Hard 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 2, column 6).
3. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 7).
4. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 7).
6. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
7. Column 7 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 5, 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 4, 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 5, column 2).
10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 3).
11. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 2).
12. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
13. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 9).
14. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 6).
15. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 6).
16. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
17. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
18. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
19. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 4).
20. Clump analysis (Column 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
21. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 3).
22. Squeeze (rows 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 2).
23. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 5).
24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
25. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
26. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
28. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 5).
29. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
30. Row 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
31. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 9).
32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
33. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
34. Row 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 1).
35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 1).
36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
37. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
39. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 1).
40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
43. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 1).
44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
46. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.