Medium Star Battle

Medium Star Battle answer — February 23, 2026

Stuck on the February 23, 2026 medium 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 53

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

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