Why doesn't my Shader Graph vertex offset move geometry?

You're connecting to the wrong output. Master node has separate Vertex Position and Fragment Color/Alpha sockets. Vertex math must reach Vertex Position; Fragment math doesn't move vertices.

Object vs World space?

Position node has Space = Object/World/View/Tangent. Add your offset in Object space, transform to World if needed, but the final write goes back to Object space (the Vertex Position input expects Object space).

GPU instancing breaks displacement?

Per-instance properties feeding vertex math need Hybrid Instanced enabled. Otherwise the displacement uses material default for all instances, looking flat.

Fix: Shader Graph Vertex Position No Effect

Quick answer: Connect to the master node’s Vertex Position input (Object space). Add Position (Object) + offset, write back. For instanced offsets, declare property as Hybrid Instanced.

You add a sine wave offset for grass sway. Connect the result to fragment color thinking it’s a position pipe. Geometry doesn’t move because vertex pipeline never saw the offset.

The Fix

Shader Graph Master Stack:
  Vertex:
    Position:    [Object Position] + [sin(Time) * Up * 0.1]
  Fragment:
    Base Color:  [Sample Texture 2D → UV]

// Position node setup
Position(Object) → Add → Vector3(0, sin(Time)*0.1, 0) → Vertex Position

The master Vertex Position input expects Object-space positions. Compute offsets in any space, but transform back to Object before writing.

Per-Instance Sway

Blackboard Property:  Float "_PhaseOffset"
  Hybrid Instanced:    true

Time + _PhaseOffset → sin → multiply by Up → add to Position

Verifying

Apply material to a plane. Vertices ripple. Without the connection: flat plane. Disable Hybrid Instanced: all instances move identically (no per-instance phase).

“Vertex Position input. Object space write. Hybrid for instances.”

Related Issues

For Shader Graph keyword type, see keyword type. For custom function include, see custom function.

Vertex pipe wired. Geometry moves.