Medium Star Battle answer — August 22, 2025

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 2, 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 2, column 3).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 2).
5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
6. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 3, column 8).
7. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 3, column 6).
8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 6).
9. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
10. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 6).
11. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 7).
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 3, column 9).
13. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
14. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 4).
15. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 9).
16. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
17. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 1, column 8).
18. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 1, column 9).
19. 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 8).
20. 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 9).
21. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 8).
22. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
23. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 7).
24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
25. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
26. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 9).
28. Row 6 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
29. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
31. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 1).
32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 5).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
37. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 6).
38. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
41. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
43. Row 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
44. Two last candidates (row 8): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 7, column 1).
45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
48. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 3).
49. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 1).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
51. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.