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