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