Medium 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. 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 5).
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 2, column 8).
4. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 9).
5. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 9).
6. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 8).
7. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 9).
8. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
9. Column 9 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
10. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
11. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
12. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 6).
13. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 6).
14. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 7).
15. 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).
16. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 2).
17. Mark 7 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
18. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 2).
19. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 3).
20. Two last candidates (row 4): Eliminate 3 cells adjacent to both (row 3, column 4).
21. Two last candidates (row 5): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 6, column 6).
22. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
23. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
24. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
25. Star claim: Region 1 must place a star in row 7; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 8, column 6).
26. Crowding (Region 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
27. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
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 1, column 5).
29. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 4).
30. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
31. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 6).
32. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 1).
33. Column 4 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 4).
34. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 1).
35. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
37. Row 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 6, column 5).
38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
39. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
40. Column 6 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 6).
41. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 5).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 7).
44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
46. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
47. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 7).
48. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 3).
49. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
53. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 1).
54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
55. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.