Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — February 13, 2026

Stuck on the February 13, 2026 hard Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 grid — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Tap Next to step through it, or brush up on the rules first.

Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 50

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

Rather solve it yourself?

This puzzle is free to play, along with a new hard Star Battle every day.

Play this puzzle More hard puzzles Sign up free
← Previous hard
All solutions
Next hard →

This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.