Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — May 26, 2025

Stuck on the May 26, 2025 hard Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 grid — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Tap Next to step through it, or brush up on the rules first.

Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 53

Full written solution

Every deduction from the walkthrough above, in order. Each technique is explained in the Star Battle strategy guide.

  1. Starting position — the grid is split into regions (bold outlines). Each row, column, and region needs exactly two stars, and no two stars may touch.
  2. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 7, column 6).
  3. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 9).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 9).
  5. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
  6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 8).
  7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 9).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 9).
  10. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  11. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  12. Clump analysis (Column 9): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 8).
  13. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  14. Column 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 8).
  15. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 7).
  16. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
  17. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
  18. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  19. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 5).
  20. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
  21. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
  22. Row 7 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  24. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 2).
  25. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 1).
  26. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
  27. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
  28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  29. Two last candidates (row 5): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 4, column 5).
  30. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 1).
  31. Two last candidates (row 3): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 2, column 5).
  32. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  33. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 2).
  34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
  36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
  38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 4).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  43. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 7).
  44. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 6).
  45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
  46. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 1).
  47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  49. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
  50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
  51. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 6).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
  53. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

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This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.