Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — September 22, 2025

Stuck on the September 22, 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 45

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 8, column 5).
  3. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 5).
  4. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
  5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  6. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
  7. Column 5 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
  8. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
  9. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
  10. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
  11. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 1).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 2): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 1, column 6).
  13. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
  15. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
  16. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  17. Crowding (Row 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
  18. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 4).
  19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  20. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 4, column 4).
  21. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
  22. Row 3 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  23. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
  24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  25. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
  26. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
  27. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 5, column 2).
  28. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 2).
  29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
  30. Two last candidates (row 4): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 5, column 8).
  31. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 7).
  32. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
  33. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
  34. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 9).
  35. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
  36. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 9).
  37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  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. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
  42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
  43. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
  45. 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.