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