Expert Star Battle answer — January 13, 2026

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 7, column 5).
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 7, column 6).
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 3).
5. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 9, column 3).
6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 4).
7. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 6).
9. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
10. Row 8 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 1).
11. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
12. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
13. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 5).
14. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 6).
15. 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 1).
16. 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).
17. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 1).
18. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
19. 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).
20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 9).
21. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
22. Row 5 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 3).
23. 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 5).
24. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 5).
25. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
26. 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).
27. Squeeze (columns 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 2).
28. Squeeze (columns 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 8).
29. Squeeze (columns 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 9).
30. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
31. Generalized counting (columns 7-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 2, column 7).
32. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 2).
33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
35. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
36. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
43. Row 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 3).
44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 1).
45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
46. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
49. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 3).
50. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 3).
51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 3).
52. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 9).
53. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
55. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.