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