Correct way to access a *changing* variable from the Scene on a *Prefab* Script

Questions & Answers
1

I swear this isnt just another ‘how to access a script from another script’ question.
I have done a search and found plenty of close examples but nothing quite like the problem i am having.

I have a Prefab with a script on it (Script A) and it needs to access a variable from the player script (Script B). The thing is, this variable can change during gameplay. I’ve learned that you cannot get a prefab to access a scene script. So i thought to make my player a prefab to usethe player prefab script. This works, but when the player picks up an upgrade that changes the variable i want. The instance of the player gets the variable increased, not the prefab of the player which my script A is referencing.

I want to keep the script A on my Prefab, because i have a ton of this item to place around the scene. Its a mining game and my Prefab are the blocks that you mine. The variable is the players mining strength, which is upgradeable.

Script A :

public class RockBasic : MonoBehaviour
{
    public int rockHealth = 3;
    public Sprite damaged1;
    public Sprite damaged2;
    PlayerMovement playerMovement;

void Update()
{
    SpriteUpdate();
}

void SpriteUpdate()
{
    if (rockHealth == 2)
    {
        this.gameObject.GetComponent<SpriteRenderer>().sprite = damaged1;
    }

    if (rockHealth == 1)
    {
        this.gameObject.GetComponent<SpriteRenderer>().sprite = damaged2;
    }

    if (rockHealth <= 0)
    {
        Destroy(gameObject);
    }
}

void OnCollisionEnter2D(Collision2D collision)
{
    if (collision.gameObject.CompareTag("Player"))
    {
        int rockDamage = playerMovement.miningStrength;
        rockHealth -= rockDamage;
    }
}
}

Script B:

public int miningStrength = 1;

    void OnTriggerEnter2D(Collider2D collision)
    {
        if (collision.gameObject.CompareTag("Upgrade"))
        {
            Destroy(collision.gameObject);
            miningStrength += 1;
        }
    }

Theres a lot more in script B but none of it is relevant. I have only pasted the part that matters here.

What should i do to get this to work? Is there a better way then using a prefab? I currently have it on a tilemap and use the Gameobject brush from the Tile Pallete to paint the rocks around.
I apologise if this quesiton is dumb in a way i’m not seeing. I have only been coding with C# and unity for around 3 weeks, and i’m still learning.

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2

I had this exact problem yesterday. In Script A, the one attached to the block prefab, use the GameObject.Find function to get the instance of the player instead of trying to assign it through the inspection window. Then use the GetComponent function to get the script attached to the player. This will let you access the variable on the instance of the player instead of the prefab.
Something like this:

GameObject player; //variable to store the reference to the player.
player = GameObject.Find("Player"); // Finds the game object named "Player".
player.GetComponent<ScriptB>().miningStrength ++;

I hope I typed that code out correctly. If not, let me know or take a look at the Scripting API.