Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — October 20, 2025

Stuck on the October 20, 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 58

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 5, column 4).
  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 4, column 8).
  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 9, column 5).
  5. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 6).
  6. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
  7. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 8).
  8. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  9. Row 9 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
  10. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
  11. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  12. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 6).
  13. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 8).
  14. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 6).
  15. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 8).
  16. Two last candidates (row 8): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 7, column 1).
  17. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 7).
  18. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  19. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
  20. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
  21. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
  22. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
  23. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 6).
  24. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
  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 4, column 9).
  26. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 9).
  27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
  28. Column 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  30. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  31. Column 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 8).
  32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 7).
  33. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
  35. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  36. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  37. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
  38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 3).
  40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
  43. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
  44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
  45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
  46. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  47. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 6, column 5).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
  50. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  52. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 5).
  53. Row 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 6).
  54. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
  55. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 6).
  56. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
  57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  58. 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.