Expert Star Battle answer — March 1, 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. 3-cell region rule: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 4, column 8).
3. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 8).
4. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
6. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
7. Column 8 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
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 7, column 2).
9. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 5, column 1).
10. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 5, column 2).
11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 2).
12. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
13. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 1).
14. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 1).
15. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
16. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 4).
17. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 4).
18. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 5).
19. Two last candidates (row 4): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 3, column 5).
20. Two last candidates (row 5): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 6, column 5).
21. Crowding (Column 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 6).
22. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 1).
23. Squeeze (columns 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 9, column 4).
24. Undercounting: 8 regions fit in rows 1-8, eliminate 2 outside candidates (row 8, column 5).
25. Generalized counting (columns 3-4): region star limits exclude these cells (row 9, column 3).
26. Squeeze (columns 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 3).
27. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 3).
28. 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 6).
29. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 7).
30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
33. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 9).
34. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 7).
35. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
37. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 3).
38. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
40. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 7).
41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 9).
42. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 6, column 2).
43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
45. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
46. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 6).
49. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 4).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
51. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 1).
52. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
55. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.