    ... // the inside of the loop here, for example:
    point in direction (90)
    glide (0.75) secs to x: (100) y: (0)
    point in direction (-90)
    glide (0.75) secs to x: (-100) y: (0)
  end
end

repeat until <not <(x position) < [150]>>
  change x by (10)
end

while <(y position) < [120] :: operators> {
  change y by (20)
} :: control loop
while <(y position) > [0] :: operators> {
  change y by (-10)
} :: control loop

set [condition v] to [true]
repeat until <(condition) = [false]>
  go to [random position v]
  set [condition v] to <touching [mouse pointer v] ?>
end

set [number v] to (start :: grey)
repeat (((end:: grey) - (start :: grey)) + (1))
  say (join [The number is: ] (number)) for (1) secs
  change [number v] by (1)
end

set [number v] to (start :: grey)
repeat until <(number) > (end :: grey)>
  say (join [The number is: ] (number)) for (1) secs
  change [number v] by (1)
end

...
if <some condition :: grey> then
  stop [other scripts in sprite v]
  stop [this script v]
end
do something :: grey

// In sprite1...

broadcast [stop scripts in sprite2 v] and wait

// In sprite 2...

when I receive [stop scripts in sprite2 v]
stop [other scripts in sprite v]

when green flag clicked // this will only be run by the original sprite, not clones
set [is a clone? v] to [false]

when I start as a clone // this will only be run by clones (of course!)
set [is a clone? v] to [true]

broadcast [delete all clones v] and wait

when I receive [delete all clones v]
delete this clone

when green flag clicked
set [# of clones v] to [0]

when I start as a clone // in every sprite which gets cloned
change [# of clones v] by (1)

define delete this clone and keep track
change [# of clones v] by (-1)
delete this clone

set [I am a dog? v] to [true]
set [snakes are slimy? v] to [false]

set [true v] to <[5] < [10]>
set [false v] to <[5] > [10]>

set [true v] to <not <>> // Empty input is treated as false, not false = true
set [false v] to <not <not <>>> // not not false = not true = false

if <<touching [snake v] ?> and <(snakes are slimy?) = [true]>> then
  start sounds [Scream1 v] :: sound
  say [Yikes!!!] for (2) secs
end

<(answer) ≤ [20] :: operators> …is the same as… <not <(answer) > [20]>> :: grey

<(y position) ≥ [100] :: operators> …is the same as… <not <(y position) < [100]>> :: grey

<<(answer) < [20]> or <(answer) = [20]>>
<<(y position) > [100]> or <(y position) = [100]>>

<<<x :: grey> or <y :: grey>> and <not <<x :: grey> and <y :: grey>>>>

define exclusive <x> or <y>
set [xor v] to <<<x> or <y>> and <not <<x> and <y>>>>

<not <<x :: grey> = <y :: grey>>

<(<x :: grey> + <y :: grey>) = (1)>

define get letters (start) to (stop) of (string)
set [substring v] to [] // Empty string
set [parse v] to (start)
repeat until <<(parse) > (stop)> or <(parse) > (length of (string))>
  set [substring v] to (join (substring) (letter (parse) of (string)))
  change [parse v] by [1]
end

ask [what is the number in hexadecimal?] and wait
set [hexadecimal v] to (join [0x] (answer))
set [decimal v] to ((1) * (hexadecimal))
say (join (join (hexadecimal) [ in decimal is ]) (decimal))

<((5) mod (2)) = [0]> // false
<((316) mod (2)) = [0]> // true

<((612) mod (2)) = [1]> // false
<((1025) mod (2)) = [1]> // true

ask [How many eggs do we need?] and wait
if <<(answer) mod (12)> = [0]> then
  say (join [OK, we will buy ] (join ((answer) / (12)) [ dozen!]))
end

ask [How many bugs will defend the fort?] and wait
if <(answer) > [100]> then
  if <<(answer) mod (25)> > [0]> then
    say [Sorry, only multiples of 25 if you want more than 100 please]
  end
end

<((32) mod (1)) = [0]> // 0 = 0: true
<((13.37) mod (1)) = [0]> // 0.37 = 0: false

ask [Choose graphics resolution 1 (blocky) to 10 (detailed):] and wait
if <not <(answer) = (round (answer))>> then
  say [Whole number resolution only, please] for (3) seconds :: looks
  stop [this script v]
end
... more answer validation ... :: grey

((8) mod (1)) // 0
((8.25) mod (1)) // 0.25
((8.50) mod (1)) // 0.5
((8.75) mod (1)) // 0.75
((9) mod (1)) // 0

(([abs v] of (-1.125)) mod (1)) // 0.125

set [whole part v] to ([floor v] of (timer))
set [decimal part v] to ((timer) - (whole part))

// or just

((variable) - ([floor v] of (variable))

(([abs v] of (variable)) - ([floor v] of ([abs v] of (variable))))

define round (number) to nearest (precision)
set [rounded v] to ((round ((number) / (precision))) * (precision))

define round (number) to (digits) decimal digits
set [rounded v] to ((round ((number) * ([10 ^ v] of (digits)))) / ([10 ^ v] of (digits))

define raise: (base) to exponent: (exponent) (method 1)
set [power v] to [1]
if <<(exponent) = [0]> or <(exponent) > [-1]>> then
  repeat (exponent)
    set [power v] to ((power) * (base))
  end
else
  repeat (exponent)
    set [power v] to ((power) / (base))
  end
end

define raise: (base) to exponent: (exponent) (method 2)
set [power v] to ([10 ^ v] of ((exponent) * ([log v] of ([abs v] of (base)))))
if <(base) < [0]> then
  set [power v] to ((-1) * (power))
end

