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