Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — January 23, 2026

Stuck on the January 23, 2026 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. 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 2).
  3. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 3).
  4. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
  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 6).
  6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 7).
  7. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
  8. Row 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
  9. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
  10. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  11. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
  12. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  13. Row 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 9).
  14. 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).
  15. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 9).
  16. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
  17. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  18. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
  19. Column 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  20. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 8).
  21. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 8).
  22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  23. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
  24. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  25. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 4, column 2).
  26. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
  27. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
  28. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
  29. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 6).
  30. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  31. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 4).
  32. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 6).
  33. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  34. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
  36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
  37. Two last candidates (row 5): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 6, column 2).
  38. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 3).
  39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
  40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  41. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 2).
  42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
  45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
  46. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  50. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 1).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  52. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

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