Expert Star Battle answer — February 22, 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 8, column 8).
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 1, column 4).
4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 1, column 3).
5. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 1, column 6).
7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 6).
8. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 1).
9. Crowding (Region 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
10. Generalized counting (rows 1-3): region star limits exclude these cells (row 2, column 9).
11. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 7).
12. Squeeze (rows 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 8).
13. Composite container (rows 4-9): Regions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 12 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 4).
14. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 3, column 2).
15. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 1).
16. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
17. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
18. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
19. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 6).
20. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
21. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 2).
22. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
23. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 3).
24. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
25. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
26. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 5).
27. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 1).
28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
29. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 9).
30. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 4).
31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
32. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
33. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
34. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 2).
36. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 3).
37. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 8, column 5).
38. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 4).
39. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
40. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
42. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
45. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 5).
46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 5).
47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
49. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.