Hard Star Battle answer — February 3, 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 6, column 7).
3. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 8).
4. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
5. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 5).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 5).
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 7, column 5).
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 8, column 5).
9. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 6).
10. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 6).
11. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
12. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
13. Column 6 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
14. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 3).
15. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 3).
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 2, column 4).
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 3, column 4).
18. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 3).
19. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
20. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
21. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 5).
22. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
25. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 5).
26. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 7).
27. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
28. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
29. 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 8).
30. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
31. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
32. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 9).
33. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 9).
34. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
36. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 1).
37. 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).
38. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
39. Two last candidates (row 6): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 5, column 3).
40. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 3).
41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
42. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
43. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 1).
45. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 7).
46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
51. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
52. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
53. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
55. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
56. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
57. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
58. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
59. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.