Expert Star Battle answer — January 21, 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 8, column 2).
3. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 2).
4. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
5. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 2).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 3).
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 5, column 4).
8. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 4).
9. Squeeze (columns 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 8, column 5).
10. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
11. Undercounting: 7 regions fit in cols 1-7, eliminate 1 outside candidate (row 4, column 7).
12. Joint analysis (Row 8 + Region 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 8).
13. Joint analysis (Region 4 + Column 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 4, column 4).
14. Composite container (rows 1-5): Regions 1, 5 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 10 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 6).
15. Composite container (rows 1-4): Regions 1 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 5).
16. Squeeze (columns 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 6).
17. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 8).
18. Composite container (columns 4-7): Regions 3 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 6).
19. Crowding (Column 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
20. Crowding (Row 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
21. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 1).
22. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 1).
23. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 7).
24. Composite container (rows 1-4): Regions 1 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 5, column 5).
25. Crowding (Row 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 4, column 8).
26. Crowding (Column 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
27. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 4).
28. Squeeze (columns 4-5): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 5).
29. Composite container (rows 1-5): Regions 1, 5 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 3 of the band's 10 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 6, column 7).
30. 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 6).
31. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 6).
32. Row 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 4).
33. 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 9).
34. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 9).
35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
36. Clump analysis (Row 5): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 7).
37. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
43. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 3).
44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
45. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
46. Column 2 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
47. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 3).
48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
50. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
52. Column 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
55. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
56. Column 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
57. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 1, column 7).
58. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
59. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
60. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
61. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 5).
62. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 1).
63. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
64. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
65. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
66. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.