Expert Star Battle answer — December 4, 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. 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 10).
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 5, column 10).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 9).
5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
6. 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).
7. 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 7).
8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 7).
9. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
10. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 6).
11. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 7).
12. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 10, column 5).
13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 6).
14. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
15. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 4).
16. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
17. Row 10 complete: Mark 6 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
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 8, column 8).
19. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 9).
20. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
21. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
22. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
23. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
25. Row 4 complete: Mark 6 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 11).
27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 10).
28. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 11, column 8).
29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 11, column 9).
30. Column 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
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 8, column 11).
32. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 11).
33. Row 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
34. Column 11 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 11).
35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 10).
36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 11, column 10).
37. Row 7 complete: Mark 6 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
38. Row 11 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 11, column 1).
39. Column 10 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 10).
40. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 1, column 4).
41. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 3).
42. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
43. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 2).
44. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 3).
45. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 1).
46. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 1).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
49. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 1).
51. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 1).
52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
53. Clump analysis (Row 8): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 2).
54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 2).
55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
56. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
57. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
58. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 4).
59. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
60. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
61. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.