Expert Star Battle answer — February 15, 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 8).
3. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
4. Generalized counting (rows 1-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 4, column 3).
5. Generalized counting (rows 1-4): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 7).
6. 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).
7. Generalized counting (rows 6-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 6, column 1).
8. Generalized counting (columns 9-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 9).
9. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 5).
10. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 3).
11. Composite container (rows 1-3): Regions 2 and 6 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 6 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 1).
12. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 4).
13. Crowding (Row 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
14. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 4).
15. Star claim: Region 3 must place a star in row 5; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 6, column 2).
16. Squeeze (columns 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 8).
17. Crowding (Column 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
18. Composite container (rows 1-3): Regions 2 and 6 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 6 stars - impossible without stars on these cells (row 3, column 1).
19. Composite container (rows 4-5): Region 3 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 3 of the band's 4 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 7).
20. Squeeze (columns 6-7): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 7).
21. Generalized counting (rows 1-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 4, column 9).
22. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 5).
23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
24. Clump analysis (Region 3): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 9).
25. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
26. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
27. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 9).
28. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 7).
29. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 5).
30. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
31. 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 1).
32. 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 2).
33. 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 7).
34. Squeeze (rows 7-8): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 8, column 6).
35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
36. Generalized counting (columns 1-2): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 1).
37. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
38. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
39. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 6).
40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 5).
41. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
43. Column 5 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
44. Column 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 7).
45. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 7, column 2).
46. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 1).
47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 3).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 4).
49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
52. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
53. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
54. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
55. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
56. Column 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 3).
57. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
58. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
59. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
60. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
61. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
62. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
63. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
64. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.