Medium Star Battle answer — April 10, 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 9).
3. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 9).
4. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
5. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
6. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 8).
7. Column 9 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 8).
9. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
10. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
11. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 5).
12. 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 6).
13. 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 6).
14. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 5).
15. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 4).
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 8, column 1).
17. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 1).
18. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
19. Row 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 3).
20. Two last candidates (row 6): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 5, column 3).
21. Two last candidates (row 5): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 4, column 1).
22. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 3).
23. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 8).
24. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
25. 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 6).
26. 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 6).
27. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 6).
28. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 5).
29. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 5).
30. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
31. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 4).
32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
33. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 3).
34. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
36. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
38. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 3).
39. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 3).
40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 1).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
43. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 7).
44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
45. Column 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 2).
47. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
48. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 3, column 2).
49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 3).
50. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.