Expert Star Battle answer — January 28, 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 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 9, column 5).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 4).
5. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 7).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 7).
8. 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).
9. 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 9).
10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 9).
11. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
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 4, column 2).
13. 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).
14. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
15. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 6).
16. Generalized counting (columns 8-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 8).
17. Crowding (Column 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 9).
18. Crowding (Row 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 7).
19. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
20. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
21. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 2).
22. Squeeze (rows 7-8): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 4).
23. Composite container (rows 1-4): Regions 1, 3 and 7 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 4).
24. Composite container (columns 1-6): Regions 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 12 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 5).
25. Joint analysis (Row 2 + Region 3): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 3, column 2).
26. Triple analysis (Region 9 + Region 2 + Row 6): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 9, column 1).
27. Triple analysis (Region 9 + Row 8 + Region 2): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 7, column 8).
28. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 9).
29. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
30. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
31. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
32. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
33. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - Region 9 would only have room for 0 of the 1 star it still needs (row 4, column 7).
34. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 1).
35. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
38. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
39. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 4).
40. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 5, column 5).
41. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 5).
42. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
44. Row 6 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 1).
45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 7).
46. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 7, column 2).
47. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 1).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
49. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 3).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
51. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 3).
52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 3).
55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
56. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
57. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
58. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
59. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
60. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 6).
61. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.