Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — December 15, 2025

Stuck on the December 15, 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 55

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