define get distance to x: (x) y: (y)
set [square of x difference v] to (((x) - (x position)) * ((x) - (x position))
set [square of y difference v] to (((y) - (y position)) * ((y) - (y position))
set [distance to position v] to ([sqrt v] of ((square of x difference) + (square of y difference))

when this sprite clicked
set [mouse clicked? v] to [true]

say [Click me to continue.] :: looks
set [mouse clicked? v] to [false]
wait until <(mouse clicked?) = [true]>
say [] // say nothing
broadcast [continue v]

when this sprite clicked
set [mouse clicked? v] to [true]
wait until <not <mouse down?>>
set [mouse clicked? v] to [false]

when green flag clicked
set [mouse clicked? v] to [false]

when green flag clicked
forever
  ... other game controls ... :: grey
  if <<touching [mouse-pointer v] ?> and <mouse down?>> then
    change size by (10)
    turn cw (20) degrees
  end
end

when this sprite clicked
set [mouse dragging this sprite? v] to [true]
wait until <not <mouse down?>>
set [mouse dragging this sprite? v] to [false]

when green flag clicked
forever
  if <(mouse dragging this sprite?) = [true]> then
    set [ghost v] effect to (50)
    go to [mouse-pointer v]
  else
    set [ghost v] effect to (0)
  end
end

when this sprite clicked
set [ghost v] effect to (50)
repeat until <not <mouse down?>>
  go to [mouse-pointer v]
end
set [ghost v] effect to (0)

when green flag clicked
set drag mode [draggable v] :: sensing
forever
  if <<not <mouse down?>> and <touching [mouse-pointer v] ?>> then
    wait until <<mouse down?> or <not <touching [mouse-pointer v] ?>>
    if <touching [mouse-pointer v] ?> then
      set [ghost v] effect to (50)
      wait until <not <mouse down?>>
      set [ghost v] effect to (0)
    end
  end
end

when green flag clicked
repeat (10)
  wait (0) secs
end
set [turbo enabled? v] to <(timer) < (0.1)>

(item (length of [my list v]) of [my list v])

(item ((length of [my list v]) - (1)) of [my list v])

(item [last] of [my list v])

(item (pick random (1) to (length of [my list v])) of [my list v])

(item [random] of [my list v])

replace item (1) of [my list v] with ((item (1) of [my list v]) + (10))

set [item value v] to (item (1) of [my list v])
change [item value v] by (10)
replace item (1) of [my list v] with (item value)

delete (length of [my list v]) of [my list v]

set [popped value v] to (item (length of [my list v]) of [my list v])
delete (length of [my list v]) of [my list v]

delete [last] of [my list v]

set [item # v] to [1]
repeat until <(item #) > (length of [my list v])>
  if <(item (item #) of [my list v]) = [something]> then
    do something :: grey
  end
  change [item # v] by [1]
end

for each [item # v] of (length of [my list v]) {
  if <(item (item #) of [my list v]) = [something]> then
    do something :: grey
  end
} :: control loop

when green flag clicked
forever
  determine if alive :: custom
  if <(alive?) = [true]> then
    player controls until dead
  end
end

define player controls until dead
forever
  determine if alive :: custom
  if <(alive?) = [false]> then
    stop [this script v]
  end
  … player controls stuff … :: grey
end

define get last letter of (string)
set [last letter v] to (letter (length of (string)) of (string))

define get a funny word
set [funny word v] to (item (pick random (1) to (length of [funny words v])) of [funny words v])

when green flag clicked
say (join [Hello ] (username)) for (2) secs
say [Let’s make you a code name!] for (2) secs
say [Your code name is...] for (2) secs
get last letter of (username)
get a funny word
say (join (join (letter (1) of (username)) (funny word)) (last letter))

define check if custom control (control name) is pressed
set [index v] to (item # of (control name) in [custom control names v] :: list)
if <key (item (index) of [custom control keys v]) pressed?> then
  add [true] to [return v]
else
  add [false] to [return v]
end

forever
  delete all of [return v] :: list
  check if custom control [jump] is pressed
  check if custom control [defend] is pressed
  if <(item (1) of [return v]) = [true]> then
    if <(item (2) of [return v]) = [false]> then
      jump :: custom
    end
  end
  ...
end

ScolderCreations wrote:

So this is going to be the new sticky? Congratulations!

set [old costume v] to (costume [number v] :: looks)
set [costumes v] to [1]
switch costume to ((0) + (0))
repeat (2)
next costume
end
repeat until <(costume [number v] :: looks) = [1]>
next costume
change [count v] by (1)
end
switch costume to (old costume)

yavuz61035 wrote:

congrats!

also, there is another method for (# of costumes)

set [old costume v] to (costume [number v] :: looks)
set [costumes v] to [1]
switch costume to ((0) + (0))
repeat (2)
next costume
end
repeat until <(costume [number v] :: looks) = [1]>
next costume
change [count v] by (1)
end
switch costume to (old costume)

set [old costume v] to (costume [number v]::looks)
switch costume to (0)
set [count v] to (costume [number v]::looks)
switch costume to (old costume)

yavuz61035 wrote:

also, there is another method for (# of costumes)

... snip ... :: grey
switch costume to ((0) + (0))
repeat (2)
next costume
end
repeat until <(costume [number v] :: looks) = [1]>
next costume
change [count v] by (1)
end
... snip ... :: grey

delete all of [costume names v] :: list
switch costume to ((0) + (1))
set [condition v] to [false]
repeat until <(condition) = [true]>
  add (costume [name v] :: looks) to [costume names v]
  next costume
  set [condition v] to <(costume [number v] :: looks) = [1]>
end