Medium Star Battle answer — January 27, 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 5, column 8).
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 2, column 2).
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 5, column 6).
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 6, column 6).
6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 7).
7. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 9).
9. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
10. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
11. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
12. Row 6 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
13. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 5).
14. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
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 8, column 4).
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 8, column 1).
17. 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).
18. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 2).
19. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
20. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 1, column 8).
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 2, column 8).
22. 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).
23. Two last candidates (row 4): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 3, column 2).
24. Two last candidates (row 7): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 8, column 5).
25. Two last candidates (column 8): Eliminate 4 cells adjacent to both (row 8, column 7).
26. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 6).
27. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
29. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
31. Two last candidates (column 7): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 6).
32. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
33. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
34. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 5).
35. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
36. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 4).
37. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
40. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 3).
41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
42. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
43. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
44. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 3).
45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
48. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 1).
49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
51. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
52. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.