# Event hit (hit phys mat) always returns default in surface type **URL:** \ **Category:** World Creation\ **Tags:** error, line-trace, unreal-engine, question\ **Created:** [August 9, 2020, 3:31am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/event-hit-hit-phys-mat-always-returns-default-in-surface-type/469435 "2020-08-09T03:31:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![asomry](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@asomry](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/asomry)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 3:31am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/event-hit-hit-phys-mat-always-returns-default-in-surface-type/469435/1 "2020-08-09T03:31:58Z")
Hi, I’m using the code you see below to spawn custom decals depending on what type of material you hit… But when I use it always returns as default I’ve read online that turning on Return Mat on move fixes it but for me it doesn’t any help is appreciated. Please excuse the mess I moved things around to get it in one snap ![309600-error.jpg](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/8/8/3/883d0fa9bc7a6acd9559f4f0cd263eafcb81382b.jpeg) ![309601-error2.jpg](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/c/d/4/cd424513365060088168e431c203182d4f90d941.jpeg) ![309602-error3.png](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/c/a/0/ca023af353f868ff0321e2dc93fb7f8aa0bf19bd.png) ![309603-error4.png](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/9/1/4/914325dcea47d2e70981ecbc8bb44139c4d19026.png) ---
**Author:** ![Marcis](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/marcis/32/1103070_2.png) [@Marcis](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Marcis)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 4:05am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/event-hit-hit-phys-mat-always-returns-default-in-surface-type/469435/2 "2020-08-09T04:05:10Z")
I’m pretty sure this only works with simple collision. Does your mesh use simple or complex collision? Apply material to the editor cube and check if it works. ---
**Author:** ![asomry](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@asomry](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/asomry)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 8:03am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/event-hit-hit-phys-mat-always-returns-default-in-surface-type/469435/3 "2020-08-09T08:03:30Z")
Thank you Marcis! That worked perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![asomry](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@asomry](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/asomry)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 8:09am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/event-hit-hit-phys-mat-always-returns-default-in-surface-type/469435/4 "2020-08-09T08:09:57Z")
For future reference anyone else who has this problem, Go to your Static Mesh Editor, Change the Collision Complexity to simple then set your Material. Thanks Marcis! ![309619-error5.png](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/a/0/e/a0e9aebd803a0d8ba1a26a8db557c67ddc6feda3.png) ---
**Author:** ![huangjiaming](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@huangjiaming](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/huangjiaming)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2021, 6:31am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/event-hit-hit-phys-mat-always-returns-default-in-surface-type/469435/5 "2021-07-28T06:31:22Z")
Unfortunately,not work in UE4.26.Only use Simple Collsion As Complex can do,but the Collsion of import will not work. ---
**Author:** ![loxevan1](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@loxevan1](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/loxevan1)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 4:13am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/event-hit-hit-phys-mat-always-returns-default-in-surface-type/469435/6 "2025-01-03T04:13:27Z")
May be a little obvious but for me what fixed it was that at the very botom (not shown on your first image) there’s a menu where you have to actually link the physical material with the surface type. I forgot that step so I was always receiving a “default” value. ---
**Author:** ![HeyitsSavio](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/heyitssavio/32/1185092_2.png) [@HeyitsSavio](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/HeyitsSavio)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 9:58pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/event-hit-hit-phys-mat-always-returns-default-in-surface-type/469435/7 "2025-11-03T21:58:23Z")
Something else not mentioned in this forum is that the object returning the hit event must have “return material on move” enabled otherwise it will always return the default surface or give invalid phys mat refs from the hit result - even with all the other things done if this is not enabled it will not work (unless its a directly from a trace hit) ![image](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/a/5/0/a50248d0733e91eb01e0ead4a3ee65da092a61f8.png)