Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — November 25, 2025

Stuck on the November 25, 2025 hard 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 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. 3-cell region rule: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 10, column 6).
  3. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 10, column 5).
  4. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
  5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 7).
  6. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  7. Row 10 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
  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 2, column 3).
  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 3, column 3).
  10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 2).
  11. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 1).
  13. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  14. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 5).
  15. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 5).
  16. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 1).
  17. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 2).
  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 6, column 9).
  19. Clump analysis (Row 1): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 2, column 6).
  20. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  21. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 4).
  22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 4).
  23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  24. Row 3 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 8).
  25. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 9).
  26. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 7).
  27. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
  28. Clump analysis (Row 2): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 10).
  29. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
  30. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 8).
  31. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
  32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 6).
  33. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
  34. Row 6 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 3).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 10).
  36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
  37. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
  38. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  39. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 6).
  40. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 9).
  41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  42. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
  43. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
  45. Row 8 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 1).
  46. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 7).
  47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
  48. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
  49. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
  50. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 1).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
  52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
  54. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 2).
  55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  56. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  57. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  58. 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 hard Star Battle every day.

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

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