static variables will not be reset between scenes. When you use gameobjects with monobehaviours, the reason the variables "reset" is because each gameobject has its own instance of the script. So when you load the scene, the old instance will be removed and a new one will be created. However, static means it isn't tied to the instance, but rather the class/script itself. This means if you have 5 different gameobjects with the same script, that change/use a static variable, they are all changing/using exactly the same variable. Whereas a regular non-static variable will mean each instance of the script will use their own, personal variable. I hope this helps explain the reason you had this problem