Expert Star Battle answer — April 11, 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 8, column 8).
3. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
4. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 7).
5. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 2).
6. 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 4).
7. 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 4).
8. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 5).
9. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
10. Star claim: Region 1 must place a star in column 7; cells touching all its options are eliminated (row 7, column 8).
11. Crowding (Row 7): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
12. Squeeze (columns 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 5, column 8).
13. Undercounting: 4 regions fit in rows 6-9, eliminate 3 outside candidates (row 6, column 1).
14. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 3).
15. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
16. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 7).
17. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
18. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
19. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
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 4, column 8).
21. 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 9).
22. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 9).
23. Column 9 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
24. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 8).
25. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
26. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 7).
27. 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 1).
28. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 1).
29. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
30. Row 3 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 3).
31. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 6).
32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
33. Two last candidates (row 4): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 5, column 3).
34. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 3).
35. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 5).
36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 2).
37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
38. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 4).
39. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 1).
40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 2).
41. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
42. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 4).
44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
47. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
48. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
50. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
52. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 8).
54. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.