Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — August 10, 2025

Stuck on the August 10, 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 8, column 2).
  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 5, column 1).
  4. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 5, column 2).
  5. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 2).
  6. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 1).
  8. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 2).
  9. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 9, column 2).
  10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 3).
  11. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  12. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 6, column 4).
  13. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
  14. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
  15. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
  16. Star claim: Region 3 must place a star in column 4; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 3, column 4).
  17. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 6).
  18. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  19. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 3).
  21. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
  23. Row 6 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 5).
  24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
  25. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
  26. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 3).
  27. Two last candidates (column 2): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 1).
  28. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
  29. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  30. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
  31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  32. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  33. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
  34. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 1).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  36. Row 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 9).
  37. Clump analysis (Row 7): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 7).
  38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  40. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 6).
  41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  42. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
  43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  44. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 8).
  45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
  47. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 8).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  49. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
  50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  51. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 7).
  52. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 9).
  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.