Medium Star Battle

Medium Star Battle answer — September 16, 2025

Stuck on the September 16, 2025 medium Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 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 56

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. 3-cell region rule: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 6).
  3. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 6).
  4. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
  5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
  6. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
  7. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 4).
  8. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
  9. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  10. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
  11. Row 7 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  12. Column 6 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
  13. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
  14. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  15. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
  16. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
  17. Row 1 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  18. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 5).
  19. 3-cell region rule: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 9, column 9).
  20. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 9).
  21. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 9).
  23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 8).
  24. Column 9 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 9).
  25. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 3).
  26. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 1).
  28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  29. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 10).
  30. 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).
  31. 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).
  32. Two last candidates (row 8): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 9, column 1).
  33. Two last candidates (column 4): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 4, column 3).
  34. 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).
  35. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 1).
  36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  37. Column 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
  40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
  41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 7).
  43. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 10, column 2).
  44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 3).
  45. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 7).
  46. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 8).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 10).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 10).
  50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
  53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
  54. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 10).
  55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 10).
  56. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

Rather solve it yourself?

This puzzle is free to play, along with a new medium Star Battle every day.

Play this puzzle More medium puzzles Sign up free
← Previous medium
All solutions
Next medium →

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