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