Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — December 16, 2025

Stuck on the December 16, 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 52

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 9, column 2).
  3. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 1).
  4. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
  5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  6. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  7. Row 9 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 5).
  8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 5).
  9. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  10. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 8).
  11. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 9).
  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 2, column 8).
  13. 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).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
  15. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  16. Row 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 7).
  17. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 7).
  18. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
  19. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
  20. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
  21. 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).
  22. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 7).
  23. Clump analysis (Column 8): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 1, column 8).
  24. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  25. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  26. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
  27. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 7).
  28. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
  29. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 6).
  30. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 6).
  31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  32. Row 1 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  33. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
  34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
  36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
  37. Row 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  38. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 4).
  39. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
  40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
  41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
  42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
  43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
  44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
  45. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  46. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  50. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 1).
  51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
  52. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

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