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